State Senate panel approves $40.5B mid-year budget

ATLANTA - The state Senate is upping the ante on funding to help victims of Hurricane Helene recover from the massive storm that marched through South Georgia and east Georgia from Valdosta to Augusta last September. The Senate Appropriations Committee signed off Feb. 24 on a $40.

State Senate passes farmland preservation constitutional change

ATLANTA - Legislation doubling the acreage Georgia farmers can set aside for conservation in exchange for a property tax break easily cleared the state Senate Feb. 19.

Senate passes measure to review and revoke state agency rules

The Georgia Senate adopted legislation Feb. 24 that would enhance lawmakers’ authority to overrule the results of the process that agencies use to enact laws.

Georgia lawmakers target fentanyl

Legislation that would enhance the criminal penalties for trafficking fentanyl cleared a state Senate committee Feb. 20.

Georgia lawmakers seek more regulation of drones

Drones would be subject to more restrictions under a couple of pieces of legislation that passed the Georgia House of Representatives Friday. House Bill 58 would prohibit flights over public gatherings.

2025 Legislative Newsletter – Week 6

My colleagues and I returned to the Georgia State Capitol on Monday, Feb. 10 to kick off the fifth week of the 2025 legislative session. We have been hard at work, addressing the issues that matter most to you and advancing important legislation.

State economist warns tariffs could raise prices, hurt exports

ATLANTA - Tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed since taking office last month pose the greatest risk to Georgia’s economy, State Economist Robert Buschman told state lawmakers Wednesday.

Educators, groups want to address teacher shortage

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Education kicked off a new teacher recruitment campaign Tuesday to address a teacher shortage. The move is necessary as a generation of teachers nears retirement after two decades and more in the classroom, State School Superintendent Richard Woods said.

Georgia House taking the lead on school safety

ATLANTA - The state House of Representatives passed legislation last year offering tax credits to Georgians who buy safe firearm storage devices such as trigger locks and gun safes, but the bill died in the state Senate.

Georgia Senate GOP passes firearms sales tax break

ATLANTA – The Georgia Senate’s Republican majority passed legislation Feb. 12 seeking a waiver on sales taxes for firearms over an 11-day period in October.