Legislative Notebook: Keeping down the noise

In news sure to be applauded by those who own dogs, especially skittish ones, the state Legislature approved a bill that would give cities and counties the power to limit fireworks during certain hours.

Georgians are allowed to use fireworks most days between 10 a.m. and midnight under House Bill 727. But the bill gives cities and counties a new power to ban fireworks after 9 p.m.

Longer fireworks hours for two key holidays, however, would be set for all Georgians. The bill says all Georgia must be allowed to launch fireworks until midnight on Dec. 31, July 3 and July Fourth, and an extra hour -- until 1 a.m. -- on Jan. 1.

The bill also says people cannot ignite fireworks too close to facilities that store lots of flammable materials, near hospitals, in the road or while inebriated.

RAFT ON DRAFT

Summer floating in places such as Lake Tobesofkee or Lake Sinclair might get a little merrier, as the Georgia Legislature voted that tubing plus boozing shouldn't equal boating under the influence.

"Inflatable rafts" and similar floats would be removed from the list of watercraft to which the state's boating under the influence law applies, State Rep. Eddie Lumsden, R-Armuchee, who is the House Bill 172 sponsor, told the state House ahead of its vote to approve his bill this week.

The legal language in the bill is a little clunky, but it's meant to apply to floats that don't have a sail or motor.

JAIL CELLS

Sneaking a cell phone into a Georgia jail or prison, or even using one inside a lockup for gang activity, would be worth two years of hard time, under House Bill 874 passed by the state House and Senate.

The sentence would be a mandatory minimum and comes after federal agents announced dozens of indictments of Georgia prison staff and others for corruption, which included some charged with smuggling and using contraband phones.

STATE DOGHOUSE

Georgia's official dog will be the "adoptable dog," if a bill approved by lawmakers gets the governor's approval.

The bill is meant to bring attention to dogs in shelters that are looking for homes.

All the bills mentioned in this Notebook are waiting on Gov. Nathan Deal's review.

Telegraph reporter Maggie Lee compiled this report.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Legislative Notebook: Keeping down the noise ."