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.

Today at the Capitol, the chambers clashed over the mid-year budget, and lawmakers debated safeguards against a new type of election fraud.  

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

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

The day started with the seating of new House Rules Chairman, Representative Butch Parrish.  

Before discussing the bills of the day in the Senate, the rise in gun violence was noted on the Senate floor.

As we reached the halfway point in the session, it was a tale of two chambers — leading up to a major announcement from Gov. Brian Kemp.

Senators discussed a Republican-penned resolution allowing Gov. Brian Kemp to allocate resources to help the state of Texas secure the border.

Today, lawmakers in the House debated a bill that would make cornbread the official state bread. 

The Carter Center hosted its inaugural Mental Health Parity Day by the Georgia State Capitol. Mental health stakeholders, legislators, and leadership from several state agencies gathered to discuss how to advance implementation of the bipartisan Mental Health Parity Act passed in April 2022.

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Boggs gave his State of the Judiciary Address on Wednesday. Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, along with Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and other Republican legislators also spoke at a press conference about upcoming changes they’re going to make to tax exemptions affecting teachers, technology, and the film industry. 

Last year, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 92, which would create a commission to oversee and potentially punish local district attorneys who fail to uphold Georgia law or  break it. Today, the Senate revisited the bill.

Lawmakers continued the debate on a familiar issue under the Gold Dome today as a bill legalizing sports betting made its annual appearance in the Senate. Lawmakers will convene again on Tuesday.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed HB 30, which creates a state definition of antisemitism, into law this afternoon. Rep. Esther Panitch, Georgia’s only Jewish lawmaker, said she is elated with the bill’s signing and the bipartisan effort to make it happen. 

Lawmakers started Day 12 with sad and shocking news. House Rules Chairman Richard Smith had died overnight after battling the flu. He was 78.