Tax cuts, affordability issues and a cellphone ban in high schools look to be top issues at this year’s session of the General Assembly in Atlanta.
The Ass embly convened Monday, January 12 for its 40day session under the Gold Dome in Atlanta — in what will be an election year.
Pierce County is represented by State Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) and State Representative Steven Meeks (RScreven).
Both men say they see budget — and afforability — issues being at the forefront for the session.
Governor Brian Kemp (R) made affordability the central theme of his agenda in his eighth — and final — state of the state address. Kemp is winding down his second term as Governor.
Kemp is proposing a fourth, one-time $1 billion tax rebate, about $250 per filer and up to $500 per married couple, and a 20-basis-point cut to the personal and corporate income tax, lowering the rate to 4.99 percent three years ahead of schedule.
He stressed that these measures will move forward while maintaining more than $10 billion in state reserves.
The governor also outlined continued investments in infrastructure, education, and workforce development, including debt-free funding of capital projects, record support for K-12 education and school safety, and a proposed $325 million endowment for the new DREAMS Scholarship, Georgia’s first need-based aid program. He closed by reaffirming commitments to public safety, including an enhanced retirement plan for state law enforcement officers and continued efforts to combat gang violence and human trafficking.
Dueling tax cut plans could dominate much of lawmakers’ debate.
Republicans in the Senate, led by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, are promoting efforts to eventually eliminate Georgia’s income tax, while Republican House Speaker Jon Burns and his allies prefer property tax relief. Goodman says he is excited about an $11 million line item in the governor’s budget that will go toward timber research.
The money will be used to support timber industry’s expansion into emerging markets through research, product testing, and private partnerships. A part of the funds will go to provide funding for Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative with Georgia Tech.
Goodman says this is especially helpful to the state’s timber industry, which took a hard hit in Hurricane Helene in 2024.
A cell phone ban expansion for schools will also be considered this session.
Last year, lawmakers approved a bill that banned students in grades K-8 from using phones or other personal electronic devices during the school day. The statewide ban begins this July. A bill under consideration this session will expand the ban to high school students.
Enforcement of the ban is up to local school districts.
Students who need devices to monitor medical conditions or to help overcome intellectual disabilities are still able to use them.
Besides taxes and cellphones, legislators will also grapple with many other hot-button issues, including perennial efforts to legalize sports gambling, proposals to replace Georgia’s touchscreen voting machines and attempts to improve health care access in rural areas.
By the end of the threemonth legislative session, the General Assembly will have passed hundreds of bills, including the state’s next budget. Last year, Gov. Brian Kemp signed a $37.7 billion budget into law along with 350 bills.
Both Meeks and Goodman say they are ready to help Pierce County governments and their constituents with any needs they have.
Meeks is currently in his fourth term representing District 178, which includes all of Pierce and Brantley Counties and portions of Appling and Wayne Counties. Goodman is currently in his third term. Goodman represents the eighth district which includes Pierce, Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes and a large portion of Ware County.
Meeks is currently serving on the appropriations committee including the economic development subcommittee) and the agriculture, arts and entertainment, budget and fiscal affairs, consumer affairs, energy utility and telecommunications and fish and parks committees. Goodman is now serving as chairman of the agriculture and consumer affairs committee and serves on the natural resources and environment, public safety, retirement and appropriations.
Goodman can be reached by calling (912) 218-0447 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Meeks can be reached by calling (912) 207- 0813 or by email at steven. [email protected].
Mark Niesse of Capitol Beat News Service contributed to this report.
