In a move some legislators say they've never seen before, the media was banned from taking photos and video during a public hearing today at the Georgia General Assembly that included testimony on HB 630, the State Fair Employment Practices Act. The bill, which would ban job discrimination against state employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity, was discussed for a second time by a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee.
No vote was taken on the bill today. It was tabled at a hearing on Feb. 21, but Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta), who presided over today's subcommittee hearing and is a co-sponsor of the bill, said the legislation remains "alive" in his subcommittee.
"Well, I don't know what happens next at this point. We're just at a point where there's a lot of legislation pending and inability to get it all done prior to crossover day,” Jacobs said.