2012 Legislative Session Wrap-out April 6th, 2012
State Representative Jay Roberts
Looking back over the 2012 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly, we worked hard to achieve the goals that we set. My pre-session weekly discussed our priorities as we started the new year. Our agenda during the 2012 session was to focus on: a fiscally responsible and balanced budget, education, reforming the tax code, and job growth and economic development.
All of the legislation, which includes 172 bills (in addition to local legislation), that passed both the House and Senate this session will now go to Governor Deal. Within forty days from the end of session, the Governor can either sign the legislation and it will become law, he can leave the bill and the legislation will automatically become law without his signature, or he can veto the legislation. To stay informed on which bills Governor Deal has signed, please visit: http://gov.georgia.gov and click on the legislation tab followed by 2012 bills signed.
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The Georgia General Assembly now has three days of session remaining for the 2012 legislative session. Major accomplishments took place this week at the Capitol, which was a product of bipartisan support and cooperation. The highlight was the passage by both the House and Senate of Tax Reform and also the passage of Criminal Justice Reform by the House. Both were top priorities for the session. Although many other pieces of legislation were passed this week, due to the significant and importance of Tax Reform and Criminal Justice Reform, both are discussed in detail below. Tax Reform ensures that our state remains pro-business and lessens the burden on our citizens and Criminal Justice Reform will help to change our court system in Georgia by making it a priority to help the non-violent offenders once again become a valuable part of our society.
The Georgia General Assembly is in the final stretch of the 2012 legislative session with only seven official days of session remaining. With the passage of Cross-Over Day last week, our days will consist of the House reviewing, debating, and voting on Senate bills that have passed that chamber and vice versa. As legislators, our time under the Gold Dome will be utilized by attending multiple daily House Committee meetings debating Senate legislation, voting on bills during session on the House floor, and following the legislation we have sponsored to the other chamber. When my House colleagues and I sponsor and pass legislation in the House, we must follow our legislation through the Senate process as well, including our participation in many Senate Committee meetings. As the sponsor of legislation, it is important to follow our bills to ensure that the intended goal of our legislation is clearly explained and defined, as well as being available to answer any questions regarding our proposed legislation. This requires our attendance in the Senate Committee meetings to which our bills have been assigned. 
This week during the 2012 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly, major milestones were accomplished, including the busiest day of the session thus far for legislators. The day referred to as "Crossover Day" is the thirtieth day of session and is significant in the fact that the bills which were not passed by one chamber have officially died for the session and will not have the possibility of becoming law. Crossover day is the last day that a bill must pass either the House or Senate and must "cross over" from one chamber to the other in order to be considered for potential passage into law. With ten legislative days of session left, the pace under the Gold Dome has increased considerably. Now that Crossover Day is complete, the House will focus on debating Senate legislation throughout the same Committee process and journey that bills sponsored by members of the House undertook.
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