A view of lawmakers inside the capitol.

Sports gambling, Buckhead City, and Georgia's "Don't Say Gay" bills all failed in the state Senate this week.

Credit: File photo

The panel

Eric Tanenblatt, @ericjtanenblatt, Republican insider

King Williams, @IamKingWilliams, journalist and documentarian

Leroy Chapman, @AJCLeroyChapman, managing editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, @mmo_mary, (D) Decatur

 

The breakdown

1. Buckhead cityhood bill that 'makes no sense' fails in the Senate

  • 10 Republicans joined the Democratic caucus in voting against Senate Bill 114.
  • Buckhead City Committee CEO Bill White said, "We are of course disappointed in the results of the Senate vote today, but we will never give up until Buckhead gets to VOTE."

LISTEN: Leroy Chapman on Gov. Brian Kemp's opinion swaying Republicans against Buckhead City.

2. Georgia's version of a "Don't Say Gay" bill died in the Senate.

  • The bill would have prevented teachers in both private and public schools from discussing gender identity.
  • Mike Griffin, a lobbyist for Georgia Southern Baptists, denounced the bill. While he said he agreed with the sentiment behind the bill, he joined a coalition of Republicans who was worried about the bill's unintended consequences.

LISTEN: State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver on legislation against transgender children.

3. The House passed an expansion of last year's mental health bill.

  • Last year's "Mental Health Parity Bill" was a bipartisan effort to add mental health coverage to health care plans.
  • The late House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) was a strong supporter of the bill, saying "This bill will give Georgia's families hope.”

LISTEN: State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver on Georgia's mental health legislation.

4. Star Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Jalen Carter was charged with racing in connection with two deaths.

  • Athens-Clarke County police allege Carter was racing with recruiting staffer Chandler Lacroix, leading to an accident that killed Lacroix and defensive lineman Devin Willock.
  • Carter is one of the projected top picks in the NFL Draft. He left camp in Indianapolis to turn himself into police, where he posted bail for two misdemeanor charges.

LISTEN: King Williams on the University of Georgia's response to the tragic car accident.

Monday on Political Rewind: The Atlanta Journal Constitution's Patricia Murphy joins the panel.

Tags: Georgia  Georgia Politics  Atlanta  Macon  Savannah  Legislature  Gold Dome  legislation  Sports Gambling  buckhead