Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for August 10, 2026

On August 10, 1774, a group calling itself the “Sons of Liberty” met at Tondee’s Tavern in Savannah, the first move in Georgia toward what would become the Revolutionary War. The Sons of Liberty adopted eight resolutions, among those one that reads,

Resolved, nemine contradicente, That we apprehend the Parliament of Great Britain hath not, nor ever had, any right to tax his Majesty’s American subjects; for it is evident beyond contradiction, the constitution admits of no taxation without representation; that they are coeval and inseparable; and every demand for the support of government should be by requisition made to the several houses of representatives.

Resolved, nemine contradicente, That we concur with our sister colonies in every constitutional measure to obtain redress of American grievances, and will by every lawful means in our power, maintain those inestimable blessings for which we are indebted to God and the Constitution of our country–a Constitution founded upon reason and justice, and the indelible rights of mankind.

The first copy in Georgia of the Declaration of Independence was read publicly in Savannah on August 10, 1776.

On August 10, 1787, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart completed “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.”

Missouri was admitted as the 24th State, and the first entirely west of the Mississippi River, on August 10, 1821.

On August 10, 1864, the bombardment of Atlanta by Union force continued, with Sherman writing, “Let us destroy Atlanta and make it a desolation.”

The first Georgia state Motor Fuel Tax was enacted on August 10, 1921, when Governor Thomas Hardwick signed legislation imposing a one-cent per gallon tax.

Japan accepted unconditional surrender on August 10, 1945, one day after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

Red Dawn, the first movie rated PG-13 was released on August 10, 1984.

Wolverines!

The Savannah U.S. 250 Commission is holding a reading of the Declaration of Independence today in recognition of the August 10, 1776 first public reading in Georgia, according to WSAV.

For many Americans, July 4 is the date most closely associated with the Declaration of Independence. But in Savannah, another date carries a significant place in Revolutionary War history: August 10, 1776.

That is the day the Declaration of Independence arrived in Savannah and was publicly read for the first time. Two hundred and fifty years later, Savannah is bringing that moment back to life.

The Savannah U.S. 250 Commission, with support from the City of Savannah, will recreate the historic reading Monday morning in Johnson Square as part of the nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.

The free event begins at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public.

The Declaration was adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, but it took more than five weeks for the document to reach Savannah. Georgia was the last of the 13 colonies to publicly hear the Declaration, according to Luciana Spracher, the City of Savannah’s Archives and History Officer.

“The Declaration of Independence didn’t arrive in Savannah until August 10th and was read to the public on that date,” Spracher said.

That public reading marked an important moment for Savannah, which was at the center of Georgia’s colonial government and revolutionary activity. Spracher said the commemoration is an opportunity to recognize Savannah’s role in the fight for American independence – a story that continued long after the Declaration was read.

“The Siege of Savannah didn’t happen until 1779,” Spracher said. “The city was occupied by the British until 1782.”

While the nation celebrates independence beginning in 1776, Savannah’s experience of the Revolutionary War continued for years.

Monday’s ceremony will recreate the original journey taken by Archibald Bulloch, then president of Georgia’s Provincial Council. Reenactors portraying Bulloch and others will march from Reynolds Square to Johnson Square, following the route believed to have been taken in 1776.

Reynolds Square was home to the church where the Provincial Council met. From there, Bulloch traveled to Johnson Square to publicly read the Declaration. Once in Johnson Square, a reenactor portraying Bulloch will read the Declaration of Independence aloud.

Organizers will also feature a Liberty Pole and speakers discussing Savannah’s role in the Revolutionary War.

The event will include local eighth graders from Garrison School, who will participate as part of their Georgia studies. Spracher said the living-history component can make historical events more tangible, particularly for younger students.

“It’s one thing for me to tell you about something, but it’s another thing to see somebody dressed up and talking in that mannerism, wearing wool uniforms,” she said.

As the seat of Georgia’s colonial government, Savannah became a center of political activity as residents debated how Georgia should respond to Britain’s policies and whether the colony should support independence.

Spracher said Georgia’s Sons of Liberty met in Savannah, where they discussed taxation, the Continental Congress and the colony’s response to British actions.

Revolutionary activity also included raising the Liberty Pole, responding to events in Savannah’s harbor and the arrest of the royal governor.

