A dozen Florida and Georgia border counties have signed an agreement making it easier for children removed from parents or guardians to be placed with relatives in the other state.

Two Democratic lawmakers want to give small businesses more time before they are forced to use a federal database meant to keep illegal immigrants from the workforce.

A report aimed at making the state more attractive to businesses cites education and workforce development as the most important factors for companies looking to locate or expand in Georgia.

State House Speaker David Ralston announced Wednesday that lawmakers will begin accepting feedback about Georgia regulations from small business owners. The so-called “red tape watch” will collect any and all comments from the public. But Ralston says he’s especially on the lookout for complaints from residents who say state regulations are getting in the way of doing business.

State lawmakers are split over how to fix the HOPE college scholarship’s finances, with some pushing an income cap. By 2016, officials project the award will cover less than half of the University of Georgia’s tuition and fees. HOPE’s financial projections mean that scholarship recipients at UGA in 2016 would spend more from their own pockets than the award amount would provide.