georgiaconservancy:

This is legislative update #4 from the Georgia Conservancy’s advocacy team, led by Will Wingate, Vice President of Advocacy & Land Conservation.

WATER

- Senate Bill 370, House Bill 1094

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/sb370.htm

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/hb1094.htm

These identical bills are commonly known as the Governor’s Water Bills. The Senate Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on SB 370 on Wednesday, and HB 1094 was heard in a subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee early Thursday. The Georgia Conservancy, along with members of the Georgia Water Coalition, support these bills. There is agreement with the business community that we must have legislation passed this session that creates the “Culture of Conservation” outlined by Governor Perdue and the members of the Governor’s Water Contingency Planning Task Force.

Expect the bills to come to a vote in committee next week with some minor changes being made.

- Senate Bill 321

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/sb321.htm

Sen. Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville) introduced SB 321, which would strip away some environmental protections for public-private reservoirs. We are working to defeat this bill. Expect a hearing in the Senate Natural Resources Committee next week.

TRANSPORTATION

Governor Perdue outlined his major transportation funding bill in a press conference on Thursday. The bill, which we expect to be introduced next week, would divide the state into 12 transportation regions. Each region would hold a vote on an eight-year, one percent sales tax to fund local transportation projects approved by the Department of Transportation’s director of planning. The vote, or “referendum,” would take place during the 2012 presidential primary. The actual legislation will be introduced next week.

BUDGET

- House Bill 947

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/hb947.htm

HB 947 is the Amended FY 2010 budget, known as the Supplemental budget. House lawmakers on Thursday passed HB 947, cutting almost $1 billion from last year’s budget. The Department of Natural Resources sustained an additional five percent cut, with over $125,000 cut in game management alone. This cut could mean closures of popular Wildlife Management Areas. We will fight to restore this funding in the Senate.

Please direct inquiries about this update to Allie Kelly (akelly@gaconservancy.org) and Will Wingate (wwingate@gaconservancy.org). The Georgia Conservancy is also looking for volunteer advocates – mark your calendars now for “Transit Lobby Day” next Thursday, February 18^th.

Rep. Ralph Long (D-Atlanta) and I catch up in the halls of the Capitol building during legislative session.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and Harbor Tour

This tuesday - Will Berson and i took and amazing tour of the Savannah harbor and the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge to learn more about the environmental impacts of the proposed dredging of the Savannah river by the Georgia Ports Authority. Thanks to Russ Webb from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the educational tour! For more information about the dredging issue read Will Berson’s letter to the editor of the Savannah morning news on 9/25/2009 (http://www.savannahnow.com/node/772073).

See all the pictures on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/georgiaconservancy