The Capitol halls are full of a sense of urgency as we continue to pass legislation as we prepare for Day 30, better known as Crossover Day- the last day a bill can pass to the opposite chamber. With Crossover Day being set for Monday, March 3, we must pass all bills to the House of Representatives before the midnight deadline.  If any bill does not receive a passing vote in its original chamber, then it cannot move on in the legislative process and must be revived in the next legislative session. 

We started this week with the best of intentions of vetting bills and amending the budget, however, Mother Nature had other plans in mind.  As a result of the severe winter storm that hit portions of Georgia this week, the Georgia General Assembly did not convene as regularly scheduled. However, as required by state law, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle gaveled in at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday to complete days 12 and 13 of the session.

Throughout the hardships of this week, it was encouraging to see the outpouring of Southern hospitality and generosity demonstrated by Georgians across the state. Now that the snow has melted and things are getting back to normal here in Atlanta, the Georgia General Assembly resumed business on Friday, January 31 with the Senate gaveling in for Day 14 of the legislative session. The appropriations subcommittees will continue to meet in order to prepare the amended budget for a Senate floor vote next week.     

ATLANTA (AP) - After dominating much of the legislative session, a set of major ethics reforms is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The laws are among a small number of major bills that become law with the new year. Others include rules requiring all new day care employees to undergo more exhaustive background checks, as well as a requirement that schools provide information about concussion risks to parents. While the ethics laws set the first state limits on how much a lobbyist can spend, there remain considerable loopholes and questions about how it will all be enforced. Under the new laws, lobbyists will not be able to spend more than $75 at a time. Previously, lobbyists could spend as much as they wanted as long as it was noted on disclosure reports filed with the state. (Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.