Legislative wrap up: week 3

Session was in full swing last week, with committees and subcommittees meeting to discuss issues that impact Georgians across our state.  Besides redistricting and the state budget, public safety and mental health are major issues facing the state.

Kemp proposes increased spending on education, health care, law enforcement

Gov. Brian Kemp asked Georgia lawmakers Jan. 13 to use a record budget surplus to raise the salaries of teachers and state employees and hire more nurses and state troopers.

Kemp, Carr sue White House over health care workers’ vaccine mandate

By Tim Darnell Capitol Beat News Service   ATLANTA – Georgia filed another lawsuit Tuesday over President Joe Biden’s controversial OVID vaccine mandates, this time for health care workers. Gov. Brian Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr are seeking to prevent the U.S.

University System of Georgia sets record for degrees awarded despite COVID-19

By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – The University System of Georgia (USG) awarded a record 72,929 degrees during the last fiscal year despite the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Federal grants awarded to Georgia State to facilitate studies of coronaviruses

By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – A professor at Georgia State University has received federal grants to study two coronaviruses, the school announced Monday.

U.S. Senate approves infrastructure bill with more than $11B headed to Georgia

By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service The $1 trillion legislation, which cleared the Senate 69-30 and now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives, includes $8.9 billion for highway projects in the Peach State, $1.

Ossoff-backed bill aimed at promoting rooftop solar panels

By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at making the installation of rooftop solar panels more affordable for American businesses and homeowners.

State Department of Education creates new office to focus on rural Georgia

By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – Rural education in Georgia is getting special attention in the form of a new office within the state Department of Education that will focus on the needs of rural schools.

Google ‘street view’ style maps of GA rivers now available

Georgia’s rivers are getting a better map. Georgia River Network is partnering with EarthViews to create modern, 360-degree digital maps of Georgia rivers. Similar to the “Street View” feature on Google Maps, anyone can go online to EarthViews.

July 1 brings in mix of new state laws

By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – The controversial election bill the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed in March garnered the most publicity by far of anything lawmakers did during this year’s session.