Notable 2017 legislation
- Ban Sanctuary Campuses
- Allow Beer Sales at Breweries
- Criminalize Protest
- Campus Carry
- Establish Education Turnaround Advisory Council
- Immigrant Registration
- Prevent Universities from Investigating Sexual Assault
Ban Sanctuary Campuses (HB 37)
A bill that would punish schools in Georgia that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration police.
Voting yes to ban sanctuary campuses: Cowsert, Ginn, Quick, Williams
Voting no: Frye
Bill sponsored by: Earl Ehrhart, Chuck Williams
Signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal
Allow Beer Sales at Breweries (SB 85)
This bill allows breweries to sell up to 3,000 barrels of malt beverages per year direct to the consumer.
Voting yes to allow beer sales at breweries: Cowsert, Ginn, Frye, Quick, Williams
Bill sponsored by: Rick Jeffares, Frank Ginn, Bill Cowsert
Signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal
Criminalize Protest (SB 160)
This bill imposed mandatory minimum prison sentences for those convicted of aggravated assault against a police officer and increases the penalty for obstructing highways, streets, sidewalks or other public passages to a ‘misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.’
Voting yes to criminalize protest: Cowsert, Ginn, Williams
Voting no: Frye
Absent: Quick
Bill sponsored by: Tyler Harper, Bill Cowsert
Signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal
Campus Carry (HB 280)
This bill allowed concealed carry permit holders to carry firearms on the campus of any public university in the state of Georgia.
Voting yes to allow campus carry: Ginn, Quick, Williams
Voting no: Cowsert, Frye
Bill sponsored by: Mandy Ballinger
Signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal
Establish Education Turnaround Advisory Council (HB 338)
The progressive group Athens for Everyone described this legislation as follows: “This bill seeks to turn around low-performing schools and has been called “plan B” to the Amendment 1 referendum in 2016. A4E opposes this bill because–like Amendment 1, which voters handily rejected in November– it gives immense power to a political appointee, has no dedicated funding stream, and is overall punitive in its approach to school improvement.”
Voting yes to establish the turnaround council: Cowsert, Ginn, Frye, Quick, Williams
Bill sponsored by: Kevin Tanner
Signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal
Immigrant Registration (HB 452)
This bill requires the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to share information it receives from the federal government about the release of immigrants from federal custody with Georgia sheriffs and post it online.
Voting yes to start an immigrant registry: Cowsert, Ginn, Frye, Quick, Williams
Bill sponsored by: Jesse Petrea
Signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal
Prevent Universities from Investigating Sexual Assault (HB 51)
This bill would have required any felony investigations involving students at Georgia colleges and universities to wait for a police investigation to conclude prior to any university actions being taken.
Voting yes to prevent investigations: Quick, Williams
Voting no: Frye
Bill sponsored by: Earl Ehrhart, Regina Quick
Passed the House but not the Senate.