Governor Sonny Perdue's 65% solution bill, requiring local school districts to spend 65% of funds in the classroom, got final legislative approval. Senator Ronnie Chance
explained that the House had added some additional waiver provisions
and changed some language. The Senate approved the House changes to Senate Bill 390 by a vote of 33 to 19 and the bill goes to the Governor.

The Senate Insurance and Labor Committee passed a motor vehicle liability bill
today that sponsors say should help keep insurance rates down. This
bill will limit the damages that can be received by an insured
motorist, in an accident involving an uninsured motorist.

The state Senate voted today to toughen the state's DUI laws. Senator Bill Hamrick says too many DUI cases are being overturned in the courts because the current statutes are too vague. The DUI measure, Senate Bill 502 passed 51 to one and goes to the House.

A bill that would institute a sentence of life in prison without parole for anyone committing murder who has previously committed three felonies, closing a loophole in the three-strikes-and-you're-out statute, received a Do-Pass recommendation from a House Judiciary Non-Civil Subcommittee this morning. Representative Tim Bearden presented Senate Bill 57.

The House Human Resources and Aging Committee gave a Do-Pass to legislation today that allows religious and faith-based organizations to receive public funding
for social services. Some opponents believe this measure would enable
public funds to go to private schools in the form of vouchers, however
supporters say this measure simply puts Georgia in line with the U.S.
Constitution.

An attempt to amend the Georgia Civil Practice Act to allow plaintiffs an opportunity to re-file court papers failed to pass the House today. Supporters of House Bill 1195
said it would keep plaintiffs in civil suits from having their cases
dismissed due to inaccurately completed forms. But opponents claimed
that the measure was intended to protect irresponsible attorneys.