NEWS
Last Monday marked the start of the 2023 legislative session for the Georgia General Assembly, where General Assembly members were sworn in on the first day of the session. The House of Representatives voted Rep. Jon Burns to serve as their Speaker of the House. Previously serving as the House Majority Leader, Speaker Burns represents House District 159. To see the full list of the new House leadership, click here, and for the full list of the new Senate leadership list, click here.
Furthermore, on the first day of the session, the House and Senate agreed on the schedule for the 2023 legislative session and the Adjournment Resolution. Both can be reviewed here.
On Thursday, January 12, Governor Brian Kemp and all the state constitutional officers were sworn into office. Former State Senator Burt Jones from Jackson, Georgia, will be serving as our state’s next Lieutenant Governor. Tyler Harper will serve as the state’s next Agriculture Commissioner. Bruce Thompson will serve as the state’s next Labor Commissioner. Returning for another term, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Attorney General Chris Carr, Commissioner of Insurance John King, and State School Superintendent Richard Woods.
Last Friday, Governor Brian Kemp released his amended FY 2023 and FY 2024 budget proposals. The FY 2024 proposed budget includes $8 million for the completion of the Savannah Convention Center expansion project. The budget proposals also include $1 billion for income tax rebates to Georgia taxpayers, $1.1 billion for one-time property tax relief grants, a $2,000 raise to teachers and state employees, and an extra $61 million for the HOPE scholarship, an effort to help ensure the HOPE scholarship pays 100% of tuition for recipients. To view the entire AFY 2023 and FY 2024 Governor’s Proposed Amended Budget, click here.
The General Assembly will return on Monday, January 23rd, for Legislative Day 5. Next week will largely consist of appropriations hearings as the General Assembly sets funding levels for FY2024 and amend the FY2023 budget.
This a reminder that Savannah Chatham Day is February 9 at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot in Atlanta. To purchase tickets, click here.
