New Era Begins When 2019 Georgia Legislature Convenes

ATLANTA, GA -- Georgia legislators return to Atlanta on Jan. 14, 2019, to convene the new General Assembly, and for the first time in more than eight years, the state has a new governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and other top elected and appointed leaders. Even though Democrats gained 13 legislative seats in the 2018 elections, mainly due to GOP retirements, Republicans still hold large majorities in both the House and Senate. The GOP also controls every statewide elected office.

Several controversial issues will face newly elected Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and other legislative leaders, not the least of which Georgia's transition from electronic to paper ballots. After an historically close gubernatorial election marred by Democrats' allegations of voter suppression and fraud, Raffensperger will be charged with overseeing updates to the state's 20-year-old voting system.

Other issues on lawmakers' agendas:

What else? Money, money, money

Kemp will introduce his first budget as governor in the session's opening days. Adopting a budget is the legislature's only real constitutional obligation, but that's never stopped them from delving into other issues, such as ...

Religious liberty

One of outgoing Gov. Nathan Deal's signature legacies were tax incentives for Georgia's film and entertainment industry, which turned the state's film and production business into a billion-dollar industry. On the campaign trail, Kemp touted his support for adopting religious freedom legislation that mirrors federal law. We'll see how that plays among conservative and liberal activists.

Longer school summers

A state Senate committee is recommending longer summers for Georgia students. For several years, tourism and business interests under the Gold Dome have been trying to lengthen summers. Recently, a Senate committee recommended starting school a week to 10 days before the first Monday in September and end school around June 1, creating a three-month summer break.

The recommendation comes among the never-ending debate among educational leaders about how to improve the state's continuously poor overall education rankings. In 2018, a WalletHub ranking found Georgia in the bottom half of the nation's most educated states.

Medical marijuana

Once a forbidden topic, legislators in recent sessions have loosened the restrictions on cannabis oil for medical purposes. In 2019, lawmakers could decide whether to allow medical marijuana to be grown in Georgia, thus licensing growers, manufacturers and dispensaries.

School safety

President Donald Trump’s school safety commission issued a report laying out suggestions to improve safety in American schools. The Georgia Senate School Safety Study Committee also released a set of recommendations in November.

Sex trafficking

With Super Bowl LIII set for Feb. 3, 2019, the topic of child sex trafficking is gaining increased attention, including among lawmakers. Gov.-elect Brian Kemp made his first 2019 appearance at a Wednesday rally against the crime, and Patch.com is highlighting the battle against child sex trafficking in a series of exclusive articles.

SEE ALSO:

Not For Sale: Buses In Midtown Raise Sex Trafficking Awareness

Not For Sale: Fighting Sex Trafficking As Super Bowl Nears

Politicking for 2020 and beyond

Democrat Stacey Abrams, who almost became the nation's first African-American female governor in her race against Kemp this year, is no longer in state House. But she still has plenty of supporters in the General Assembly, and speculation abounds about whether she will challenge Kemp in 2022 or mount a run against U.S. Sen. David Perdue in 2020. Abrams has said she will run for office again, and regardless of whatever race she enters, she'll automatically become the frontrunner. But in the legislature, keep an eye on state Sen. Elena Parent and state Rep. Scott Holcomb, both from Atlanta. They're seen as rising stars in the Democratic Party, and Holcomb himself has taken on Perdue in a variety of social media fights.

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