Wide-ranging legislation aimed at cracking down on rioting protesters in Georgia that criminal-justice advocates say could trample on free-speech rights faced debate in the General Assembly Tuesday.
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula, contains several proposals to punish vandalism and violence during protests such as those seen last summer in response to high-profile fatal shootings by police.
It seeks to “look at and redefine what peaceful assemblies were,” Robertson said, by making it a felony with fines and prison time to commit violent acts in gatherings of seven people or more, block a highway or road and deface public structures like monuments and cemeteries.
Mar 3, 2021
Protesters crowd in front of the Georgia State Capitol on June 15 demanding lawmakers take legislative action as they reconvene after a three month hiatus.Riley Bunch
ATLANTA â A state Senate committee squashed a bill that would have made blocking traffic during a protest a felony after strong opposition from civil rights groups and counties.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Brian Strickland of McDonough, heard testimony on the bill Tuesday but did not bring it to a vote Wednesday â a move that killed the bill.
The legislation would have needed to pass out of committee and a vote on the Senate floor before Crossover Day, March 8, to continue through the session.
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State Rep. Marty Harbin proposed legislation to ban transgender women from participating in high school sports in Georgia. (Photo by Matt Hennie)
A bill that bans transgender women from high school sports passed a Georgia Senate committee on Wednesday, becoming the fastest-moving of at least four anti-LGBTQ bills before lawmakers.
The “Save Girls Sports Act” from Sen. Marty Harbin, a Republican from Tyrone, passed the Senate Education & Youth Committee on a 5-3 party-line vote. It now moves to the Rules Committee – chaired by state Sen. Jeff Mullis, a co-sponsor of the bill – before a likely vote by the full state Senate.
Senate Panel Considering Bill That Makes Highway-Blocking Protests A Felony gpb.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gpb.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. Strickland bill to help convicted Georgians end probation early clears state Senate
A bill to tighten rules for allowing ex-offenders in Georgia to be released early from probation that should help thousands of people maintain jobs and housing passed out of the state Senate recently.
Sponsored by District 17 state Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, the bill would let first-time felons in Georgia sentenced to prison for 12 months or fewer seek early termination of their probation after they’ve been released, paid court fines and avoided another run-in with the law for two years.