The Gold Dome Download Wednesday, March 8, 2023 Happy Wednesday! This week has already been off to a busy start - as state lawmakers worked into the late hours on Monday to pass their final bills ahead of the Crossover Day deadline. Crossover Day is, of course, the last day for a bill to pass out of either the House or the Senate in order to be considered viable for final passage. However, even though certain bills "died" in their respective chambers, there still may be a chance for that legislation to make a comeback later this month as an amendment to a different bill. It's exactly why we'll continue to keep a close eye on the Gold Dome, and our lawmakers! This week's Gold Dome Download will give you a brief rundown on the bills that made the cut on Crossover, and that are now heading over to the opposite chamber for consideration. CROSSOVER LEGISLATION This session, 955 total pieces of legislation were introduced. As of today, 212 bills have passed the House and 151 have passed the Senate. Below are several of those many bills that made the Crossover cut. BUDGET: The House and Senate passed House Bill 18, the AFY23 Budget, and it now heads to the Governor's desk for signature. Of note, the budget contains almost $1B in property tax rebates for homeowners. TAX REBATES: House Bill 162 provides a one-time income tax refund of $250 for individuals and $500 for joint filers. It now heads to the Senate. ELECTIONS: Senate Bill 222, which Greater Georgia endorsed, passed the Senate. This bill bans election offices from accepting outside money to fund elections operations. PROTECTING CHILDREN: Senate Bill 140 bans health care providers from administering hormones or performing surgeries to change the gender of underaged children. It now heads to the House. EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS: Senate Bill 233 creates a $6,000 voucher program for students wishing to attend the private school of their choice. It now heads to the House. House Bill 538 requires the State Board of Education to approve materials to improve the literacy rate of students in Kindergarten-3rd grade. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 211, which establishes the Georgia Council on Literacy. SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS: Senate Bill 195 would cut red tape and expedite professional licenses for active duty service members, veterans, and their spouses. It now heads to the House. CRACKING DOWN ON CRIME: House Bill 505 elevates rioting from a misdemeanor to a felony, and imposes mandatory minimums for rioters. House Bill 500 makes setting fire to police cars a crime in Georgia. PROTECTING GEORGIA LAND: Senate Bill 132 bans foreign entities from purchasing Georgia farmland or any land in close proximity to our military bases. It now heads to the House. HATE CRIMES: House Bill 30 defines antisemitism to aid prosecutions for antisemitic hate crimes. It now heads to the Senate. KNOW YOUR STATE SENATE & HOUSE MEMBERS Senate Rules Chairman Senator Matt Brass Senator Matt Brass represents the 28th Senate District which covers Newnan, Georgia. Senator Brass is the Chairman of the Rules Committee and is on the Children and Families Committee, Education and Youth Committee, Health and Human Services Committee, Natural Resources and the Environment Committee, Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, and Administrative Affairs Committee. Senator Brass has 6 sponsored bills this session, including an education bill (SB86) which headed to the House on March 2nd. Click HERE to visit the Senate website. House Rules Chairman Representative Richard Smith Representative Richard Smith represents the 139th House District which encompasses Columbus, Georgia. Representative Smith is the House Rules Committee Chairman and also serves on the Appropriations, Insurance, Natural Resources and the Environment, and Reapportionment and Redistricting committees. Representative Smith has sponsored numerous bills this session (HB125 & HB210), both of which have passed the House AND Senate. Click HERE to visit the House website. LATEST FROM GREATER GEORGIA HOLDING STACEY ABRAMS ACCOUNTABLE: Greater Georgia initially called for an investigation into Stacey Abrams' New Georgia Project (NGP) in November after top officials at the organization accused it of “gross financial malfeasance.” Since then, reporting from The Washington Free Beacon has revealed a whole trove of alleged illegal activity by NGP, and top state officials have formally launched an investigation. Greater Georgia weighed in on it last week. From the press release: “The web of political 'voting rights' organizations built to fuel Stacey Abrams’ celebrity and fundraising is under needed scrutiny. Not only did these groups invest millions to perpetuate the voter suppression myth, but they did so using apparently illegal tactics," said Loeffler. "These allegations impair the work of every legitimate organization working honestly and legally to empower and protect Georgia voters. This is why I applaud our state's oversight agencies for taking action to investigate fraudulent front groups in Georgia, before they can interfere in our next election cycle." To read the full press release, CLICK HERE. FOLLOW THE PROCESS  Stay up to date on all things under the Gold Dome including committee hearings, track legislation, and more by visiting, www.legis.ga.gov. You can also follow @GASenatePress and @GaHouseHub on Twitter to get legislative updates in real time. Finally, you can search for and contact your state legislators by clicking HERE. WHAT WE'RE READING WSJ – S.O.S for the U.S. Electric Grid Fox News – Lori Lightfoot slammed for suggesting voters oppose her because she's a Black woman in power: Her 'time is up' Boston Globe – It's not a matter for giggles : Georgia grand juror draws criticism speaking extensively about proceedings Fox News – Zuckerberg-funded group violated Georgia law with $2M for elections board: watchdog Breitbart – Democrat-Run Atlanta’s ‘Cop City’ Hit with Antifa Terrorist Attack GET INVOLVED Greater Georgia's work is critical to defending conservative values, and it is only possible through the hard work and support of strong, grassroots volunteers. We need your help! — Click the buttons below to find out how you can join the fight for conservative values. VOLUNTEER INTERN To learn more, visit www.greatergeorgia.com, and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest information. Paid for by Greater Georgia Action, Inc. 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