ATLANTA --- This week, the House is expected to consider separate proposals on how to raise additional taxes for transportation while the Senate votes on replacing the main transportation agency.
The House and Senate begin on their next phase of budget writing. The House Appropriations Committee begins work on the full budget for the next fiscal year that starts July 1.
The Senate will vote on the midyear budget adjustment that the House passed last week.
The Senate will vote on a proposal to transfer how the money is spent from the Department of Transportation to a new agency.
The measure would give control of the new State Transportation Authority to a board selected by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House.
"We expect to have the reorganization of transportation on the floor, and that, of course, will be the major vote next week," said Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock.
After the Transportation Department's board voted Thursday to fire Commissioner Gena Evans, many legislators concluded that the agency was in need of replacement, according to Mr. Rogers.
STATUS OF KEY BILLS
HOUSE BILL 39
Cigarette tax increase of $1 per pack
Status: House Ways and Means Committee
HOUSE BILL 118
The midyear adjustment to the current budget, including providing for the $428 million Homeowners Tax Relief Grants to local government
Status: House passed, Senate Appropriations Committee
HOUSE BILL 119
Fiscal-year 2010 budget, including Gov. Sonny Perdue's recommendation for a 1.6 percent tax on hospitals, 10 percent spending cuts and a $1.2 billion stimulus package
Status: House Appropriations Committee
HOUSE BILL 160
Mr. Perdue's "super speeder" bill to boost fines $200 for drivers exceeding 85 mph on Interstate highways and 75 on other roads
Status: House Rules Committee
HOUSE BILL 233
Caps local property-tax assessments for two years at the current level or lower
Status: Conference committee
HOUSE BILL 277
Levies a 1 percent sales tax statewide for transportation projects over 10 years
Status: House Transportation Committee passed, set for full House vote Tuesday
HOUSE BILL 597
Extending the moratorium against storing treated surface water in the Floridan Aquifer
Status: House Natural Resources Committee
HOUSE BILL 605
House version of bill to transfer state transportation construction from the Department of Transportation to the new State Transportation Authority
Status: House Transportation Committee
HOUSE RESOLUTION 1
Capping local assessments on property at 3 percent for residential, 4 percent commercial
Status: Won a majority in the House, but is awaiting a second House vote to see if it gains a super majority of two-thirds needed as a constitutional amendment
SENATE BILL 16
Permits local voters to approve the sale of packaged alcohol on Sundays
Status: Senate Committee on Regulated Industries & Utilities
SENATE BILL 31
Allows Georgia Power Co. to charge customers the costs of nuclear plants before operation begins
Status: Governor's desk
SENATE BILL 39
Constitutional amendment to allow counties to levy a 1 percent sales tax for transportation for projects of their choice
Status: Passed the Senate, pending in House Rules Committee
SENATE BILL 83
Allows voters to decide to double the statewide homestead property tax exemption for residences to $4,000
Status: Senate passed, pending in the House Rules Committee
SENATE BILL 90
Establishes vouchers to use taxpayer funds for families to pay private-school tuition
Status: Senate Rules Committee
SENATE BILL 101
Mr. Perdue's proposal to exempt the makers of drugs and medical devices from product liability suits
Status: Defeated in Senate Special Judiciary
SENATE BILL 108
Mr. Perdue's tort-reform bill to charge attorney fees to plaintiffs when a judge grants a defendant's motion to dismiss
Status: Senate Special Judiciary
SENATE BILL 200
Transfer state transportation construction from the Department of Transportation to the new State Transportation Authority
Status: Senate Rules Committee
SENATE RESOLUTION 44
Constitutional amendment to create a 1 percent special-purpose, local-option sales tax for transportation
Status: Passed the Senate, pending in House Transportation Committee
Wholesale revision of the laws dealing with juvenile offenders
Status: Not yet introduced
Source: Georgia General Assembly
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