Georgia House, Senate adopt ‘problematic’ new rules that reduce public accountability

With the new session, the Georgia Capitol is bustling with lawmakers and lobbyists. Starting this year, lawmakers’ conversations with lobbyists and others could be exempt from court proceedings. Jan. 9, 2023. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

The Georgia House and Senate gaveled in for a second day of lawmaking Wednesday. Both chambers passed resolutions laying out rules for the rest of the session, but one change has First Amendment advocates concerned.

Both chambers’ rules have new provisions shielding communication between lawmakers and third parties under legislative privilege.

“I expected the way this would play out is a member who may have questions – because we can’t all be experts on every issue that comes up before us – we rely on others who do have expertise, that that communication, in order to help us make those determinations, would be protected,” said Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, a Dacula Republican.