Georgians who have not been convicted of a crime have lost their jobs and reputations because of their posted mugshot — sometimes for something as minor as a parking ticket. Lawmakers are looking to do something about it.

The House has signed off on a controversial measure that opponents say will limit the public’s ability to float and paddle on Georgia’s smaller waterways.

The killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus last week shocked and horrified people far beyond Athens. On Monday, the immigration status of the suspect in her killing reignited a debate over immigration policy in the Georgia Legislature and appears to have increased the odds of immigration-related legislation becoming state law.

Lawmakers remembered Laken Riley, the former University of Georgia student killed last week. The murder quickly became a politicized debate over border control and immigration over the weekend, with Republican state Sen. John Albers weighing in today, along with Democratic state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes.

Two House and Senate legislative committees unanimously backed proposals that would shift the responsibilities of Georgia’s utilities regulators. State legislators also advanced a bill to give the PSC authority over water companies.

Georgia’s automatic voter registration has put almost all eligible citizens on the rolls, but now some Republicans want to turn that system off.

A bill sponsored by Lake Park Republican Rep. John Corbett would block state regulators from accepting any new permit applications for dragline mining for heavy mineral sands in areas where permits have not been previously issued but would not stop an Alabama-based company from moving forward with a 582-acre demonstration proposal planned for Trail Ridge near the refuge.

On Day 24, lawmakers welcomed a new member and debated new rules that could affect your driving. 

For years, churches and nonprofits have banded together money to bail out people from jail, often in time for Mother's Day or Father's Day. But these wide-scale initiatives could be significantly restricted, if not criminalized, under a recently passed Georgia bill.

Property tax rates could drop in some Georgia school districts under a House plan. It would let districts with low property wealth continue to qualify for state aid even if they decrease property tax rates. 

Georgia senators are advancing a proposal that would require school libraries to notify parents of every book their child checks out. The state Senate Education and Youth Committee voted 5-4 Tuesday to advance the bill to the full Senate for more debate.

A bill introduced Tuesday by a top lieutenant to Republican House Speaker Jon Burns proposes to create a Comprehensive Health Care Commission. That could lead to more health coverage in the future, but not this year.

It was a nuts-and-bolts bill day at the Capitol as lawmakers passed bills about education and taxes under the Gold Dome. 

Every year, Georgia lawmakers come to Atlanta to make laws. But what if regular Georgians could directly participate in drafting legislation? That’s what some Democratic House members are asking with longshot legislation seeking to amend the state constitution and allow voters to directly weigh in on state laws during elections.

Three Republicans and an independent have qualified for an April 9 election in Georgia House District 139 to replace late state Rep. Richard Smith, who died in January.