On Thursday, March 24, the 2016 legislative session came to an end when the House and Senate completed the 40th and final legislative day, also known as “Sine Die.” Sine die is a Latin term meaning “without assigning a day for further meeting.” When we convened for the final two days of session this week, we gave final passage to a number of bills, and we worked late into the night both days to ensure that important legislation for our state had every opportunity to be considered this year.
FY 2017 Budget
Of all of the legislation passed by the General Assembly this session, the only one that had to pass was House Bill 751, which establishes the state budget for Fiscal Year 2017 and received final, overwhelming approval in the House by a vote of 171-1 during the last week of session. The final version of the budget resulted from the work of a House and Senate conference committee where appointees from both chambers met to work out the differences between each body’s versions of the budget.
As the only piece of legislation that we are constitutionally required to pass each session, the Fiscal Year 2017 budget will guide all state spending from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, and HB 751 set the budget at $23.7 billion, an increase of $673.9 million, or 2.9%, over last year’s budget. As a result, the House was able to fund a number of its priorities, including a 3% pay increase for state employees who have not had a raise in several years, as well as a one time 3% bonus for state retirees who have not seen a cost of living adjustment in a long time.
The final version of HB 751 also adds important funding for public safety, healthcare, and transportation initiatives throughout Georgia, all while keeping our state’s total debt low, our “rainy day funds” high, and maintaining our AAA bond rating.
I was pleased to work with the other members of the Habersham County delegation to make certain that $12.5 million remained in the budget for North Georgia Technical College. This money will be used for much needed renovations and improvements. NGTC is vital to our area, and is one of our community’s greatest assets.
HB 757
Probably the most talked about bill of the Session was the Religious Freedom Bill. I proudly supported and voted for this legislation as it would allow those with deeply held religious beliefs to be further protected by Georgia law in how they choose to worship. The bill included language that insured that public employees must complete their public obligations, however it offered more safeguards to organizations and individuals to freely practice their faith. The bill also included language that insured that no individual or group may be discriminated against. The bill in large measure mirrored a federal law which has been in effect since 1993. It came after more than a year of hard work and evaluation by a number of state leaders, and was seen by the General Assembly as a reasonable answer to the controversy surrounding religious liberties we have seen over the past few years.
This week Governor Deal exercised his veto power, and the bill will not be signed into law. Like the majority of this district, I’m disappointed, but I firmly believe that we will see this again next year. It is to important of an issue to not be resolved.
Military Protection Act
On a personal note, I was proud to sponsor HB12, the Military Protection Act. This bill unanimously passed the House and was combined with Senate Bill 270 on our last day. It protects our veterans status and integrity, and stops those who try to claim awards and decorations they were never entitled to. Over 1.3 million American soldiers have died in combat, and millions more have proudly worn the uniform of the armed services to protect our freedoms. We owe it to them to make certain their honor is not compromised. I’m looking forward to being with Governor Deal, and seeing this bill signed into law.
What’s next?
Now that these bills, as well as a number of others, have passed both the House and Senate, and the General Assembly’s 2016 legislative session has adjourned sine die, they are currently in the hands of the Governor Deal. As stipulated in our state constitution, the governor has 40 days to sign or veto the legislation. This means that any bill or resolution that the governor has not vetoed by Tuesday, May 3, 2016, will become state law in the coming months.
Although the session is over, I hope that you will continue to contact me with any concerns that you might have regarding your state government. As always, you are my top priority. You can reach me locally at 706 754 0706 or by email at [email protected]. I’m really glad to be home and spending more time around the district. Thank you for allowing me to represent the finest people in Georgia!
About the Author
Rep. Terry Rogers (R-Clarkesville) represents Georgia House District 10. His district includes portions of Habersham and White Counties.
