New state laws now in effect

By Ty Tagami  Staff Writer Capitol Beat News Service   ATLANTA -- Georgians are now reaping what their state lawmakers sowed as a slew of new laws took effect July 1, from divisive limits on transgender student athletes to a broadly popular guarantee to keep in vitro fertilization legal.

State to pay for thousands to get a private K-12 education this year

By Ty Tagami, Staff Writer Capitol Beat News Service   ATLANTA — This fall, thousands of Georgia students will attend a private school or study at home, and state government will help them pay for it.

Lawmakers push for increase in cigarette tax

By Ty Tagami, Staff Writer Capitol Beat News Service   ATLANTA — Some Georgia lawmakers have been trying for years without success to raise Georgia’s tax on cigarettes, but some think cuts at the federal level may finally stir interest in their cause.   State Rep.

Federal budget cuts could push millions off healthcare insurance coverage

By Ty Tagami, Staff Writer Capitol Beat News Service   ATLANTA -- Federal budget cuts aimed at Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act could eventually cost 16 million Americans their health insurance coverage, and Georgia would not be immune from the impact, a health care advocacy group is warning.

Echols easily wins Republican PSC primary, Democrats Waites, Hubbard in runoff

By Dave Williams, Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service and Rose Scoggins Editor/Publisher   ATLANTA - Republican Tim Echols Tuesday cruised to his party’s nomination for another term on the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates utilities in the peach state.

Georgia high court rejects four new election rules, upholds one

By Dave Williams Bureau Chief, Capitol Beat News Service   ATLANTA - The Georgia Supreme Court Tuesday upheld only one of seven controversial changes to state election laws the Republican-controlled State Election Board (SEB) approved before last November’s elections.