ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The deadline is approaching for Georgia legislators to transform their proposals into legislation.
On Friday, known as Sine Die—the final day of the legislative session in Georgia—lawmakers usually engage in last-ditch debates deep into the night. However, Wednesday evening also compelled many legislators to remain at the state Capitol long after midnight, during which several highly debated bills advanced through the process.
Religious freedom bill
The Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, known as RFRA, has long been a key objective for Republican legislators. This act aims to afford greater legal safeguards to individuals practicing their religious convictions. Critics argue that it could serve as a pretext for discriminatory actions.
In 2016, the legislature successfully enacted a version of RFRA, but it was subsequently overturned by Governor Nathan Deal due to worries about potential discrimination, particularly against the LGBTQ community. However, on Wednesday evening, the latest iteration of Georgia’s RFRA was introduced. Senate Bill 36 It received its final approval from the House and will now move to Governor Brian Kemp’s desk to be signed into law.
I have consistently stated that I will endorse and approve a version of RFRA that aligns with the wording and safeguards established under federal law starting from 1993," Kemp wrote in an online statement. "I remain steadfast in my dedication to this pledge as well as the profound convictions of Georgian people of faith. Additionally, for those who hold different perspectives, let me confirm that Georgia continues to be a hospitable environment for living, working, and nurturing a family.
Since the Clinton era, the federal government has maintained a religious freedom statute that elaborates on the protections stated in the First Amendment. However, this federal legislation features an amendment safeguarding civil rights, preventing it from being misused for discriminatory purposes. In contrast, although certain Democratic legislators attempted to incorporate such a provision, Georgia’s version of the law lacks these civil rights protections.
"Frankly, I'm at a loss for words," stated State Representative Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth).
Romman, one of the handful of Muslim legislators in the assembly, encouraged her fellow lawmakers on Wednesday evening to include a non-discrimination provision. Several Democrats stated they might back the proposal if such a clause were included.
We were told that this bill isn’t discriminatory," stated Romman. "So, if it doesn’t discriminate, then why did the amendment aimed at prohibiting discrimination get turned down?
The enactment of the RFRA represented a significant and hard-fought victory for Republicans, who pointed out that the statute does not shield individuals who break the law.
According to this legislation, if a law or governmental measure substantially infringes upon an individual's religious practices, the government needs to demonstrate a significant purpose and ensure that such actions are implemented with minimal restriction whenever feasible," stated Representative Will Wade (R-Dawsonville) from Dawsonville. "This sets a stringent standard which is appropriate considering our basic freedoms are involved. Essentially, it ensures that proprietors of small businesses will not have to contravene their core beliefs unless absolutely essential for maintaining public well-being. Furthermore, arbitrary restrictions imposed through zoning ordinances would not suffice to halt the community service activities conducted by places of worship without substantial proof.
DEI Ban
The phrase "zombie bill" denotes a proposed law that has been emptied out or substantially modified to accommodate provisions unrelated to its initial purpose, effectively changing its core intention.
This occurred — to an extreme extent — with House Bill 127 Originally intended to modify legislation so that public school educators could carry forward additional vacation days annually, the bill ended up being stripped down and substituted with the precise wording of a rejected piece of legislation, Senate Bill 120. This earlier bill aimed to withdraw state financial support from all public schools and colleges implementing DEI initiatives.
If bills aren't approved by either the House or Senate at least midway through the legislative term, they usually fail to pass unless they're attached to another bill that does manage to get through.
The DEI prohibition received intense backlash from Democratic senators in the Senate. Critics argued that it was an act of censorship and claimed that the ambiguous wording in the legislation hindered free expression and discourse.
It would be against the law to share information regarding what transpired with African Americans," stated State Senator Derek Mallow (D-Savannah). "It would be prohibited to discuss history, to acknowledge the truth of the difficult histories endured by individuals who might not resemble everyone present here.
Republicans who supported the measure say DEI programs actually cause more division and can influence hiring practices and curriculum based on skin color.
"Georgia’s education system must now tackle an idea that may have been well-meaning but is essentially discriminatory," stated State Senator Max Burns (R-Sylvania).
Democrats leave the voting session
In an uncommon move, all House Democrats rose from their seats and walked out of the chamber during a contentious vote on Senate Bill 185 .
This legislation would prohibit state funds from covering gender-affirming care for inmates in Georgia correctional institutions. Republican supporters struggled to cite specific instances, while Democrats charged them with intimidating the transgender population and manufacturing an issue that did not previously exist.
People brought us here to accomplish significant tasks," stated Democratic Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley as she addressed her fellow Democrats gathered on the steps of the Capitol. "The constituents who elected us didn’t send us here to intimidate others, isolate individuals, or practice discrimination; those actions were never part of our mandate.
The initiative did not gain favor with Republican circles. State Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), who sponsored SB 185, stated that the Democrats' behavior equated to "abandoning" their voters.
"Any elected representative who skips a vote, regardless of whether they agree with it or not, is essentially neglecting the duties entrusted to them by the citizens and voters who sent them here to represent their interests," stated Robertson.
The legislation still passed through the House with a vote of 100-2, greatly disappointing LGBTQ activists.
They're addressing issues that aren't real while ignoring the actual ones," stated Cindy Battles, policy director at The People’s Agenda, regarding Republicans supporting SB 185. "In Georgia, folks want to cover basic needs like food, shelter, and transport. Yet, rather than tackling those concerns, this assembly keeps concentrating on phantom problems and marginalizing LGBTQ+ individuals, specifically transgender persons and youth.