A bill that would allow lottery winners to remain confidential gets a negative rating on our updated Legislative Watch of bills making their way through the Georgia General Assembly.
Senate Bill 331 would shield information on people receiving significant sums of state money. The Georgia First Amendment Foundation believes the proposal, if successful, would set a dangerous precedent. We see no potential improvements that would remedy this bill.
Other legislative measures we’re watching include Senate Bill 407, which would broaden the ability of trial courts to retroactively seal court records of criminal defendants sentenced under the First Offender Act. House Bill 716 would allow police to make a pre-arrest diversion for drug and mental health treatment; it is unclear whether there would be any public record of this exercise of police power. We have a negative view of both these bills, as well.
Get more details on these proposals and several others we’re tracking in our full Legislative Watch. Plus, see why the foundation believes the secrecy surrounding Georgia’s bid for Amazon keeps taxpayers in the dark about how the state is spending their money to woo business.
- Video: See why state Rep. Wendell Willard also thinks the lottery bill is a bad idea.
- Video: Check out foundation board member Tom Clyde’s recap of government transparency issues lawmakers need to address.
