Today is the day for legislation to clear at least one house of the Georgia General Assembly. Any bills that do not are effectively dead.

State Rep. Steve Davis writes that there are "36 bills on the Calendar but we will also have a supplemental calendar we anywhere from 20-40 more bills to consider today."

I'll be live-blogging when I get home at around 5pm.

[4:01pm] The Property Tax Reform Amendment, the latest version of the Speaker's tax plan, passed the House overwhelmingly passed the House this afternoon by a vote of 166 to 5. HR 1246 would completely eliminate the car tax by 2010, freeze property assessments at 2008 levels and allow for a 2% (residential) or 3% (commercial) increase each year. After the vote was announced the Speaker received a standing ovation. The measure now heads to the State Senate.

[4:09pm] Before we get our hopes up about the elimination of the car tax, it should be noted that Gov. Sonny Perdue is cool to the idea. Perdue has previously demonstrated that he has no regard for the taxpayers of Georgia. I would not be surprised if he vetoed it.

[4:17pm] The State Senate is dabbling in foreign policy.

[5:15pm] Rep. Davis reminds me that HR 1246 is a constitutional amendment and cannot be vetoed by the Governor.

[5:19pm] Chris Farris sent me an IM saying that the Senate is debating SB 259, the no-knock warrant bill. The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia endorsed that bill over the weekend.

[5:24pm] Farris tells me that SB 259 passed by an overwhelming margin.

[5:28pm] DuBose Porter looks like a pimp with his hat on.

[5:51pm] There is a lot of discussion over HB 1216, a bill sponsored by State Rep. Ron Stephens that would change regional development centers into regional commissions. The bill does seems to add another layer of government and bureaucracy. A few members are speaking against it. I don't know where this one is going. Everyone I've heard speak is against it.

[5:58pm] State Rep. Mark Hatfield on HB 1216: "This bill looks to me look 33 pages of bigger government." He also says that voting against bill would help to stave off the regional transportation tax increase that will be debated in the few days.

[5:59pm] State Rep. Davis is speaking against the bill saying that it is more government and more taxation.

[6:00pm] Davis: "We elect local officials for local problems." He also added, "if you believe in less government, you'll vote against this bill."

[6:11pm] State Rep. David Ralston moved to table HB 1216. That failed 39 to 119.

[6:12pm] HB 1216 passed 134 to 30.

[6:16pm] SB 259, which I mentioned earlier, passed 44-8. One of the votes against it was State Sen. John Douglas.

[6:20pm] Legislation that would make it easier to vote out school board members of a failing district passed the State Senate earlier today.

[6:35pm] HB 1158, legislation that would set up the $10 fee for the statewide trauma network, also passed earlier today by a vote of 164-7.

[6:37pm] The House is about to debate HB 977, a bill that would exempt high deductible health insurance plans and health savings accounts from fees and exemptions. The Speaker said that there are several members ready to speak on the bill.

[7:43pm] After more than an hour of debate, HB 977 passed by a vote of 122 to 39.

[8:00pm] The House has adjourned. They'll be back after dinner.

[9:12pm] The House has been back in session for a while now. I have a column to write for Friday, so I'm done for the evening.