ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The deadline is approaching for Georgia legislators to transform their proposals into official legislation.
Friday marks Sine Die—the final day of the legislative session in Georgia. Lawmakers usually stay up until early hours of the morning for last-ditch debates on various proposals. However, Wednesday night kept them at the state Capitol long after midnight as 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 grant additional 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 Governor Nathan Deal vetoed it due to worries about potential discrimination, particularly against the LGBTQ community. However, on Wednesday night, lawmakers introduced a new iteration of Georgia’s RFRA. Senate Bill 36 , received its final approval from the House and will now move to Governor Brian Kemp’s desk to be signed into law.
I've consistently stated that I would endorse and approve a version of RFRA that aligns with the wording and safeguards established in federal legislation from 1993," Kemp wrote in an online statement. "I remain steadfast in my dedication to this pledge and to the strong convictions held by people of faith in Georgia. Additionally, I wish to reassure individuals who hold different opinions that Georgia continues to be a hospitable environment for living, working, and raising 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, which prevents it from being employed as a tool for discrimination. In contrast, although certain Democratic legislators attempted to incorporate such a provision, Georgia’s version of the law lacks these civil rights safeguards.
"Frankly, I'm at a loss for words," stated State Representative Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth).
Romman, one of the few 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 was included.
We were told that this bill does not discriminate," stated Romman. "So, if it doesn’t discriminate, then why did the amendment aimed at prohibiting discrimination get turned down?
The enactment of 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 Representative Will Wade (R-Dawsonville), under this legislation, if any law or governmental initiative substantially infringes upon an individual’s religious practices, the government would have to demonstrate a significant reason backed by a compelling necessity and execute it through the most minimally invasive method feasible. "This sets a rigorous standard because such personal freedoms are fundamentally important," he stated. The representative further explained that this implies a local entrepreneur wouldn’t face coercion into contravening their core beliefs unless absolutely essential for societal well-being. Additionally, arbitrary restrictions imposed via zoning laws couldn’t curtail the charitable activities conducted by places of worship without substantial proof justifying such actions.
DEI Ban
The phrase "zombie bill" denotes a proposed law that has been significantly amended or stripped of its core content, replaced instead with provisions that typically bear minimal resemblance to the initial purpose of the bill.
This occurred — to an extreme extent — with House Bill 127 Originally intended to modify legislation so that public school educators could carry forward additional paid leave annually, the bill ended up being drastically altered. Instead, it adopted verbatim the content of a rejected piece of legislature, Senate Bill 120, which aimed to eliminate state financial support for any public schools or colleges implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 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 clear the hurdle.
The DEI prohibition received intense backlash from Democratic senators in the Senate. Critics argued that this was essentially an act of censorship and claimed that the ambiguous wording within the legislation suppressed freedom of expression and open dialogue.
It would be against the law to share information about what transpired with African Americans," stated State Senator Derek Mallow (D-Savannah). "It would be prohibited to discuss history, and it would also be forbidden to acknowledge the harsh realities of the past experienced by individuals who might not resemble everyone here.
Republican supporters of the measure argue that DEI initiatives tend to foster greater divisiveness and may affect both hiring processes and educational curricula according to one’s skin color.
"Georgia’s education system must now tackle an idea that might have been well-meaning but is essentially discriminatory," stated State Senator Max Burns (R-Sylvania).
Democratic lawmakers leave during voting session
In an unusual move, all House Democrats rose from their seats and walked out of the chamber during a contentious vote on Senate Bill 185 .
This legislation aims to prevent public funds from covering gender-affirming treatments for inmates in Georgia correctional institutions. Republican supporters struggled to cite specific instances, while Democrats charged them with intimidating the transgender population and fabricating an issue that did not previously exist.
People brought us here to accomplish significant tasks," stated Democratic Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley as she stood on the steps of the Capitol alongside the complete House Democratic caucus. "The constituents who elected us did not send us here to intimidate others, isolate individuals, or practice discrimination; those actions were never part of our mandate.
The relocation did not sit well with Republicans. State Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), who sponsored SB 185, stated that the Democrats' decision represented an act of "abandonment" towards their voters.
"Regardless of whether an elected official supports or opposes a bill, walking out before voting undermines the citizens and voters who sent us here to represent them," 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 neglecting those that truly matter," stated Cindy Battles, policy director at The People’s Agenda, referring to Republicans supporting SB 185. "In Georgia, folks want to cover basic needs like food, housing, and transportation. Yet, this legislature keeps concentrating on non-existent concerns and marginalizing LGBTQ+ individuals, specifically transgender persons and young trans kids.