On February 7, 1733, the first Georgia colonists had been here a week and they finished building a hand-operated crane to move heavy supplies and livestock from their boats to the top of the forty-foot high bluff where they were building a settlement.
On February 8, 1751, the first session of the Georgia Provincial Parliament adjourned, having convened on January 15, 1751.
The House of Assembly, Georgia’s legislative body, held its second meeting after statehood on February 6, 1788 in Savannah.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois. In 1980, Reagan would be elected President of the United States, beating incumbent Jimmy Carter. When he was born, his father said, “he looks like a fat little Dutchman. But who knows, he might grow up to be president some day.”
On February 6, 1952, Governor Herman Talmadge signed resolutions of the General Assembly that included:
A resolution calling on Congress to call a convention to propose a constitutional amendment to repeal the Sixteenth Amendment and instead allow a maximum rate of 25 percent on any federal income, transfer, gift, or inheritance tax.
A resolution urging U.S. Senator Richard B. Russell to run for the presidency.
On February 8, 1955, Gov. Marvin Griffin signed a resolution by the General Assembly calling on Congress to require racial segregation in the military.
On February 6, 1956, Governor Marvin Griffin addressed a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly, asking their support for House Resolution 1185, which introduced the idea of “interposition,” in which the State of Georgia would declare the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 and 1955 Brown v. Board of Education decisions “null and void” in Georgia. That day Griffin also signed a raft of legislation for his “massive resistance” agenda against integration of state schools.
On February 8, 1956, the Georgia State House adopted a resolution purporting to hold the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education null and void.
On February 7, 1980, Pink Floyd opened “The Wall” tour in Los Angeles.
On February 8, 1981, R.E.M. held their first recording session at Bombay Studios in Smyrna, recording “Gardening At Night,” “Radio Free Europe” and “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville,” as well as others.
On February 6, 1985, Reagan gave the State of the Union. During the speech he announced what would be known as the “Reagan Doctrine.”
On February 7, 1990, the Communist Party Central Committee of the Soviet Union agreed to a proposal by Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev that it should give up its political monopoly.
The response from the United States was surprise and cautious optimism. One State Department official commented that, “The whole Soviet world is going down the drainpipe with astonishing speed. It’s mind-boggling.” Former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger indicated that he was “personally gratified and astonished that anyone would have the chance to say such things in Moscow without being shot.” President George Bush was more circumspect, merely congratulating President Gorbachev for his “restraint and finesse.”
Ironically, the fact that the Communist Party was willing to accept political challenges to its authority indicated how desperately it was trying to maintain its weakening power over the country. The measures were little help, however–President Gorbachev resigned on December 25, 1991 and the Soviet Union officially ceased to exist on December 31, 1991.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Take my money: Girl Scout cookie sales begin this weekend, according to WALB.
Girl Scout cookie booths will open Friday, Feb. 6, offering favorite varieties at locations across the community.
The in-person cookie sales will run through March 8. All boxes are priced at $5 each.
Customers can also donate boxes to support military members. All proceeds from the sales help fund local Girl Scout programs.
To find a booth near you or to place an online order, visit girlscouts.org.
Under the Gold Dome
Friday, February 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 14
Monday, February 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 15
Tuesday, February 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 16
Wednesday, February 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 17
Thursday, February 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 18
Senate Rules Committee: Upon Adjournment 450 CAP
8:00 AM HOUSE Reg Ind Sub Occup/Prof Lic 606 CLOB
8:00 AM Special Comm Resource Mgmt 406 CLOB
9:00 AM HOUSE FLOOR SESSION (LD14) House Chamber
9:00 AM Senate Floor Session (LD 14) Senate Chamber
11:00 AM HOUSE W&M Sub Pub Fin & Local Policy 406 CLOB
President Donald Trump has endorsed Colton Moore Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Clayton Fuller for the 14th Congressional District seat vacated by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Extreme NW GA), according to the Savannah Morning News.
More than 20 candidates, predominantly Republican, filed to run in the special election for the former representative’s seat.
Now, the president himself has weighed in on the race, publicly endorsing District Attorney Clay Fuller.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump released an array of posts endorsing candidates for various state races on Feb. 4.
Clay Fuller, the current District Attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit in northwest Georgia, was the recipient of one of these endorsements.
