Transportation funding:
Last year the leadership in the General Assembly failed to pass a much needed transportation funding plan in the waning minutes of the session. It would have allowed counties to band together and, with voter approval, pass a 1 cent sales tax that would have to be dedicated to transportation needs for that region, such as mass transit. Governor Perdue is also expected to propose $1 billion in bond issues for state transportation projects to help stimulate the economy.
Trauma Care: Another big issue this session will be finding a permanent funding source to improve Georgia's woefully inadequate trauma care network. Governor Perdue is proposing charging hospitals and health insurance companies a fee to help fund a trauma care network and shore up the state's Medicaid budget. Estimates show that improving Georgia's trauma care network would lower accidental deaths by 14 percent. Last year there was a proposal to raise the car tag renewal fee to $10 to help build a better trauma care network. However, it died on the last day of the session because the leadership in the General Assembly failed to come to an agreement.
Capping property tax assessments: House Speaker Glenn Richardson is backing House Resolution 1 which would limit annual property tax assessment increases to 3 percent, or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. In 2008 Speaker Richardson pushed a plan to replace all property taxes with increased sales taxes. Eventually it morphed into the elimination of ad valorem tax on your vehicles. But in another failure, the leadership in the General Assembly on the last day of the session couldn't agree on any tax cut for the citizens of Georgia. Other tax measures being proposed include freezing ad valorem taxes at their base level and legislation protecting the $428 million homeowner tax relief grants that were put in place by Governor Barnes.
Unanimous Jury Verdicts for the Death Penalty: State Rep. Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica) plans to introduce legislation abolishing the requirement of a unanimous jury vote to impose death, lowering the standard to a 10-2 vote instead. A unanimous vote would also no longer be needed to win a conviction in a non-murder felony case. Under Bearden's bill, an 11-1 vote for conviction would be sufficient. If approved, Georgia would become one of five states that does not mandate a unanimous jury verdict to impose death.
Vouchers: State Senator Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) plans to introduce legislation in January 2009 that would give each public school student a voucher equal to the money the state currently spends on his or her education. The voucher could be used for tuition at the parents' school of choice -- public, private or religious.
Sunday Sales: Senator Seth Harp (R-Columbus) has indicated he will introduce in the 2009 session of the General Assembly legislation which allows stores to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays.
Metal Health: Governor Perdue is planning to turn over the state' seven mental health hospitals to a private company this year. The state's mental health hospitals are under investigation by the Justice Department because they have been vastly understaffed.