“All of that’s happening right here in Savannah,” Spracher said.

The city’s history did not end with the Declaration. Savannah would later become the site of the 1779 Siege of Savannah and remain under British occupation until 1782.

Monday’s reenactment is part of a larger slate of events commemorating the 250th anniversary.

The city and its partners plan to host additional history programs throughout the year, including lectures, walking tours and scavenger hunts focused on Savannah’s Revolutionary-era history.

Spracher said the city is partnering with the Savannah U.S. 250 Commission and the Learning Center of Senior Citizens Inc. on a series of programs, including a monthly lecture series called “Landmarks of Liberty.”

Information about upcoming programs and existing scavenger hunts is available through the City of Savannah’s 250th-anniversary programming. Click here to see a schedule.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Atlanta has the most surveillance cameras per capita of any city in the United States, according to the AJC.

Former Georgia Congressman and actor Ben Jones (D) died, according to the Athens Banner Herald.

Jones played a small handful of roles, but is best known as mechanic Cooter Davenport in “The Dukes of Hazzard.” It ran 1979-1985 and he appeared in nearly every episode as well as the 1997 reunion and two “Dukes of Hazzard” video-games.

“The Dukes of Hazzard” was initially filmed in Georgia, specifically Covington and the metro Atlanta area. But it was relocated to California.

Jones was not from Georgia, but he relocated during the filming of “The Dukes of Hazzard” and, during his time as a resident, served as a Democratic representative in the U.S. House from 1989 through 1993.

He was a co-sponsor on nearly 140 bills and house resolutions signed into law, including the Chattahoochee National Forest Protection Act of 1991 and the 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games Commemorative Coin Act.

US House Rep. Richard McCormick of Georgia said on X that he is “incredibly saddened” to hear the news, calling Jones “an incredible man, a dedicated public servant, and a true American treasure. Georgia was fortunate to call him one of our own.”

Climate change may affect Georgia peach crops, according to the August Chronicle.

Climate change is impacting high-value commodity crops such as peaches in Georgia and South Carolina, primarily through warmer winters, reduced chill accumulation, earlier blooming, and an increased risk of spring freeze damage.

“The first and most obvious effect is that the bloom or flowering time has advanced about one to two weeks earlier in South Carolina over the past 40 years,” said Gregory Reighard, visiting professor and horticulture fellow in Clemson University’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

South Carolina’s peach industry generates more than $100 million annually in crop value and has an estimated economic impact of up to $300 million statewide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Georgia’s peach industry generates more than $20 million annually in farm gate value, according to the University of Georgia’s Farm Gate Value reporting system.

“The data show bloom has advanced an average of about seven to 10 days in my research orchard, so that’s quite noticeable,” Reighard said. “Despite warmer winters and warmer springs, there remains an increased risk of a late freezing event. Polar vortices bring damaging freezing temperatures that come during bloom and early fruit development.”

Reighard said a polar vortex brought damaging freezing temperatures to parts of the United States this year.

“Meteorology has shown that a warming stratosphere weakens the jet stream, which contains the polar vortex, so that frigid cold air can be released across the North American continent,” he said. “If the jet stream weakens in late winter or spring due to atypical atmospheric warming, a cold air mass rushes south, which increases the likelihood of late-spring freezes.”

Srijana Thapa Magar, assistant professor and peach extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia, said extreme heat affects peach development, fruit quality and yields.

“Extreme heat triggers a cascade of stress responses that compound each other if not actively managed through irrigation,” Magar said. “The visible symptoms, wilting and sunburned fruit and foliage, are only the surface of the problem.”

Reighard said peach breeders are responding to changing climate conditions by developing varieties that require less winter cold to emerge from dormancy but more heat before flowers and leaves appear. This helps prevent trees from blooming too early and suffering frost damage. Researchers are also seeking varieties that can better withstand high temperatures and drought.

Reighard said peach growers have had to find ways to adapt.

“Peach growers have a few options currently to lessen the negative effects of climate change,” he said. “Since peach varieties ripen during a specific period after bloom and all the fruit from each variety is picked within seven to 10 days, farm profitability relies on fruit being harvested, packed and shipped five to seven days each week during the harvest season. Gaps in production caused by little or no fruit significantly reduce farm efficiency and profitability.”