Citing Fuller’s legal and military experience, the president said “Clay knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our Brave Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
The president continued saying Fuller would “promote MADE IN THE U.S.A” and “Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE.”
“He is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Georgia, and many Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives,” the president wrote. “Clay Fuller has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Georgia’s 14th Congressional District – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”
Fuller shared the post on his Facebook page, thanking the president and calling his endorsement the “honor of a lifetime.”
“Our work to put America first is just getting started!” Fuller said.
The special election will be held on March 10, but given how many candidates are in the race, it will likely go to a runoff election which will be held on April 7. The runoff will include the two candidates who received the most votes during the first election assuming no candidate reached a majority.
The last day to register to vote in the district is Monday, Feb. 9, and absentee voting will begin on Feb. 16.
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Cassville) announced he will not run for reelection, according to WRGA News.
Another member of Congress from Northwest Georgia is calling it quits.
11th District Congressman Barry Loudermilk announced on Wednesday that he will not be seeking another term.
The Cassville Republican has served since 2015.
His district includes portions of Bartow, Gordon, Pickens, Cherokee, and Cobb Counties.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Loudermilk said:
“Serving the people of Northwest Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives is a tremendous honor, and throughout my six terms, I have focused on upholding the Constitution and representing the values of the Eleventh Congressional District and the great state of Georgia.
“I first ran for election to Congress in 2014 and, as I stated then, representing the people in Congress is a service, not a career; and although I continue to have strong support from the people of the Eleventh Congressional District, I believe it is time to contribute to my community, state, and nation in other ways. Therefore, I have decided not to seek re-election at the end of my current term in Congress.
“I have learned throughout my life that doing what is right is not always easy, convenient, or popular. My wife and I have prayed diligently and discussed this extensively, and, while this is not an easy decision, we believe it is the right one. While serving my constituents in Congress ranks among my greatest honors, being a husband, a father, and a grandfather holds even greater importance to me, and at this time, I wish to spend more dedicated time with my family.
“Thank you to the great people of Georgia’s Eleventh Congressional District for allowing me to serve you, and to my incredible staff for your years of outstanding service to our district, state, and nation.”
14th District Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned, effective January 5.
A Special Election to fill Greene’s seat will be held on March 10.
Loudermilk is the fourth Georgia Republican U.S. Congressman to vacate their seat ahead of the 2026 elections, with District 1 Representative Buddy Carter and District 10 Representative Mike Collins both vacating their seats to run for U.S. Senate, and District 14 Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene resigning.
House Bill 1193, the “Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026” by State Rep. Chris Erwin (D-Homer) was introduced yesterday, according to a Press Release.
Today, Speaker of the House Jon Burns (R-Newington) joined House and Senate leaders in applauding the introduction of House Bill 1193, the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, a landmark legislative priority that marks the most significant reform of Georgia’s education policy in nearly three decades. This legislation enables historic investments in K-3 education and reinforces Georgia’s commitment to ensuring every child across the state can dream big, achieve success and create a brighter future for themselves.
“Literacy is one of the keys to life. The ability to read and receive a quality education opens doorways to opportunity and lifelong success, and right now, only one in three Georgia students can read at grade level by the end of third grade,” said Speaker Jon Burns. “That’s why the House is proud to put forward historic legislation that will facilitate generational change for our children, families, businesses and the entire state by ensuring every child has the chance to learn to read.”
The Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 takes bold, affirmative steps forward to strengthen Georgia’s literacy rates by investing where it matters most, streamlining guidelines for grade placement, fostering greater collaboration at the local and school levels, better preparing Georgia’s future teachers and educating parents on the critical importance of early literacy and language development.
“House Bill 1193 is the most meaningful and significant education legislation the Georgia General Assembly has championed since the HOPE Scholarship in 1992,” said House Education Chairman Chris Erwin (R-Homer). “Students across the state will benefit from the policies included in the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 for generations to come, and we look forward to working alongside the Senate to get this life-changing measure across the finish line.”
“I am very proud of the companion Literacy Bill that was dropped by the Senate and House on Wednesday,” said Senate Education Chairman Billy Hickman. “I look forward to working with the Senate and House Education Committees as the bill moves through the legislative process.”a
Senate Bill 74 by State Senator Max Burns (R-Sylvania) would regulate library books and librarians, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.
Legislation that seeks to expose librarians to criminal prosecution for loaning the wrong books to children has resurfaced at the Georgia Legislature.
