State lawmakers wrap up 2024 legislative session

What passed:

💰 Budget: The state's roughly $36 billion budget cleared both chambers hours before the session wrapped up.

🚨 Immigration: HB 1105 requires local jails to notify the federal government if a person detained is an undocumented person and would penalize local governments that offer "immigration sanctuary policies."

🗳 Elections: Lawmakers approved a last-minute change to Georgia election laws that includes banning QR codes on ballots.

☀️ Solar power: A bill putting solar companies on the hook for decommissioning large-scale installations on farmland passed.

🏎 Street drag racing: A measure increasing the penalties for laying drag and street racing now heads to the governor's desk for a signature.

💇‍♀️ Cosmetology: SB 354 would not require people who shampoo and blow dry hair and apply makeup to obtain a state cosmetology license.

🚌 School buses: The fine for motorists who pass a school bus that's picking up or dropping off passengers would increase from $250 to $1,000 under this legislation.

What didn't pass:

⛏ Okefenokee mining: The Senate declined to take up a measure designed to pause, but not prohibit, the permitting of new mining operations near the Okefenokee Swamp.

⚖️ Wrongful convictions: Lawmakers failed to pass legislation to reform how Georgia compensates individuals who are wrongfully convicted of crimes.

📚 ALA: A bill that requires the Georgia Library System to cut ties with the American Library Association died in the House Higher Education Committee.

🏈 Sports betting: Lawmakers didn't consider a proposed referendum asking voters to approve or reject online sports gambling

🏳️‍⚧️ Transgender youth: House lawmakers chose not to take up a measure banning the use of puberty-blocking medication for transgender minors.