The Joint Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee met for the first time last week, according to GPB News.

The committee is tasked with assessing the state’s needs when it comes to voting systems and gathering testimony from experts and the public. It will hear from voting system vendors about what options are available, but will not select the new vendor.

“I feel very confident that we will have a good cross section and have representation and presentation from those who are going to be affected,” said Rep. Victor Anderson, who co-chairs the committee with Sen. Max Burns.

Five Republicans and one Democrat sit on the committee, which will meet four times this fall.

Rep. Scott Holcomb, who is the sole Democrat, said while the composition of the committee is relevant, the recommendations the committee comes up with matter more.

“I think generally the system has worked but the trust and confidence in it is not there and that’s not something that you can legislate,” Holcomb said. “My goal is that whatever we do will be long-term oriented because all of these changes do have an impact on voters.”

The new system will need to be approved through legislation passed in the 2027 session and take effect in 2028 in time for the presidential preference primary.

From Georgia Recorder:

In 2028, as Georgia residents cast their ballots in the presidential primary, voters across the state will be using a brand new election system. At least, that’s the hope of a special committee dedicated to helping state officials make the switch.

The committee, which includes mostly Republican lawmakers from both chambers as well as current and former election officials and other experts, held its first meeting Friday at the state Capitol. The panel was established under a new law passed in June during the state’s special legislative session.

Lawmakers had been faced with a self-imposed deadline to end the use of ballot QR codes to tally votes last month. The measure passed earlier this summer extended that deadline out to 2028, when Georgia will be required to count ballots using text that can be deciphered by humans. A last-minute amendment to that law instructed the committee to focus solely on hand-marked paper ballot voting systems.

Georgia’s current system uses machines to mark voters’ selections and then prints a completed paper ballot. The machines were purchased for $107 million from Dominion Voting Systems, which is now known as Liberty Vote, and used statewide in Georgia for the first time during the 2020 election.

Rep. Victor Anderson, a Cornelia Republican who co-chairs the committee alongside Sen. Max Burns of Sylvania, said he is concerned about the tight timeline to overhaul Georgia’s election system, but remains optimistic that the committee can deliver on its promises.

“We have buy-in from three of the legs of the stool in this state: The Senate, the House and the governor’s office,” he said. “Everybody understands the importance of this. Everybody understands the immediacy of us getting it done, and so I feel very confident that we can do that.”

Anderson added that the committee will be able to build on previous work from other legislative bodies, such as a “blue ribbon” committee on elections that met throughout last summer and fall.

Atlanta Rep. Scott Holcomb, the panel’s sole Democratic appointee, urged the committee to dedicate some of its time to cleaning up the state’s election code and removing references to old systems and technologies that are no longer in use, such as direct-recording electronic voting machines that were used statewide before 2020.

“Part of what we also should be doing is to identify where the code really needs some modernization and updating,” he said. “These things are not divorced from each other. In fact, they’re central and critical to the overall policies that we might implement going forward.”

The committee’s final report is due next year at the end of January to allow state lawmakers to begin the procurement process. The 2027 legislative session will start in January.

But Deidre Holden, a Paulding County elections director who was also appointed to the panel, urged her colleagues to try and submit it before the end of this year to ensure that local election workers have as much time as possible to implement the new equipment.

“There’s a lot that goes into the procurement process, and there’s also a lot that goes into public education and also into training our staff and our poll workers,” she said.

Procuring the new system is designed to be a multi-step, competitive process. Assuming everything goes smoothly, it could take between four and six months according to Georgia Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Rebecca Sullivan.

The committee is scheduled to hold two additional meetings focused on gaining insight from a variety of experts, and another two meetings hearing from election equipment vendors and learning about their technical capabilities. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3 in Atlanta.

Governor Brian Kemp’s office announced that net state revenues are up 3.1% in July, according to a Press Release.

The State of Georgia’s net tax collections for the first month of Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 totaled $2.57 billion, an increase of $78.1 million, or 3.1%, compared to July of last year (FY 2026) when net tax collections totaled roughly $2.49 billion.