Senate Bill 74 passed the Senate last year, the first half of the biennial legislative session, and now it is advancing through the House.
The senator sponsoring the bill said library books have become a controversial topic in the area he represents, which is between Augusta and Savannah.
Constituents complained, so he investigated and decided that it was wrong to exempt librarians from the law.
“The objective is simple: protect children from harm,” said Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania. He said he knows his legislation is controversial, given the volume of comment on both sides of the issue before it passed the Senate last year. More than a couple dozen spoke again both for and against the measure during public comment about it this week.
“I have a hard time understanding why people oppose protecting children,” he said.
Georgia law makes it a crime to knowingly give minors any material for reading, listening or watching that is deemed to be “harmful” to them in a sexual way.
Librarians are exempted from prosecution for the crime, which is categorized as a “high and aggravated” misdemeanor. Punishment can include up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. One library director testified that such a reputational stain would also cost a librarian his or her license to work.
Burns’ bill advanced after a close partisan vote from a House subcommittee Tuesday and is set for a hearing by a full House committee Thursday. It could soon get a vote on the House floor.
Burns has tweaked his bill since last year, leaving librarians shielded when they can demonstrate that they tried to have questionable material submitted for review.
Proponents of the measure say they want “pornography” to be inaccessible to children.
“Kids are being exposed to pornography at such an early age,” said Mike Griffin, lobbyist for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. This drives them to commit sexual abuse against peers, he testified Tuesday. “It’s so very important that we deal with limiting this type of access because it’s creating perpetrators.”
Other faith-based advocacy groups back the bill, too.
Lucia Frazier, who described herself as a “simple mom,” said children were being exposed to what she saw as “immoral” books in schools.
“I don’t think the curriculum should even have anatomy,” she said. “There is a level of conservatism that we need to go back towards. I think we’re way out of line.”
One critic of the legislation labeled it “authoritarian.” Retired middle school librarian Susan McWethy said those who favor it want to impose their morality on everyone else, with librarians caught in the middle.
Children need access to reliable information about difficult topics such as addiction, gender dysphoria and sexuality, she said, and it is the responsibility of librarians to provide it.
“But somehow I feel these very topics will be under attack by the censorship police,” she said, “placing librarians in impossible situations — whether to follow their professional expertise or capitulate to others who have narrow agendas and want to foist their ideologies on everyone else.”
The legislation maintains the shield from prosecution when librarians are “not aware” that harmful material was available in their library.
But Mike Cooper, a trustee of the DeKalb County Public Library system, worried that an “overzealous” prosecutor would assert that an accused librarian must have been aware.
How does a librarian defend themselves, he wondered, using the venue — a roomful of lawmakers in the Capitol — to drive his point home.
“Librarians do their best to survey the materials they have,” Cooper said, “but they can’t read every word and every book just as I’m sure you don’t know every word in every piece of legislation approved under the Gold Dome.”
The bill’s supporters said it would be the responsibility of the state to prove an accused librarian was guilty of knowingly distributing harmful material to minors.
But Rep. Esther Panitch, D-Sandy Springs, who voted against the measure, said librarians would have to produce evidence of their ignorance.
She asked Cooper a rhetorical question: “Are you aware of any society where banning books has resulted in anything good?”
This prompted Rep. Rob Leverett, R-Elberton, a member of the same legislative subcommittee, to say that he did not think the legislation said anything about banning books.
“Now admittedly,” he added, “it does require you to undertake a greater qualitative review than I think most librarians are comfortable making.”
House Bill 1023 by State Rep. Chuck Efstration (R-Mulberry) received a “Do Pass” recommendation in committee and aims to improve school safety, according to Atlanta News First via WTVM.
A bill installing weapons detection systems in all Georgia public schools is one step closer to becoming law.
The House Education Committee passed House Bill 1023 Thursday.
“Having as many layers for our students and our teachers, that’s the most important thing,” said Layla Renee Contreras, the lead organizer with Change for Chee and an Apalachee High School alumna.
Georgia public schools are one step closer to safer entrances with HB 1023, which cleared the House Education Committee. Contreras said, “It’s kind of ridiculous this hasn’t been implemented.”
Contreras has been at the forefront of increased school safety since the deadly attack at Apalachee High School in 2024 that took the lives of two teachers and two students.
