What passed on Crossover Day at the Georgia General Assembly
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Georgia state lawmakers worked overtime on Crossover Day on Thursday, advancing proposals to ban THC-infused drinks, require moped insurance and continue cutting the state's income tax.
Why it matters: Crossover Day is the last opportunity for a bill at the Georgia General Assembly to move from one chamber to another.
- Though there are ways to get around it, the odds of legislation becoming law get pretty slim if the measure fails to pass the House or Senate by the end of Crossover Day.
Zoom in: Here are important pieces of legislation that passed Thursday.
Escaped the House
Income tax: State reps OK'd cutting the state income tax rate and sending up to $500 tax refunds — legislative priorities for Gov. Brian Kemp that cost nearly $2 billion — to Georgia residents.
- Democrats said the tax cut would mostly benefit the affluent, with most people living on low and middle incomes seeing a roughly $70 annual benefit.
- "Y'all, you can't even afford a dozen eggs for $6 a month," House Minority Whip Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville) said.
MARTA: Lawmakers approved MARTA's request to mount cameras on buses that will ticket the owners of cars parked in the Summerhill bus rapid transit-only line.
More Mulberry: A proposal to expand the city limits of the recently created City of Mulberry to include 45 houses, business and other properties passed with Democrats who represent the Gwinnett County area leading the opposition.
Vroom vroom: House reps overwhelmingly supported legislation requiring moped drivers to carry insurance to cover accident liability claims.
Survived the Senate
Cannabis and medical marijuana: Lawmakers added surprise language on legislation limiting the total amount of Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC in hemp-infused products with an outright ban on drinks with the psychoactive compounds.
- Yes, but: Not long afterward, senators passed legislation upping the maximum potency of low-THC oil available through Georgia's medical marijuana program.
School safety: Named after victims of the Apalachee High School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings, "Ricky and Alyssa's Law" would require school systems to install panic alarm systems.
- The Senate also approved legislation that would make "terroristic threat of a school or terroristic act upon a school" a felony offense.
What's next: Lawmakers in the chamber across the Capitol get to craft — or in General Assembly-speak, "perfect" — laws that affect residents and businesses' rights, safety and bank accounts.
What's next: Lawmakers reconvene on Monday, March 10. Sine Die, the final day of the legislative session, is Friday, April 4.