The changes within the following tax categories account for July’s overall net tax revenue increase:

Individual Income Tax: Individual Income Tax collections for the month decreased by $27.1 million, or 2.1%, from a total of nearly $1.27 billion in July 2025 (FY 2026).

The following notable components within Individual Income Tax combine for the net decrease:

• Individual Income Tax refunds issued (net of voided checks) decreased by $29.4 million or 28.9%.
• Income Tax Withholding payments for July declined by $26.2 million, or 2.1%, from July 2025 (FY ’26).
• Individual Income Tax Return payments decreased by $35.1 million, or 49.2%, from FY 2026.
• All other Individual Income Tax categories, including Estimated payments, were up a combined $4.7 million.

Sales and Use Tax: Gross Sales and Use Tax collections in July totaled nearly $1.78 billion, an increase of $162.8 million, or 10.1%, over FY 2026. Net Sales and Use Tax increased by roughly $79.2 million, or 10%, compared to July 2025 (FY 2026), when net Sales Tax revenue totaled $796.1 million. The adjusted Sales Tax distribution to local governments totaled $894.5 million for an increase of $85.9 million over last year, while Sales Tax refunds fell by $2.3 million, or 23.7%, compared to July of FY 2026.

Corporate Income Tax: Corporate Income Tax collections for July totaled $72.2 million, which was an increase of $18.4 million, or 34.3%, over FY 2026, when net Corporate Tax revenues totaled $53.7 million.

The following notable components within Corporate Income Tax make up the net increase:

• Corporate Income Tax refunds issued (net of voids) were down $9.1 million, or 31%, from FY 2026.
• Corporate Income Tax Estimated payments increased by $17.1 million, or 38.9%, over July 2025.
• All other Corporate Income Tax payments, including Return payments, were down a combined $7.8 million.

Motor Fuel Taxes: Motor Fuel Tax collections for the month decreased by roughly $10.6 million, or 5.4%, from July 2025, when Motor Fuel tax collections totaled $194.5 million for the month.

Motor Vehicle – Tag & Title Fees: Motor Vehicle Tag & Title Fee collections for July declined by $2 million, or 5.4%, while Title ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) collections increased by $3.6 million, or 4.9%, compared to the previous fiscal year.

Governor Kemp also announced that Siemens will create 1400 jobs based in Jackson County, according to a Press Release.

Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Siemens is planning to create more than 1,400 jobs at its new advanced manufacturing facility in Pendergrass over the next three years. The project represents at least $185 million in investment in Jackson County, pending final approvals.

“For 140 years, Siemens has been a valued part of Georgia’s business community, and this latest investment decision is another testament to the strong economic partnership between our state and Germany,” said Governor Brian P. Kemp. “We are proud to support this next chapter of growth and look forward to the impact of these quality jobs on the Pendergrass community and the surrounding area.”

Siemens is a global technology company and a leader in electrification, automation, and industrial software. Siemens currently supports over 1,700 employees across two manufacturing facilities and six offices in the state, including Siemens’ Peachtree Corners Electrical Products facility.

“Georgia was a natural choice for our next manufacturing investment. The state offers a strong business environment, access to a highly skilled workforce, and close proximity to our existing operations and supply chain network across the Southeast,” said Barry Powell, North America President of the Siemens Electrical Products business unit. “Building this facility strengthens our ability to serve customers more efficiently while expanding advanced manufacturing capacity in a region that is already home to many of the technicians, suppliers, and industry expertise that support our business.”

Siemens’ new approximately 550,000-square-foot facility will produce low-voltage electrical components and be located at 580 Raco Parkway near Pendergrass, pending final approvals. Buildout of the facility is expected to begin this November, with plans to begin hiring for engineering, fabrication, assembly, and testing roles in 2027. To learn more about Siemens, including where interested individuals can apply for jobs, visit www.siemens.com/en-us/company/jobs.

“Jackson County, a state leader in economic development, is pleased to welcome the global leader Siemens and their advanced manufacturing facility to our community,” said Chairman Marty Clark, Jackson County Board of Commissioners. “Siemens’ investment will create high-quality jobs, expand our manufacturing base, strengthen workforce opportunities, and support the county’s long-term goals of sustainable economic growth and increased prosperity for our residents.”