“Anything we can do to deter these people from bringing harm to our children. This is one step closer to bringing them safety,” Contreras said.
Barrow County schools installed weapons detectors at all middle and high schools in January 2025. The Barrow County School System has also equipped all schools with school resource officers.
Apalachee High School shooting survivor Kyra Mcconatha said it was not the shooting but another student bringing a gun on campus afterward when the detectors came into play.
“It’s very needed. It feels like a burden is lifted off your shoulders after you have safety,” Kyra Mcconatha, an Apalachee High School shooting survivor, said.
Gwinnett County schools will have the weapons detection systems in all middle and high schools by the end of March.
The vote on the bill was split. Representatives said the systems could play a vital role in safety, while others expressed concerns about funding and liability.
The bill’s sponsor, House Majority Leader Rep. Chuck Efstration, said the detection system is part of his everyday routine when he reports to the Capitol.
“There is nothing more important than the safety and futures of our children,” Rep. Chuck Efstration, the House majority leader, said.
Efstration said, “I believe that this is a reasonable measure of the circumstances of wanting to ensure every Georgia parent that when they drop their children off at school they’re gonna be able to pick them up safely at the end of the day.”
Rep. Karen Lupton, a Democrat, raised some concern about the bill.
“I have a concern: what sort of liability does this put our school systems in if we say you have to have every entrance covered?” Rep. Karen Lupton said.
“I don’t see that this in any way changes liability; it’s just my opinion on that,” Efstration said. “That issue hasn’t been raised with me since I introduced this bill.”
The bill will still need to pass the House and Senate before it becomes law. Schools will be able to pay for the systems through state-funded grants to meet the requirements.
House Bill 117 by State Rep. Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah) passed the Senate in amended form, and would require restaurants to post the origin of shrimp, according to WSAV.
The Georgia Senate voted 43-8 to pass House Bill 117, a bill that would require food service establishments to identify where their seafood products originate from.
Local shrimpers said they have been watching HB 117 closely for the past year, as they rely on people eating locally caught wild shrimp. WSAV has followed the bill since State Rep. Jesse Petrea first sponsored the bill.
“Fresh local shrimp, that is usually the lingo,” Owner of Tybee Seafood Market Brian Anderson said. “Well pretty much 95% of products is not fresh, it is previously frozen. Restaurants are saying fresh local, but it’s not.”
HB 117 requires restaurants to advertise where their seafood products come from. This transparency will allow customers to know if the shrimp is “foreign imported” or “locally caught.”
“Well, Savannah ‘s a big tourist town and a lot of your restaurants that are considered what they call a tourist trap,” Independent Shrimper “Scuba” Steve said. “So, they really think they come to Savannah and eat fresh seafood, and I’d be willing 95-99% of your restaurants have imported seafood.”
This bill comes at a time when most local shrimpers are suffering due to the price of gas and equipment. They don’t believe this bill will make anything different but are interested in seeing what happens, Anderson and Steve said.
“I think it’s a great idea, but I don’t see it having an immediate impact on the local shrimpers here in Savannah,” Steve said.
Anderson said, “I don’t think it is going to save the industry by any means. We have nine active boats full time, it’s not like we will have 40 or 50 next year in Chatham County.”
Anderson said he hopes that there will be repercussions if a restaurants false advertises that their shrimp is local.
HB 117 will now head to Georgia’s House of Representative and if passed it will then go to Governor Brian Kemp’s desk.
Elected officials and others from Savannah visited the State Capitol, according to the Savannah Morning News.
During the annual Savannah-Chatham County Day at the state Capitol Wednesday, Savannah leaders said this year’s session will be heavy on the defense.
“The talks in the Capitol these last two days have been pretty scary for municipalities and local governments with some of the proposals that are being moved and discussed,” said Savannah City Manager Jay Melder during a meeting with Georgia Municipal Association officials.
Top of conversation at Savannah-Chatham Day were proposed property tax reforms floating through the legislature as lawmakers seek to address issues of affordability. One proposal, supported by Speaker of the House Jon Burns (R-Newington), would eliminate homestead property taxes statewide by 2032.
Burns touted the proposal in a press release on Jan. 28 as helping foster home ownership and supporting stability for seniors.
“Property tax rates have skyrocketed far beyond what most Georgians can reasonably afford or be expected to pay, placing an unfair and unsustainable financial burden on countless homeowners throughout the state,” Burns said in the release.
