A bill that would allow communities to decide if they want local stores to sell alcohol on Sundays is heading to the Governor's desk. The bill survived many hurdles before passing in the state House late Tuesday.

An 11th-hour proposal to close an ethics loophole exempting lobbyists from disclosing what they spend on gifts to staff members of elected officials has passed a House committee with the backing of Speaker David Ralston. In a reversal, the plan was amended to the same bill supporters failed to attach it to only a day earlier.

The House has approved legislation that would allow more of Georgia's elderly to reside in assisted-living facilities, rather than nursing homes. Lawmakers OK'd the bill by a vote of 172-1 on Tuesday.

A bill passed by the House Tuesday would restrict the sale of the decongestant pseudoephedrine to only pharmacies in Georgia. The decongestant is a key ingredient in the illegal drug methamphetamine -- the use of which has become a growing problem in the state. The bill now goes to Governor Deal’s desk for his signature.

Georgia legislators have agreed to an $18.3 billion budget that pours additional state money into tax investigators, Medicaid and domestic violence shelters. Both chambers approved the revised budget Tuesday afternoon, after a joint House-Senate conference committee signed off on changes in the morning.