Assistant Director of Statewide Projects Elizabeth McLean represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County Industrial Development Authority, Georgia Power, and Georgia Quick Start.

“At the forefront of innovation and a key partner for transportation and other technology solutions, Siemens has played an important role in Georgia’s advanced industries for decades,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Our 2025 visit to Siemens’ headquarters in Munich marked another important step in the relationship we have built over many years through regular engagement with the company’s leadership, both in Germany and here in Georgia. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with Siemens and our partners in Jackson County.  We look forward to building on our longstanding partnership as Siemens continues to innovate, invest, and grow in Georgia.”

The Stockbridge City Council voted to investigate Mayor Jayden Williams, according to the AJC.

The beleaguered mayor of Stockbridge is asking a judge to halt a process that could result in the City Council removing him from office over allegations including misuse of city funds through city-issued credit cards.

The Stockbridge City Council voted 4-1 on Wednesday to hold an investigative hearing next Saturday evening, Aug. 15, that will function similar to a trial. Council members anticipate hearing evidence from an independent investigator and other witnesses, said council member LaKeisha Gantt.

The city has hired an independent investigator to review more than $4,000 spent on donations and purchases made by the 22-year-old mayor at restaurants, stores and elsewhere using city-issued purchasing cards.

Williams, the youngest mayor in the city’s history, has publicly offered detailed explanations for several of the allegations, which he has characterized as a political attack. Last month, the council restricted Williams’ access to city property and suspended purchasing card and fuel card privileges, as well as his use of city-owned vehicles.

In a lawsuit filed last month in Henry County Superior Court, Williams asked the court to restore his access to the mayor’s office, official email, records and other property to perform his duties.

In an “emergency motion” filed Thursday, the mayor’s attorney asks a judge to prevent the Aug. 15 investigative hearing and to prohibit the council from voting to remove Williams. The attorney, Robert Kenner Jr., argues the hearing would violate the city’s own charter because the city did not give Williams proper notice.

Voters in November will decide three proposed Constitutional Amendments, according to the AJC.

Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund

This amendment would allow the state Legislature to create the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund. The fund would modernize the state’s 911 services to keep up with today’s technology, like allowing callers to send text messages, pictures and videos to emergency dispatchers.

A “yes” vote allows the state Legislature to create and dedicate revenue to the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund.

A “no” vote opposes the state Legislature creating and dedicating revenue to the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund.

Property tax amendment

This amendment would allow owners of large farms and timberland to receive a property tax break for up to 4,000 acres of land instead of the current 2,000-acre limit.

A single landowner can currently enroll a maximum of 2,000 acres to receive special property tax assessment under Georgia’s Conservation Use Valuation Assessment program.

Land that qualifies under CUVA — including farming, timber production or conservation land — is currently taxed at 40% of its current use value instead of its full value. This amendment would allow more acres — 4,000 instead of 2,000 — to become eligible for that property tax break.

Supporters say the amendment will help keep family farms in business and streamline efficiency and transparency. Sen. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie, who sponsored the resolution in the state Senate, argued that the amendment is necessary to update conservation use laws that have remained largely unchanged since the 1980s when agriculture was significantly different.

A “yes” vote approves increasing the maximum amount of land that a single owner can enroll in CUVA from 2,000 to 4,000 acres.

A “no” vote opposes increasing the maximum amount of land that a single owner can enroll in CUVA to 4,000 acres. The existing limit of 2,000 acres would stay in place.

Nonpartisan probate judges

This amendment would require that probate judges be elected on a nonpartisan basis. Probate judges are the last judicial office in the state where candidates still run with a party label.

State Rep. Kimberly New, R-Villa Rica, sponsored the resolution in the state House and said judges should serve the law, not a political party. This amendment will protect the integrity of Georgia’s courts, she said.

A “yes” vote will require that all probate judges be elected on a nonpartisan basis.

A “no” vote opposes requiring that all probate judges be elected on a nonpartisan basis. Probate judges would continue to be elected partisan.

Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Collins is holding a campaign rally in Augusta tonight, according to WRDW.

Georgia U.S. Senate candidate and current House of Representatives member Mike Collins is bringing his campaign to Augusta Monday evening for a rally.

The event is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Snelling Conference Center, located at 3165 Washington Road.