But for leaders such as Johnson and Melder, there may be cause for concern if property taxes were eliminated. Property taxes account for nearly 40% of the city’s 2026 general fund, although that figure includes the commercial and industrial tax base which wouldn’t be impacted by the proposed legislation.
Melder also noted that property taxes are the only tax revenues that are a sure thing, given sales tax revenues being more dependent on the economy and consumer spending. Johnson expressed concern that in an effort to solve issues of affordability for Georgians, other problems could be created.
“A significant amount of our funds come from property taxes. Without that money being there, then where does the money come from,” Johnson said.
From the Dalton Daily Citizen:
A bill that would limit how quickly Georgia homeowners’ property values — and in turn, their property taxes — can rise moved forward this week after clearing the state Senate.
Senate Bill 382 would cap annual increases in assessed home values at the rate of inflation, reversing a provision in state law that allowed school systems and local governments to continue taxing property value increases above inflation if they opted out of the cap. Voters approved the tax limit statewide in 2024, but about 71% of Georgia’s 180 school systems and 29% of city and county governments chose to opt out last year.
Supporters say the bill is needed to curb sharp tax hikes driven by rapidly rising home values. “We had seen property taxes being increased on homeowners by double digits,” said Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, the bill’s sponsor. “We’ve heard from homeowners who say they can’t afford a massive increase in their own taxes.”
Opponents argue the measure would reduce funding for schools and local governments while failing to address broader affordability issues.
Sen. Derek Mallow, D-Savannah, said lawmakers should instead focus on policies such as raising the minimum wage and reexamining tax breaks for large businesses.
“If we truly wanted to help the least of these among us, we have the power through a budget to appropriate it and do something about it if we were serious about it,” Mallow said. The bill passed the Senate 31-19, with one Democrat, Sen. Jaha Howard of Smyrna, joining Republicans in support.
SB 382 now heads to the Georgia House for consideration.
The State House passed the Supplemental Budget, HB 973, for FY 2026, according to GPB News.
The House took up the mid-year budget, also called the baby budget. Lawmakers take a mid-fiscal year assessment and adjust the budget accordingly.
“The amended fiscal year 2026 budget is set by a revised revenue estimate of $42.3 billion,” said House Appropriations Chair Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin). “In addition to the revenue growth, the governor’s revenue estimate for the amended FY26 budget includes $3.3 billion in undesignated surplus funds for a total revenue adjustment of $4.5 billion dollars or an 11.9% increase over the original FY26 budget.”
Some of Georgia’s multi-billion dollar surplus will be given back to certain taxpayers this year, but instead of the one-time tax rebate the governor proposed this year, the House will instead put that money toward a property tax credit.
“Property tax relief for Georgia’s homeowners, funding $850 million for the Homeowner Tax Relief grant program,” Hatchett said. “This grant will reduce next year’s tax bills for homeowners, and we will continue to work to eliminate property taxes on your home.”
Other adjustments in the budget include more money for education, the biggest budgetary expense.
“This budget continues to meet our obligations in K-12 and higher education,” Hatchett said, “fully funding our formulas and projections for QBE, charter systems, promise and special needs scholarships, AP exams, dual enrollment, completion schools and HOPE scholarships and grants.”
It would also boost money for prison expansions, infrastructure improvements, and additional state employees.
“Running a growing state is not cheap, and this budget spends over $300 million in workload adjustments, including K-12, Medicaid, Corrections Health Contracts, and DHS out-of-home care,” Hatchett said. “These additions are largely associated with our growing population.”
The supplemental budget passed nearly unanimously and now goes to the Senate for approval.
Georgia House lawmakers have replaced the governor’s proposed income tax rebate with a one-time tax break for homeowners.
The change was included in the chamber’s version of this year’s revised budget, which overwhelmingly cleared the House with a 167-to-5 vote Thursday. The $42.3 billion spending plan now moves to the Senate, where lawmakers will want to leave their own mark on the budget.
Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled his final spending plans last month, which included about $1.2 billion to send taxpayers another round of rebates this year. As in the past, the payment would be $250 for individuals, $375 for head of household and $500 for married couples filing jointly.
Instead, the House plan would set aside about $850 million for a homeowner tax relief grant program that would give back, on average, $500. That grant program is part of the Republican House leadership’s property tax plan announced last week that calls for the complete elimination of local taxes for homeowners, which is a major source of revenue for cities, counties and schools.
