-
2 weeks ago | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon |Claire Becknell |Sean Keenan
It wasn’t the usual late-night lawmaking frenzy under the Gold Dome for Sine Die on Friday. The Georgia legislature passed the state’s annual budget — $38 billion this year — in the morning and adjourned relatively early on April 5, the last day of the 2025 legislative session. The Senate wrapped up around 9:15 p.m., and the House concluded just over an hour later.
-
1 month ago | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon |Claire Becknell |Sean Keenan
Georgia lawmakers spent about 12 hours on Crossover Day last week, angling to push legislation over a crucial hurdle for a chance at becoming law. Atlanta Civic Circle tracked a slate of proposals regarding democracy, labor, and housing that passed — or failed — just before legislators clocked out around 11 p.m on March 6. That was the final opportunity to move bills to the other legislative chamber for a chance at adoption this year.
-
1 month ago | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Claire Becknell |Sean Keenan |Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon
Georgia’s legislative session is fast approaching Crossover Day, the March 6 deadline for bills to stay in play, by getting passed in their originating chamber and “crossing over” to the other chamber. Atlanta Civic Circle has been tracking bills that would affect free speech, civil liberties, and ballot access, along with others that would regulate workplace conditions and big landlords. Here’s where they stand and which ones could make it past Crossover Day.
-
Jan 15, 2025 | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Claire Becknell
Committees play a critical role in the Georgia legislative session, which kicked off Jan. 13. These smaller groups of legislators focused on specific policy areas are the ones who actually determine a bill’s fate — whether it moves forward, is amended, or is rejected. “The committee stage is so critical because it literally determines what bills actually get passed, changed, or defeated,” said Christopher Bruce, the policy director for the ACLU of Georgia.
-
Jan 7, 2025 | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Claire Becknell
Inside the Carter Center on Sunday afternoon, hundreds of visitors paid tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, a man whose impact – from the peanut fields of rural Georgia to the global stage – continues to ripple through generations. Carter’s body was transported from his hometown of Plains, Georgia, to the Carter Center in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 4, starting a week-long public memorial to honor his 100-year life.
-
Dec 30, 2024 | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Claire Becknell
I have spent the past year navigating the complexities of local democracy for Atlanta Civic Circle, first as a college intern and then as a reporter. It’s undeniable that 2024 was a tumultuous year for democracy in Atlanta. The relentless electoral cycle of party primaries, a contentious General Election, and high-stakes runoffs meant that voters – and journalists – barely had time to catch their breath.
-
Dec 19, 2024 | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon |Claire Becknell
Atlanta’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has been in the news lately, facing criticism from Mayor Andre Dickens, accusations of “unprofessional” investigations from the city attorney, and possible new restrictions from a specially convened city council task force. Amid the drama, it’s easy to forget that the city of Atlanta actually has two additional independent oversight offices — the Ethics Office and the City Auditor.
-
Dec 4, 2024 | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Claire Becknell
Gwinnett County voters’ rejection of a Transit Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) last month marked yet another setback in the county’s decades-long push to expand public transit. The referendum, which proposed a 1% sales tax over the next 30 years to generate $12.4 billion for new rapid bus lines and shuttle service, was rejected by 53% of voters, leaving Gwinnett transit officials reevaluating their plans.
-
Nov 27, 2024 | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Claire Becknell
In the aftermath of the last election, some local Gen-Zers say they are losing trust in the institutions that underpin American democracy, from elections to political parties. These young voters said they didn’t feel adequately represented by the presidential choices on the ballot. That, combined with the overwhelming influence of corporate money in political campaigns, they said, is eroding their faith in electoral politics as the backbone of democratic governance.
-
Nov 13, 2024 | 
atlantaciviccircle.org | Claire Becknell
The recent failure of Cobb County’s voter referendum for the Mobility Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (MSPLOST) – a 30-year penny sales tax to expand the county’s bus and shuttle system – has left city officials and transit advocates contemplating the path forward.
