Governor Sonny Perdue recently finished signing and vetoing the legislation we passed in the 2008 session. I think that many of you will be pleased with some of the important bills that have become Georgia law this year.

I was proud to stand alongside Gov. Perdue at Lake Lanier last week as he signed the Water Conservation and Drought Relief Act of 2008, which I sponsored in the legislative session. I worked hard to ensure the passage of Senate Bill 342 this year. Along with the Statewide Water Plan, SB 342 was the most significant bill dealing with our water issues in the 2008 session. The legislation allows communities to apply for state funding to enlarge existing reservoirs and obtain permits to construct new ones. Additionally, the FY 08 and FY 09 budgets provide $70 million in reservoir funding, and $1 million in funding for repairs to existing reservoirs and local water/sewer upgrades. With the passage of SB 342, we take the key first step in increasing our state’s water capacity, which will help local communities greatly in times of drought and/or water shortage. We have been blessed to see much more rain this year, but we must plan for the future and the Drought Relief Act is a step in that direction.

Another bill I have worked on since early 2007 was signed by the Governor last week. SB 421 takes a tough stance towards those who produce illegal documents. The legislation increases the existing penalties for those who knowingly manufacture, sell or distribute false IDs and documents. The new penalties are based upon the age of the individual found to be in possession of a false ID, incorporating a certain amount of leniency for underage citizens. We need to stop the manufacture and sale of fake IDs to those who use them to stay in the U.S. illegally, and SB 421 addresses this.

Also signed last week was SB 350, which comes in response to the growing number of auto accidents, injuries and fatalities caused by people who have never obtained a driver’s license. The law increases penalties for those found driving without a valid driver’s license or on a suspended or revoked license. Under the new law, an individual found driving without being licensed or driving on a suspended, disqualified or revoked license could receive much stronger penalties than before. This would not apply to those who forget a license at home, or those who drive on an expired license. These tough new laws were established to protect citizens, and send a clear message to those who choose to stay in our country illegally.

Finally, last week the Governor signed an important bill that will further the Second Amendment rights of Georgia citizens. House Bill 89, known as the Business Security and Employee Privacy Act, makes significant reforms to Georgia’s firearms laws. Concealed carry rights are expanded under HB 89 to include public transportation, restaurants and state parks as additional locations where guns can be carried. The bill allows licensed gun owners, with their employer’s permission, to keep a gun locked out of sight in their car when parked in the company parking lot. Restrictions on where a gun must be kept when operating a vehicle have been repealed, so as to allow licensed firearm holders to keep their gun anywhere in the car while driving. Lawmakers, business owners, Georgia Chamber of Commerce officials and several gun rights advocate groups agreed on the final language in HB 89, before the bill received final approval on the last day of the 2008 session.

Please feel free to contact Sen. Chip Pearson at his office in Atlanta at 404.656.9221 or by email at chip.pearson@senate.ga.gov.