ATLANTA -- A Georgia state Senate committee has passed a bill that would bar illegal immigrants from state colleges and universities and also would tweak some existing state laws having to do with illegal immigration.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday heard testimony from both supporters and opponents of the bill. The part of the bill that got the most discussion in the committee was the part having to do with higher education.

A House committee last month held a hearing on another bill that would prohibit illegal immigrants from attending state colleges and universities but has yet to vote on it.

The bill also adjusts some identification requirements for applicants for public benefits laid out in last year's tough law targeting illegal immigration, making some requirements stricter and loosening others.

ATLANTA -- Jud Turner has been appointed director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR board made the appointment official this week after Gov. Nathan Deal nominated Turner for the post.

Turner replaces F. Allen Barnes, who is leaving to work in the private sector.

Turner is a founding partner in the law firm Turner, Bachman & Garrett LLC and public affairs firm Georgia360 LLC. He was former Gov. Sonny Perdue's lead attorney and represented the governor during negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service during the state's severe drought.

Turner has also served as general counsel to the Georgia Department of Education.