U.S. Rep. Rick Allen is scheduled to appear as a special guest at the event to support Collins’ Senate bid.

Organizers are encouraging attendees to RSVP online ahead of the event. Registration and details can be found at MikeCollinsGA.com/Augusta.

From WJBF:

Congressman Rick Allen and C.J. Pearson are scheduled to join Collins.

The event is free, but organizers ask people to RSVP in advance.

“Anti-shooter” drones will be deployed at five Georgia schools, according to the Savannah Morning News.

In June, the Georgia State Board of Education approved “Campus Guardian Angel” pilot programs for five school districts across the state.

The safety program, which includes anti-shooter drones, comes from the Texas-based company Mithril Defense, and is costing the state half a million dollars during the pilot stage.

Campus Guardian Angel is more than just tech, it’s a complete safety system meant to assistant school districts in their emergency response and management.

One part of the system are drones that are designed to “distract, disorient, confront, degrade and incapacitate a shooter,” according to the company. The drones are equipped with sirens, pepper gel and other “distraction devices” that can delay an active school shooter, allowing law enforcement time to react and possibly prevent casualties.

The second part of the system is an app that helps to “improve situational awareness during a response” for not only staff and teachers, but also parents with children inside the school.

Lastly, the Campus Guardian Angel program also offers an “elite team” with “tens of thousands of hours of professional drone piloting.”

Georgia became the second state in the nation to adopt a pilot program for the drones with Campus Guardian Angel following Florida’s authorization of a program in 2025.

“We are thrilled to work with the State of Georgia to introduce an innovative and proactive approach to enhancing the safety of schools across the state,” Campus Guardian CEO Justin Marston and Chief Tactical Officer Bill King said in a June statement. “We are grateful to the Georgia General Assembly for embracing this critical new layer of school security, and look forward to working with each of the five pilot campuses to implement the Campus Guardian Angel system before classes begin in the fall.”

The following schools (and districts) are participating in the pilot program:

Coffee County High School, Coffee County School District
Gainesville High School, Gainesville City School System
Statesboro High School, Bulloch County Schools
Troup County High School, Troup County School System
River Ridge High School, Cherokee County School District

Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Jones discussed the use of Artificial Intelligence in her office, according to the Savannah Morning News.

[D]espite its growing use in workplaces, Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Jones said generative AI has no place in her office.

“There’s no substitute for legal thought and legal analysis,” Jones said in an interview with the Savannah Morning News (SMN). “That’s what we go to law school for, and that’s why we take the bar exam. I think that (using generative AI) is cheating.”

While the DA does not have an office-wide policy for AI use yet, Jones said she would be “upset” if she knew one of her attorneys used generative AI to write a legal briefing.

In April, a Georgia assistant district attorney was suspended for six months from practicing before the state’s Supreme Court after she admitted to using AI to generate legal filings that included at least five citations to court cases that did not exist.

Locally, attorney John Connell, representing the horse carriage companies in the ongoing legal dispute, used generative AI to prepare a legal brief, according to court records.

“This document was generated with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence tools, specifically Claud (Anthropic) Westlaw AI-Assisted Research… I have independently reviewed this document to confirm accuracy, legitimacy, and use of good and applicable law,” the briefing stated.

Jones said she appreciates Connell’s transparency about his use of generative AI and does not judge him for using it. However, she said she holds herself and the attorneys in her office to a “very high professional standard.”

“I think that (using generative AI) is a lack of professionalism, and it’s an ethical problem,” Jones said. “If it didn’t come from your brain, that’s not acceptable. I think it’s lazy, and I wouldn’t allow it.”

According to the State Bar of Georgia, AI is influencing the framework of legal work and the standards of professional competence. They said ethical obligations including confidentiality, diligence and transparency cannot be diminished by the use of AI.

“Ultimately, AI is a tool. It cannot apply legal reasoning, understand justice or assume ethical responsibility. That remains the role of the lawyer,” the State Bar of Georgia’s website noted.

The DA said using AI to help manage an attorney’s caseload is acceptable for administrative tasks, such as scheduling events, identifying ways to improve efficiency and tracking pending cases. The State Bar of Georgia calls this extractive AI, stating that this form of the technology finds and summarizes what already exists, and does not create new things.

