Your tip sheet: Rural Georgia represent, y’all

Days remaining in the 2017 legislative session: 10

It’s another getaway day in the General Assembly and both chambers start earlier than normal: The Senate convenes at 9 a.m.; the House at 9:30.

Neither has much heavy lifting on the floor, although the House will consider — and easily pass — House Resolution 389, which creates the Rural Development Council. While it’s sponsored by Rep. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie, it is the baby of  Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge.

The council will travel the state and recommend legislation in years to come to bolster economic development across rural Georgia.

Among the two bills up in the Senate is House Bill 264, which would double the ability of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority to issue its own revenue bonds up to $400 million.

The move comes amid talk of redeveloping the site of the now-closed Georgia Dome to include a new hotel.

Committee schedules are sparse (it’s getaway day, after all), but one to watch is the Senate Education and Youth Committee because it is expected to pick up more testimony about House Bill 338, the recast school turnaround bill. It meets at 1 p.m. in Room 307 CLOB.

 

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