Tax-Freeze Bill Introduced. This week, I formally introduced and presented to the House Ways & Means Committee House Resolution 1170, a tax measure that would freeze a home's value for county property-tax purposes at the purchase price. This measure encourages long- term community citizenship and protects those on fixed incomes from being forced out of their homes by unfair increases.

Committee Action. The House Judiciary Non- Civil Committee completed nearly two hours of hearings on my felony DUI legislation, House Bill 336. In addition to punishing repeat offenders, the measure mandates that first-time offenders complete a drug and alcohol evaluation and receive any necessary treatment. Early intervention will decrease the chances of an offender committing the same offense again. A committee vote on the bill is expected early next week.

If drunk driving is an issue about which you are concerned, please contact your friends and family and who live in other areas of Georgia and ask them to contact their state Representatives and Senators to urge them to support HB 336.

The Committee also took action on House Bill 997, approving the legislation which seeks to improve the accuracy of eyewitness identifications. I am a co-sponsor of the bill.

House Action. The House unanimously passed House Bill 157 to allow educators, who are retired for at least a year, to return schools as teachers, principals or superintendents while continuing to receive retirement benefits. This measure will help return qualified educators to schools where they are needed.

House Bill 941, which also passed without opposition, lowers the eligibility age to sixty for older citizens to receive free tuition within the University of Georgia system.

House Bill 296, which also passed nearly unanimously, limits the times when special elections for ballot questions - such as a local sales taxes - can be held. The bill ties voting days to the times when candidate elections are held to increase the likelihood of voter participation.

The House also approved HB 1014, which expands the number of tax-deductible higher education savings plans available to Georgia taxpayers under the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan program.

Governor Approves Water Plan. The Governor signed the statewide water management plan with better conservation and better management of water resources as its main goals. The plan provides a framework for regional planning to meet the twin goals of economic sustainability and environmental preservation.

Fiscal Year 2008 Amended Budget. The House voted this week to adopt the Fiscal Year 2008 amended budget, which provides supplemental state funding through June 30, 2008, when the next fiscal year begins. The amended budget includes funding for a statewide trauma network, 500 new school buses and $40 million for the construction of reservoirs to plan for the state's future water needs. The amended budget now moves to the Senate for consideration, and the focus shifts in the House to completing the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget.

"Pure" Rumor. Many of you have contacted me about a rumor that the controversial club "Pure" would be re-opening in an Oak Grove-area shopping center. After contacting the office of Commissioner Jeff Rader, I have been assured, based on a conversation with the property's leasing agent, that the rumor is nothing more than that, rumor.

Upcoming Meeting

Emory Lavista Parent Council (ELPC). The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 20, at 9:15 a.m. at the Oak Grove Elementary School. ELPC provides a community forum during the school year to hear from speakers and to address educational issues. ELPC schools serving our district include: Lakeside High School; Henderson and Shamrock Middle Schools, Briarlake, Evansdale, Hawthorne, Henderson Mill, Oak Grove and Pleasantdale Elementary Schools.

If you are interested in more detail about what happened at the General Assembly this session, then please feel free to call or write me or visit the General Assembly website: www.legis.ga.gov. The website provides direct access to the text of legislation and vote tallies as well as schedules and live coverage of committee meetings.

(Another resource is offered when the General Assembly is in session by Georgia Public Broadcasting through a television program called "Lawmakers," which airs daily at 7 PM and rebroadcasts at 5:30 AM the following morning. The program covers each day's events at the Capitol.)

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