“This grant will reduce next year’s tax bills for homeowners, and we will continue to work to eliminate property taxes on your home,” Rep. Matt Hatchett, a Dublin Republican and the House’s top budget writer, told his colleagues Thursday.
The governor’s office sounded open to the discussion.
“While it is our office’s practice not to comment on proposed or pending legislation out of respect for the legislative process, the Governor looks forward to working alongside legislative leaders to deliver meaningful tax relief for all Georgians,” Kemp spokesperson Carter Chapman said in a statement.
The governor determines the size of the budget, which means lawmakers cannot add more spending. But they can move money around within the budget to fit their own priorities.
When asked by reporters about the proposed switch to property tax grants, Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte reserved judgment. But he did use the opportunity to plug one of the Senate GOP’s priorities: income tax elimination. He said a proposal would be filed “in the days to come.”
Kemp has proposed moving more cautiously toward shrinking the state’s income tax. His budget proposal left room for the state to accelerate an already planned reduction that would bring Georgia’s rate to 4.99%, down from today’s 5.19%. A bill that would do so was filed last month.
But Anavitarte argued that a recently passed Senate property tax proposal is the better strategy for helping homeowners. That measure, which passed Tuesday, would prevent local governments and school districts from opting out of a statewide homestead tax exemption that caps annual property tax increases.
“I think ours is the clearest to sell, is the most understandable and it directly provides relief more immediately than I think some of the other proposals going on around the building,” he said. “And I think Georgia citizens want us to act very quickly.”
Most House Democrats supported the revised budget Thursday, but House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley said Thursday that the caucus is still evaluating the GOP’s broader property tax plan. Support of Democrats will be necessary to get the two-thirds majority vote needed to pass a proposed constitutional amendment.
“Right now, the House is saying property tax relief, the Senate is saying income tax relief. We’ve got to wait to see what comes back and see what direction we’re going to go in,” Hugley told reporters. “I think that this measure is so important that we cannot be hasty and we cannot yield to whatever the politics of the day are, because behind those proposals are individual families and communities, schools, cities and counties that are looking to us to take care of.”
The Columbus Democrat praised a “bright spot” in the budget: The House has fully covered the $85 million budget shortfall at the Division of Family and Children Services at the Department of Human Services. About $1.6 million was specifically dedicated to restoring canceled contracts for supportive services and to place foster youth closer to their biological families.
“Our budget fully funds the deficit in DFCS, and we reinstate foster care supportive service contracts,” Hatchett said to applause.
The current budget year wraps up at the end of June.
From the Capitol Beat News Service via the Augusta Chronicle:
The House trimmed $80 million from Kemp’s $1.8 billion project to add express lanes to I-75 south of Atlanta. The lawmakers also cut $25 million from the governor’s $325 million proposal to establish a college scholarship fund for students from low-income households.
The House instead put money into myriad projects, including prison cells, mental health facilities, rural infrastructure, and medical education.
One major switch saved a bit of money. Kemp wanted to return $1 billion to taxpayers in the form of one-time income tax rebates averaging $250 per filer ($500 for married couples).
The House wants to return $150 million less, and to different people. The proposal, passed by a 167-5 vote, would return $850 million to homeowners through property tax relief grants.
“This grant will reduce next year’s tax bills for homeowners, and we will continue to eliminate property taxes on your home,” said Rep. Matt Hatchett, R-Dublin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Property tax relief is a priority for House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington. He has said he wants to gradually reduce homeowner property taxes until 2032, when they would be abolished.
The House added several big-ticket items. It wants to spend $220 million to design and build a new private prison for low-risk inmates, which would free up 480 beds in state prisons.
The House proposal also adds nearly $30 million to retrofit a building at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro for a new optometry college. It puts $27 million towards a new hospital in Atlanta to create bed space for mental health and forensic patients, and adds $50 million for rural infrastructure projects. It also puts nearly $83 million toward a deficit in the Division of Family and Children Services, with $1.6 million to restore four foster care support contracts that had been cut to save money.
The Senate will now have a chance to make its own amendments to the mid-year budget as the House turns to the full budget for fiscal year 2027, which will fund the government starting in July.
