Lizeth GeorgeGeorgia’s special session has now adjourned, and new maps for the State House, State Senate, and Congress have been voted on and passed, along with a few resolutions. View all the maps that passed here and click proposed plans.
The special session was convened to redraw the congressional and legislative maps to amend the violations found in the maps that were drawn in 2021. This was ordered by a federal judge in Georgia, Judge Steve Jones, who found the initial maps violated the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and ordered the General Assembly to redraw them.
The order called for five black-majority districts: two in south-metro Atlanta, one in west-metro Atlanta, and two in and around Macon-Bibb, without eliminating any minority opportunity districts or making unnecessary changes.
The Senate map (SB1EX) passed on Tuesday, by a 98-71 party-line vote. The Congressional map (SB3EX) passed on Thursday. The vote was 98-72 along party lines. The House map (HB1EX) passed last week.
You may be wondering, what are the next steps now that all maps have passed the General Assembly? If Judge Jones finds that any of the maps are out of compliance with the VRA, he will appoint a special master to draw the maps. He has scheduled a hearing on the maps that the General Assembly just passed for December 20, 2023.
In addition to the General Assembly’s redistricting work, Governor Kemp’s proclamation also charged the House with considering other necessary legislation. As such, the House voted to adopt House Resolution 3EX on Friday, December 1, 2023. HR 3EX ratifies Governor Kemp’s executive orders issued on September 12, 2023; October 6, 2023; and November 8, 2023; to suspend the collection of motor fuel and diesel fuel taxes due to inflation.
With the special session behind us, the League of Southeastern Credit Unions continues to actively prepare for the upcoming 2024 legislative session, which will begin on Monday, January 8, 2024.
