The debate over the hate-crimes measure is now starting in the state Senate, and Republican Brian Strickland has asked that it be engrossed to restrict amendments that supporters fear could jeopardize a compromise. It prevailed. #gapol
Before a full debate on hate-crimes, Senate lawmakers took up House Bill 838, which was designed to protect first-responders like police officers from "bias motivated" crimes. It passed 33-20 on a party-line vote and is headed to the Georgia House. #gapol
"A knife's edge." "On the precipice." Veteran Capitol observers out in the hallway stress that hate-crimes measure is no done deal yet, especially with the Senate's passage of this measure now pending in the House. #gapol
“It is truly a privilege to be with you,” said Republican state Sen. Bill Cowsert, introducing the Senate version of a hate-crimes measure that’s poised for a vote. Georgia is one of 4 states without the statute, and it’s been a perennial debate here for years. #gapol
It appears a House-Senate compromise has been struck over hate-crimes law. Speaker Ralston's top aide, Spiro Amburn, says:
"Real time statesmanship is taking place between the leaders of the two chambers. Stay tuned." #gapol
I’m told the House is poised to take up the Senate version of the bill as-is today with no changes after it passes this chamber. By day’s end, Georgia could have a hate crimes measure headed to @GovKemp’s desk, tho it’s uncertain when he would sign it. #gapol
That’s another issue: If the bill isn’t signed by July 1, then it defaults to a January 1 effective date. Supporters obviously want it signed into law ASAP. #gapol
A sense of the moment from Democratic Sen. Nan Orrock: “You could have said a week ago that we wouldn’t be in this place. But we’re here because people opened their eyes and their ears" to racial injustice. #gapol
The lone opponent (so far) is Republican state Sen. Bill Heath, long considered a solid "no" vote. He worries that anti-gay pastors could get caught up in a tracking database required by the law. #gapol
Republican state Sen. Renee Unterman said she’s faced discrimination since she converted to Judaism, including in her recent #ga07 campaign. At a Christmas parade in the suburban district, she says rival Rich McCormick goaded her to wear an Xmas sweater. #gapol
She said she had flashbacks to when she was Loganville mayor and a hate group's newspaper was regularly delivered to her doorstep. "What he was doing to me was not a hate crime, but it was belittling me because of my religion and my faith." #gapol
Meanwhile, House Democrats are taking a caucus stand against HB 838, a separate measure that extends special protections to police as part of a hate-crimes compromise. @MayaTPrabhu has more on the proposal: #gapol ajc.com/news/state--re…
Applause rings out on the Senate floor after hate-crimes legislation passes 47-6. It’s headed to the House where it’s set to be approved later today and then to @GovKemp’s desk. He’s expected to sign it - tho he hasn’t said definitively. #gapol
Full @MayaTPrabhu story here: #gapol ajc.com/news/state--re…
A “historic day,” says Republican Rep. @ChuckEfstration as the Georgia House prepares to give final approval to a hate-crimes bill. #gapol
The House has given final approval to a hate-crimes law, sending the measure to @GovKemp. Advocates have pushed for this since a previous law was struck down in 2004, but it took the movement for racial justice after #AhmaudArbery’s death to get it passed in the Senate. #gapol
Georgia @GovKemp says in a statement he plans to sign the hate-crimes legislation pending a legal review. Full statement: “Governor Kemp commends the General Assembly’s bipartisan work and will sign House Bill 426 pending legal review.” #gapol
This measure seemed to be going nowhere until graphic video of #AhmaudArbery’s death emerged, galvanizing supporters to say it was a first step in enacting more sweeping criminal justice changes. #gapol ajc.com/blog/politics/…
“My family thanks everyone for not letting my son's death be in vain. I know he is still with us and this law is evidence of that and I look forward to being present when it is signed," says #AhmadArbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones. #gapol
Says @GeorgiaDemocrat chair @NikemaWilliams: “We will not forget that this bill only came to light after 14 years of delays under Republican leadership, the murder of Black men before our eyes, and the pain of marginalized communities across our state.” #gapol
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