Governor Kemp’s proposed Amended Budget would cut $86 million from the Georgia Promise Scholarship, according to 13WMAZ.
Gov. Brian Kemp’s amended budget for fiscal year 2026 includes a nearly $86 million one-time funding cut to Georgia’s Promise Scholarship program, following lower-than-expected participation during the program’s first year.
More than 20,200 students applied for the Georgia Promise Scholarship in 2025, according to data from the Georgia Student Finance Commission, but fewer than half met the eligibility requirements.
About 7,700 students living in low-performing public school zones ultimately qualified for and received the $6,500 scholarship to attend private school.
For the current school year, lawmakers set aside $141 million for the scholarship — enough to cover about 20,000 qualified applicants. With fewer than 8,000 students qualifying and using the program, the total cost came to about $50 million, leaving roughly $86 million unused.
Lawmakers are now considering that adjustment as part of the amended fiscal year 2026 budget. The proposed funding reduction would not impact students currently receiving the scholarship. Looking ahead, Kemp has proposed fully funding the program again in fiscal year 2027.
The scholarship program continues to face opposition at the Capitol. Democratic Rep. Floyd Griffin of Milledgeville held a news conference Tuesday, where he introduced a substitute bill that could replace Georgia Promise and allow voters to decide its future in November. Griffin said the original legislation passed by a single vote in 2024.
“One vote margin is not a mandate,” Griffin said. “It is a sign that the house was divided and that serious questions remain unresolved. Those questions did not disappear after passage. They continue to be raised today by parents, teachers, school leaders, and taxpayers across Georgia.”
Lawmakers have not yet approved the amended fiscal year 2026 budget or a budget for fiscal year 2027. Applications for the Georgia Promise Scholarship are closed for the current school year but will reopen in March for next fall.
In Central Georgia, many private schools saw an influx in Georgia Promise funds. Windsor Academy in Macon received over $106,000 in funds, which was the second most funding a single private school received through Georgia Promise.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security appears to be planning a detention center in Social Circle, Georgia, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Just more than a month after city officials in Social Circle, Georgia were alerted that the Department of Homeland Security was scouting their small town for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, the property is moving toward a final purchase and city officials say the center could be open by April.
The City of Social Circle said in December they found out their town was a prospected site for an ICE detention center when The Washington Post reported the Trump Administration’s plan to convert warehouses to holding facilities.
The facility is predicted to hold between 5,000 and 10,000 people “being staged for deportation,” according to the city. Social Circle, a town about 45 miles west of Atlanta, only has a population of about 5,000 people.
The city says it tried to seek information from state or federal partners to learn whether the facility would be within the city limits.
“A key reason that such a facility is infeasible is because the City does not have the water and sewer infrastructure to support this type of facility,” the city said. “Current capacity limitations would not support a development of the size described in media reports. This proposal could result in an effective tripling of the City’s population that is hovering right around 5,000 citizens.”
Social Circle officials also worried about a potential detention center’s proximity to houses, businesses and schools, and said it would not “tolerate a failure in security.” The city said it would look for avenues to oppose the efforts.
The 8,500 bed warehouse proposal in Social Circle comes around the same time as a 1,500 bed proposal in Oakwood.
In addition to a Dec. 31 statement from the City of Social Circle regarding infrastructure strain and a lack of communication from federal agencies, the city posted another statement on Wednesday.
“The City of Social Circle just participated in a call with Congressman Mike Collins and members of his staff regarding the PNK property,” the statement read. “During this call, Congressman Collins and his staff advised the City that the PNK property is currently in escrow and moving toward final purchase by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the purpose of establishing an ICE detention facility.”
The city added that Collins said the site was initially in consideration to be an alternative location, but now it is a “preferred site.”
The City of Social Circle in Walton County has a population of around 5,000. The facility would nearly triple its inhabitants and — as noted by citizens — is only 2-miles away from a newly-built elementary school.
“City officials have formally requested that this information be provided to the City in writing, including clarification on the anticipated timeline,” the city’s statement read. “Congressman Collins and his staff indicated that housing at the facility is expected to begin as early as April.”
Roughly two hours later, Collins issued a statement on his Facebook.
“I was informed that DHS will move forward with its plans for the Social Circle facility,” Collins’ statement read. “Although I am aligned with the mission of ICE to detain and deport the criminal illegal aliens who have flooded across our border due to Joe Biden’s reckless policies, I agree with the community that Social Circle does not have the sufficient resources that this facility would require.”
