Two dozen bills already have been filed in the Georgia House for the 2011 legislative session, including potential laws that would ban abortions, stop mandatory vaccinations, abolish income taxes and remove the governor's authority to freeze gun sales in times of emergency.
More than eight referendums have been filed early, including one that would eliminate local authorities' ability to zone property and another abolishing local taxes.
"The only thing that pre-filing does is get their name out there on a piece of paper," said veteran lawmaker Rep. Roger Williams, R-Dalton. Those bills "will be called up first, but it'll still have to go through committee."
Most of the eyebrow-raising bills come from Rep. Bobby Franklin, R-Marietta, a serial pre-filer, according to local representatives.
Attempts to reach Franklin were unsuccessful Friday. His voice mail message thanks callers for encouraging him about introducing House Bill 1, which would make abortions illegal.
"I'm not able to take that encouragement right now, so please leave your name, number and a message," Franklin states on the recording.
Williams and others don't see the first few bills, many of which touch on cornerstone conservative issues, as any indication of the overall tone of the coming session despite Republicans' strengthened majority in the House.
Republicans picked up three House seats in November's election and have welcomed five Democrats who switched parties.
"I don't see that picking up a few seats [means] we're going to delve into those issues again," said Rep. Tom Dickson, R-Cohutta.
Dickson said that controlling the House, Senate and governor's office over the last six years has given Republicans time to raise their issues.
"I feel like we are right now," Williams said. "I don't know if we need to move any further right."
LaFayette Republican Jay Neal, however, said law-makers represent constituents who have been outspoken about federal spending, health care reform and other issues spearheaded by a Democratic president and U.S. House.
"The public has been very clear about some of the things they want to see us do differently, especially in Washington," he said.
One of the pre-filed bills has the name of Rep. Tom Weldon, R-Ringgold, attached. The bill aims to update standards for the qualifications of expert witnesses in court and address the way DNA evidence is handled, he said.
Weldon called the state budget a "tough situation" and said it likely will dominate the session.
"We're losing over a billion dollars worth of stimulus bills, so we've got to address it," he said.
Neal said that, as in the last two years, legislators face decreased revenues with growing demands for service.
"I don't see how we will be able to avoid cuts," he said.
On the Senate side, incoming freshman Sen. Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton, also sees tough times ahead. Before Thanksgiving, only three bills had been pre-filed for the Senate, all emphasizing government accountability.
"Those other issues are going to be there, and we'll certainly work through those," Bethel said. "The big picture is going to be the budget."