Gov. Deal to sign unification bill into law Tuesday

Published 2:30 pm Friday, May 1, 2015

Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to sign into law two different pieces of local legislation, including the unification bill, during special signing ceremonies Tuesday at the state capitol, The Union-Recorder has learned.

The other legislation ceremony concerns residential changes at the Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville.

The unification bill, which also has been referred to as House Bill 67, was approved earlier this year during the Georgia General Assembly session, but the bill has been awaiting the governor’s signature ever since. The legislation paves the way for a special referendum to be held in November where voters will get the opportunity to decide whether they want a consolidated form of government or two separate forms of government.

Currently, there are two forms of government that exist, locally. They include the City of Milledgeville, and Baldwin County Board of Commissioners.

“I’m inviting all of the city and county elected officials to join us for the signing of the unification bill,” said Rusty Kidd (I-Milledgeville, 145^th District) in a Thursday interview. “I am going to send them all an email, and I am going to personally speak with Milledgeville Acting Mayor Jeanette Walden, and Commission Chairman Sammy Hall concerning the special signing ceremony with the governor.”

Kidd said Sen. Burt Jones, (R-Jackson) is also expected to attend both ceremonies. The signing ceremony, which will also include several local residents, is expected to get underway between 2 and 2:15 p.m.

“It’s an acknowledgement that the governor supports the concept, otherwise he wouldn’t sign the bill,” Kidd said. “He could either have vetoed it, or it could have become law without his signature. By him agreeing to sign the legislation, it shows he supports it.”

In a separate ceremony the state’s top elected official is also scheduled to sign legislation related to the Georgia War Veterans’ Home in Milledgeville.

Kidd said the first ceremony would involve the Georgia War Veterans Home, located on the Carl Vinson Highway.

“House Bill 180, which I introduced for the War Veterans Home, changes the residential requirements from five years to two years,” Kidd said. “A person can be a resident of Georgia for two years and apply for residency at the War Veterans Home, rather than having to wait five years to apply.”

Kidd spearheaded that particular legislation and received help in its passage from four other fellow state lawmakers in the Georgia House of Representatives, including Bubber Epps, who represents neighboring Wilkinson County. Epps and the other three lawmakers were co-sponsors of the bill.

Ernie Simons, who heads the Georgia War Veterans Home, is expected to attend the ceremony, as well as other state veterans’ officials, Kidd said.