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Legislative session concludes with changes to voting law By JEFFREY ALBERTSON newsroom@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly adjourned March 31 at midnight, ending a legislative session that attracted controversy and applause. With 40 legislative days complete, legislators now direct attention to redistricting efforts this summer.
SPECIAL
John Crawford, joined by his grandsons, Landon and Jackson, is the first recipient of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association Dick Williams Citizen of the Year Award. Crawford is chief operating officer for Dunwoody Senior Baseball.
Homeowners group celebrates local youth baseball volunteers By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — At its March meeting, the Dunwoody Homeowners Association handed out its 2020 community service awards, including the first Dick Williams Citizen of the Year Award to Dunwoody Senior Baseball Chief Operating Officer John Crawford. Outgoing DHA President Adrianne
Duncan presented the awards at the organization’s March 14 meeting. The new award, honoring Williams, a DHA member, broadcaster, journalist and past publisher of the Dunwoody Crier, was given to Crawford to honor his decades of service to youth baseball and softball. “As long as Dick draws breath, he has the final say on who receives this award,”
See AWARDS, Page 13
Statewide The state attracted national attention following passage of SB 202, titled the “Election Integrity Act of 2021,” which introduces sweeping changes to absentee ballot requirements and other election law. The bill, signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp March 25, changes Georgia’s absentee voting rules, adding new identification requirements and moving back the request deadline. A record 1.3 million absentee ballots were cast in the 2020 Georgia General Election, overwhelming some local elections officials. Previous provisions of the bill to require an excuse to vote by mail, and to restrict weekend voting hours were deleted amid an outpouring of complaints from Democrats, voting rights groups and county elections officials. The law faces current legal challenges in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, based in Atlanta. HB 479, legislation repealing a Civil War era citizen’s arrest statute, cleared
the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support. The House voted 173-0 and the Senate voted 52-1 in favor. Repealing the law was a legislative priority for Gov. Kemp, following the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Feb. 2020. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk. Late evening of the final day, legislators passed a $27.3 billion appropriations bill with bipartisan support, which secured state funding starting July 1, 2021. A wide breadth of bills related to taxation, public safety, education, public health, and small businesses await signature from the governor. Taxation SB 6 - Tax Credit Return on Investment Act of 2021 calls for the House Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committee to obtain independent economic analyses when considering fiscal bills. HB 593 - Tax Relief Act of 2021 increases the standard deductions for single, married and people over 65 and blind. The law would impact filings starting Jan. 1, 2022. Gov. Kemp has already signed this bill. Public Safety SB 105 - Statewide probation system would be revised to permit the early termination of probation after a person has paid fines, had not had a
See LEGISLATION, Page 3