Regional

Gov. Brian Kemp selects a pen to sign tax legislation at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, with wife Marty by his side. House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, watches to her left. Photo by Ty Tagami.

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Kemp signs legislation to cut income taxes and reduce homeowner property tax increases

Ty Tagami – Capitol Beat News Service

Thursday, May 14, 2026

ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers started the year with talk of eliminating both the state income tax and the property tax for homeowners.

The Hartwell Sun

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Kemp trims some proposed spending

Ty Tagami – Capitol Beat News Service

Thursday, May 14, 2026

ATLANTA — State lawmakers passed a budget that was about $1 billion larger than what Gov. Brian Kemp expects Georgia will collect in tax revenue next fiscal year, so he took a scalpel to their spending plan.

The Hartwell Sun

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Georgia moves beyond HOPE, with need-based aid for college students

Ty Tagami – Capitol Beat News Service

Thursday, May 14, 2026

ATLANTA — Next fall, Georgia students attending one of the state's public colleges and universities will have a chance at financial aid if they come from a low-income family.Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday signed legislation that establishes a need-based financial aid program.

The Hartwell Sun

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State election board considers mandating hand-marked paper ballots

Ty Tagami – Capitol Beat News Service

Thursday, April 30, 2026

ATLANTA — After Georgia lawmakers failed to act on their self-imposed deadline to overhaul the state's election machinery, a panel of appointees to the board that regulates elections narrowly voted Wednesday to consider a rule that would require hand-marked paper ballots.

The Hartwell Sun

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Republicans for governor face each other in debate

Ty Tagami – Capitol Beat News Service

Thursday, April 30, 2026

ATLANTA — The only major debate between Republican candidates for Georgia governor brimmed with personal attacks and appeals to President Donald Trump's followers and offered less to guide voters on policy directions.

The Hartwell Sun

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Democrats for governor pitch tax cuts, with more spending in some areas

Ty Tagami – Capitol Beat News Service

Thursday, April 30, 2026

ATLANTA — Tax cuts coexisted with higher spending on education and health care when Democrats running for governor laid out their positions this week.

The Hartwell Sun

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Lavonia pair arrested following burglaries in Franklin, Hart counties

News Staff

Thursday, April 23, 2026

By Shane ScogginsFranklin County Citizen LeaderTwo Lavonia men were arrested Friday and charged with a series of burglaries in Franklin and Hart counties.

The Hartwell Sun

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Gov. Kemp has a lot of bills on his desk after lawmakers finished their work

Ty Tagami – Capitol Beat News Service

Thursday, April 16, 2026

ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers went home in a flurry of ripped paper, as is the custom at the end of the 40-day legislative session.

The Hartwell Sun

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QR codes to be illegal for tallying election results, raising questions about November midterms

News Staff

Thursday, April 16, 2026

By Ty Tagami, Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA — When Georgia lawmakers went home April 3, they left the state on a collision course with their own self-imposed deadline to change the way residents vote.

The Hartwell Sun

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Last-minute income, property tax cuts pushed through session

News Staff

Thursday, April 9, 2026

By Ty Tagami, Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA — Georgia House and Senate Republicans with competing agendas managed to push through income and property tax cuts as the curtain closed on the 2026 Georgia legislative session after midnight Friday.