Georgia Legislative session ended Friday

Georgia lawmakers agreed to a budget that fully funds the state’s K-12 education formula and passed a measure that cracks down on distracted driving before the gavel fell on this year’s legislative session early Friday.

A number of bills, including a controversial immigration enforcement measure and a proposal to move away from electronic voting machines failed to be taken up as lawmakers rushed to pass dozens of other bills throughout the final hours of the legislative session.

Attention now turns to Gov. Nathan Deal, a Republican in the final year of his last term.

Georgia law gives Deal 40 days to decide whether to sign or veto legislation, or allow it to become law without his name.

The House and Senate adjourned a few minutes after midnight, which used to be considered a hard deadline to end the session. But in recent years, lawmakers have worked beyond it.

Here’s a look at some of the top issues at the Capitol:

The Georgia House passed a budget last Thursday for the upcoming fiscal year that fully funds the state’s K-12 education formula after over a decade of cutbacks.

The new budget also includes $100 million in borrowing for transit projects, $360 million toward the teacher retirement pension system and about $16 million in funding for school safety in the wake of last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Georgia lawmakers have agreed to expand the state’s medical cannabis oil program to include those with post-traumatic stress disorder or intractable pain.

Pending the governor’s signature, Georgia will soon become the 16th state in the U.S. to enact a hands-free driving law.

Differing opinions in the House and Senate on amending the state’s Hidden Predator Act doomed the efforts of victims’ advocates this session. Rep. Jason Spencer had sought to significantly expand the law under which adults who were sexually abused as children could file lawsuits against their alleged abusers. Earlier Thursday, Senators voted 51-0 in favor of giving adults up to the age of 30 to file suit in the future.

Georgia lawmakers have given final passage to a proposal to let victims of domestic violence terminate housing leases early without paying penalties.

WNEG News will provide continued coverage as Deal decides whether to sign or veto legislation.