On Monday, the resolution that would allow Georgia to add the legalization of sports betting to its state constitution will receive its first hearing in front of the House Higher Education Committee.
This resolution, SR 579, works in tandem with SB 386 to give voters the option to authorize sports betting in Georgia at the polls in this upcoming November election.
Nothing will happen with SB 386 until SR 579 gets discussed
SR 579 is one of three pieces of legislation on the March 18 agenda for the Higher Education Committee. Specifically, the agenda writes “HEARING ONLY” next to the description of SR 579, indicating there will be no vote taken. Similarly, this same committee heard discussion of SB 386 on Tuesday without holding a vote.
Because these pieces of legislation work together — SB 386 adds a ballot initiative, and SR 579 allows for sports betting to be added to the state constitution — Monday’s discussion will likely mirror what took place Tuesday. It’s also likely the committee did not want to vote on either piece of legislation until they heard debate on both because of their codependent relationship.
So, after SR 579 receives its hearing on Monday, which begins at 1 p.m. ET, things could theoretically move quickly with it and SB 386, and perhaps we’ll know whether either bill will make it to the House floor by early next week.
Monday marks 10 days until end of session
Sen. Bill Cowsert is the sponsor of SR 579, which passed the Senate on Feb. 27. He is also the author of the amendment added to SB 386 that required a voter referendum to add Georgia sports betting. In its original form, SB 386 would have added sports betting to the Georgia Lottery’s purview without requiring voter approval. It passed with Cowsert’s amendment on Feb. 1.
The current Georgia Legislature session ends on March 28, so time is running out for lawmakers to give voters the option to legalize sports betting. With that deadline looming, it feels like next week is truly crunch time for the two pieces of legislation.
If the Higher Education Committee doesn’t vote to send both bills to the House floor next week, it feels less-than-likely that sports betting will be on Georgia’s November ballot.
