Greg Morris
‘State Representative’
(R-Vidalia)
Legislative Report from the People’s House
This week we are scheduled to convene for day 39 and day 40, ending the 2015 legislative session. I will inform you on a series of future reports about the fate of bills we have discussed in past reports. Today, I will update you on three bills that my constituents have shown great interest in.
SB 1 - Ava’s Law
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Speaker David Ralston, Senator Charlie Bethel, Rep. Richard Smith, Senator Tommie Williams and I have worked out a compromise that will clear the way for a vote on Ava’s Law as early as day 39. We agreed to attach SB 1 to Rep. Ron Stephens end of life insurance coverage bill, HB 429.
This was a truly remarkable development. Just hours before this compromise, SB 1 seemed destined to end the session without a vote in the House. I know this news is the answer for many of your prayers. Now we have to close the deal, and we only have two legislative days to win the victory. Keep praying and know that the hard work I put into getting the compromise will not let up until Ava’s law is sitting on Governor Deal’s desk to be signed into law.
HB 17 – The Hidden Predator Act
HB 17 was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with minor changes and has a tentative schedule to be voted on by the Full Senate on day 39. It is possible the House could receive any changes made to HB 17 in the Senate on the same day if the bill is immediately transmitted back to the House. If no further changes are made to HB 17 in the Senate, the House could agree to the Senate substitutes and send the Hidden Predator Act to Governor Deal for his signature.
HB 170 - Transportation Tax
The House and Senate have appointed six conferees to work out a compromise on the difference between the two chambers’ version of the transportation tax. The Senate version calls for a lower excise tax, but a $25 per vehicle fee. There are other differences, but these are the main two. To add to the drama, Governor Deal has indicated that if the House and Senate do not come to compromise on this bill by day 40, he will call the Legislature into a special session until we pass a bill increasing revenue (the polite word for taxes) for transportation. That occurrence would be very unfortunate. Each day the legislature is in session costs the taxpayers around $80,000.00 per day - talk about adding insult to injury… increased taxes on gasoline, and paying $80,000.00 a day to have it to happen.
So, there it is. Two legislative days left. A real chance to pass Ava’s law, which is a great bill. A possible special session this year, a bad idea. HB 170 that would increase the tax on gasoline, an even worse idea in my opinion, and we are on track to pass HB 17 to protect children from sexual predators, which is a much needed bill. Not to mention our constitutional requirement to pass the 2016 budget that is still pending. That is a lot of work for two days but I am ready.
Representative Greg Morris represents the citizens of District 156, which includes portions of Appling, Jeff Davis, Montgomery, and Toombs counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1998, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Banks & Banking Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources and the Code Revision, Natural Resources & Environment, and Rules committees.
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Speaker David Ralston, Senator Charlie Bethel, Rep. Richard Smith, Senator Tommie Williams and I have worked out a compromise that will clear the way for a vote on Ava’s Law as early as day 39. We agreed to attach SB 1 to Rep. Ron Stephens end of life insurance coverage bill, HB 429.
This was a truly remarkable development. Just hours before this compromise, SB 1 seemed destined to end the session without a vote in the House. I know this news is the answer for many of your prayers. Now we have to close the deal, and we only have two legislative days to win the victory. Keep praying and know that the hard work I put into getting the compromise will not let up until Ava’s law is sitting on Governor Deal’s desk to be signed into law.
HB 17 – The Hidden Predator Act
HB 17 was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with minor changes and has a tentative schedule to be voted on by the Full Senate on day 39. It is possible the House could receive any changes made to HB 17 in the Senate on the same day if the bill is immediately transmitted back to the House. If no further changes are made to HB 17 in the Senate, the House could agree to the Senate substitutes and send the Hidden Predator Act to Governor Deal for his signature.
HB 170 - Transportation Tax
The House and Senate have appointed six conferees to work out a compromise on the difference between the two chambers’ version of the transportation tax. The Senate version calls for a lower excise tax, but a $25 per vehicle fee. There are other differences, but these are the main two. To add to the drama, Governor Deal has indicated that if the House and Senate do not come to compromise on this bill by day 40, he will call the Legislature into a special session until we pass a bill increasing revenue (the polite word for taxes) for transportation. That occurrence would be very unfortunate. Each day the legislature is in session costs the taxpayers around $80,000.00 per day - talk about adding insult to injury… increased taxes on gasoline, and paying $80,000.00 a day to have it to happen.
So, there it is. Two legislative days left. A real chance to pass Ava’s law, which is a great bill. A possible special session this year, a bad idea. HB 170 that would increase the tax on gasoline, an even worse idea in my opinion, and we are on track to pass HB 17 to protect children from sexual predators, which is a much needed bill. Not to mention our constitutional requirement to pass the 2016 budget that is still pending. That is a lot of work for two days but I am ready.
Representative Greg Morris represents the citizens of District 156, which includes portions of Appling, Jeff Davis, Montgomery, and Toombs counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1998, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Banks & Banking Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources and the Code Revision, Natural Resources & Environment, and Rules committees.
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