Midyear budget gets approval

ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers reached a compromise on the mid-year budget Wednesday, fulfilling priorities of the three main players with a little help from extra money.

Lawmakers seek to reduce insurance costs

ATLANTA — After approving one-time income and property tax rebates for Georgians earlier this week, the state House returned with four more affordability measures, this time aimed at insurance costs.

Students who skip school could face new punishments, including loss of driver's license

ATLANTA — Students with too many unexcused absences would be barred from playing sports and could lose their driver's license under legislation approved by the state Senate Thursday. "These are privileges," said Sen. Jason Dickerson, R-Canton.

Republican state senators push changes to Georgia voting machines

ATLANTA — Georgia Senate Republicans pushed last-minute amendments to the state's election procedures through a committee hearing Monday in an effort to meet their self-imposed deadline to use hand-marked ballots this year.

New non-profit to 'serve those who serve'

By Charlie Eavenson Franklin County Citizen Leader FRANKLIN SPRINGS – A new non-profit organization aims to “serve those who serve.” “That’s our mission and our motto,” Franklin Springs Police Chief Kevin Thompson said of the Northern Judicial Support Task Force.

House passes literacy measure, high school cell phone ban, slew of other education bills

ATLANTA — Lawmakers in the Georgia House embraced a plan to send literacy coaches to elementary schools while also sending a high school cell phone ban to the Senate, as part of a package of eight educational bills approved Tuesday.

Big income tax cuts would come with costs to residents

By Mark Niesse Staff Writer, Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA — Republican senators are pitching giant income tax cuts to make Georgia more affordable, a plan that Democrats warn could lead to fewer government services or sales tax hikes.

Senate focuses on tax breaks, the mentally ill in mid-year budget

ATLANTA — Taxpayers, rural drivers and the mentally ill were among the winners in the mid-year budget adopted by the Georgia Senate on Friday.

Tax cut plan makes first $100K of a family’s income tax-free

By Mark Niesse,  Staff Writer Capitol Beat  News Service ATLANTA — Georgians would get an income tax cut — or avoid paying the tax entirely — under a proposal unveiled by Republican Senate leaders Monday.

Bill proposes cap on school property tax

By Mark Niesse Staff Writer, Capitol Beat News Service *Editor's Note: The first portion of this story was published on the front page of the Jan. 22 edition of The Hartwell Sun, while the second portion was accidentally left off of an inside page. The full story is being reprinted below.