As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating realistic images and videos, Jones said she worries AI-generated content could find its way into the courtroom. Now, Jones said the burden is on prosecutors to ensure the photos or videos marked as evidence are not AI-generated.

“That can be hard to do because lawyers are not computer scientists,” she said.

Two Talbot County residents are suing County Commissioners over an amended data center ordinance, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

Two Talbot County residents and WCR LLC have sued five Talbot County commissioners for amending the county’s zoning ordinance to include data centers and hyperscale data centers without proper procedures.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in Talbot County Superior Court.

Wilson and McCarley have hired the same lawyer, Jonathan Waters, who also represents Wilson in the lawsuit filed last month against the Columbus Council after approval of a data center technology overlay ordinance.

Wilson has property that straddles the Muscogee County and Talbot County border, claiming to be affected by any data center that would be built near his property. He and eight other Upatoi residents argue the Columbus overlay is unconstitutional enforcement, abuse of zoning power and a violation of their procedural due process rights.

On July 6, the Talbot County Commission updated its zoning to include a text amendment and ordinance for data centers. On Aug. 3, the minutes from the July 6 meeting were approved.

“Fourteen days after the Muscogee County suit was filed, the Board adopted the Text Amendment —without proper notice, proper hearing, meaningful planning-commission review, comment, or discussion,” the lawsuit says.

“(The ordinance proposal) wasn’t even on the agenda,” Wilson told the Ledger-Enquirer. “They voted unanimously, and no one knew about it. They are moving fast on this.”

The lawsuit claims there was no public notice before this text amendment during the July 6 meeting, the commission didn’t publicly discuss it, and the effect of allowing a data center on at least 100 acres, per the ordinance, would harm the residents in a variety of ways.

Some Stateboro residents protested against data centers, according to WTOC.

Dozens of Bulloch County residents gathered outside Statesboro City Hall on Saturday to protest a proposed data center they said could harm their community.

The demonstration followed a Tuesday vote by the city’s planning commission to approve a rezoning amendment, 5-1, that would allow 4AM Development, LLC to build a 26.5-acre, two-story data center on Burkhalter Road — land previously zoned residential. The rezoning amendment is not final approval.

Guyton City Council adopted a $2.5 million dollar budget, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Guyton City Council approved a $2.5 million budget for fiscal year 2027 on July 8, trimming over a quarter of a million dollars from departmental requests while funding road improvements, park upgrades and other city priorities.

“We ended up having to trim about $350,000 out of everybody’s proposals to make the numbers work,” said City Manager Bill Lindsey. “We basically got to the point where we were nickel and diming until we finally ran out of nickels and dimes. And the problem is everything’s costing more.”

The Colquitt County Board of Education tentatively set a property tax millage rate higher than last year, according to the Moultrie Observer.

The Colquitt County Board of Education has tentatively set its millage rate for the year, pending public hearings for the increase in property tax. The first two hearings are at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Thursday, August 13. The next hear is at 5 p.m., Monday, August 24. All hearings will be at the Board of Education meeting room, 1800 Park Avenue.

The board of education increased its millage rate from last year’s 7.777 to 7.999, which is an increase of 0.278 mills. This will increase school property taxes by 3.6%.

“The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $100,000 is approximately $8.34 and the propose tax increase for a non-homestead property with a fair market value of $300,000 is approximately $33.36,” stated the board of education.

Colquitt County Commissioners will vote later this month to set their property tax millage rate, according to the Moultrie Observer.

County Administrator Chas Cannon presented the proposed rates at a recent commission meeting and said, “You can see the impact of FLOST, there, on the incorporated, unincorporated. Pretty steep reduction. We expect that to go further next year.”

The proposed millage rate, for the county, is 6.717 for unincorporated and 9.518 for incorporated. Last year’s millage rate was 9.197 for unincorporated and 11.767 for incorporated.

There were also proposed decreases in millage rate for the Economic Development Authority, which went from .217 to .215, and for the Parks and Recreation Authority, which went from 1.484 to 1.474. The Special Service District rate stayed the same at 1.212.

Floyd County Commissioners meet today, according to WRGA News.

The Rome City Schools Board of Education meets Tuesday, according to WRGA News.