Politics
Politics

Legislature allows Georgians to challenge laws in court

April 2, 2019 Atlanta - Rep. Spencer Frye (center) and other members of the House vote on SB 200, relating to exercise of power to contract by the Georgia Department of Transportation, in the House Chambers during the last day of legislation at the Georgia State Capitol on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

April 2, 2019 Atlanta - Rep. Spencer Frye (center) and other members of the House vote on SB 200, relating to exercise of power to contract by the Georgia Department of Transportation, in the House Chambers during the last day of legislation at the Georgia State Capitol on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
By Mark Niesse
April 2, 2019

The Georgia House unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that allows residents to sue over laws they believe are unconstitutional.

The 166-0 vote sends House Bill 311 to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto.

The legislation permits lawsuits over statutes that may have gone too far, and it gives judges the authority to halt those laws. The bill bars monetary relief.

Live: Use AJC tracker to follow Georgia bills

ExplorePhotos: Sine Die at the Georgia legislature

Georgians lost the ability to use the courts to stop illegal government actions in 2017, when the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that citizens couldn't sue without the government's permission. 

The legislation gives that permission by granting a limited waiver to the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, shown here being interviewed for the “Politically Georgia” podcast in February, has emerged as one of the most forceful GOP critics of President Donald Trump and his allies. (Nathan Posner for the AJC)

Credit: Nathan Posner for the AJC

Trump-Greene split: A MAGA divorce with Georgia implications

The messy public breakup between President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene marks the collapse of an alliance that has helped define MAGA politics.

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

OPINION

Jon Ossoff warned about deepfakes. Now he is one.

A Mike Collins campaign video uses AI to make Sen. Jon Ossoff say outlandish things. A proposed state law would rein in such uses of AI in campaigns.

The Latest

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, shown here being interviewed for the “Politically Georgia” podcast in February, has emerged as one of the most forceful GOP critics of President Donald Trump and his allies. (Nathan Posner for the AJC)

Credit: Nathan Posner for the AJC

Trump-Greene split: A MAGA divorce with Georgia implications

Georgia’s election interference case against Trump: How we got here

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

With some solar power tax breaks expiring, Georgians rush to catch the sun

Georgia solar installers say they’re seeing a surge of customers trying to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits go away at the end of the year.

‘Automatic for the People’: Weaver D’s still bonds Athens as era nears end

After feeding everyone from R.E.M. to Brian Kemp, and coining a phrase that went global, Dexter Weaver is preparing to close his storied Athens soul food restaurant.