Collins added that he has asked DHS to “continue evaluating” the impacts the facility would have on the community.
Locally, the City of Oakwood issued a statement regarding the potential site at 3619 Atlanta Highway.
“If the City is approached by any government agency concerning a detention facility, we will promptly notify the public,” Oakwood’s statement read. “The City is aware of the potential infrastructure impacts such a facility could have on our community.”
The Senate Ethics Committee’s Substitute to HB 414, originally authored by State Rep. Todd Jones (R-Cumming) passed the Senate on a 50-1 vote and opens a door for the Georgia State Ethics Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission to investigate “dark money” spending by an out-of-state organization, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Valdosta Daily Times.
Millions of dollars of out-of-state campaign money flowing into Georgia could soon be more strongly policed in the wake of mysterious political TV ads and big spending on recent elections.
A bipartisan state Senate voted 50-1 to pass a bill Thursday that allows the Georgia Ethics Commission to seek subpoenas against groups or individuals located in other states who are suspected of breaking Georgia campaign finance laws, such as contribution limits or transparency requirements.
“We will now have the tools to hold people outside our state accountable,” said state Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, before the vote in the state Senate. “This bill is just making certain that those from outside our state that are coming in and pouring money into elections play by the same rules.”
The bill received a vote following a barrage of TV ads and billboards by a shadowy Delaware-based group called Georgians for Integrity, which has launched attacks on Republican gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Burt Jones without disclosing its backers or registering in Georgia.
Democratic candidates have often received more outside money than Republicans in recent high-profile elections.
For example, during the 2022 race for governor, about 78% of Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams’ donations came from outside Georgia, according to a Capitol Beat review of campaign contribution records that included an address through October 2022. By comparison, just 15% of Republican Brian Kemp’s campaign money came from elsewhere.
State Sen. Randal Mangham, D-Stone Mountain, said he worried the Ethics Commission could weaponize its investigatory powers for political purposes.
“I am a little concerned that this not be used as a political pawn to publicize if you’re investigating someone because you don’t like their political views,” said Mangham, who voted in favor of the bill.
Ethics Commission Executive Director David Emadi told a Senate committee earlier this week that groups and individuals who are influencing Georgia elections should be required to comply with state campaign finance laws.
“We’d like to be able to take immediate action if we see these outside actors, outside the state, sending money in unregulated, unreported, attack ads,” Emadi said.
Under House Bill 414, the Ethics Commission would have the authority to ask a Georgia superior court judge to issue a subpoena for documentation or information from outside of the state. Failure to respond to the subpoena within 30 days would result in a default judgment against the out-of-state individual or group.
The bill passed the state House last year, but the state Senate made minor changes to it. The bill now returns to the House for a final vote.
Democratic candidate for Governor and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms will campaign in Augusta tomorrow, according to WRDW.
Georgia gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms will host a meet-and-greet event in Augusta on Saturday to engage with voters.
The campaign event is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Karisma Kontour Body Spa and Salon, located on 8th Street in downtown Augusta.
Local teacher Adam Shirley will run for Clarke County Board of Education, according to the Athens Banner Herald.
Adam Shirley, an educator for 18 years, has worked in the Clarke County system for four years, and for the past 14 years, he has taught seventh- and eighth-grade science. He is running for the seat held by LaKeisha Gantt, who announced that she will seek the office of mayor of Athens-Clarke County.
Shirley noted that he has served on the SPLOST 2020 Citizens Advisory and Oversight Committee, and from 2021 to 202,5 he was a member of the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections and Registration.
Habersham County Commissioner Jimmy Tench has resigned, according to AccessWDUN.
“I have known Jimmy Tench for most of my life, and I have always had a great deal of respect for him,” Habersham County Chairman Bruce Harkness said. “He has given many years of service to Habersham County, and I truly appreciate the commitment he has shown to our community. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, I want to thank him for his service and wish him all the best moving forward.”
The county says they will follow the “appropriate process” to fill the vacancy in accordance with state law and local procedure.
Fort Valley Police Department’s Chief and Assistant Chief were fired by City Council, according to the Macon Telegraph.
The Fort Valley City Council fired Police Chief DJ Flores on Jan. 30, as well as Assistant Police Chief Michael Bostic.
City Administrator Gary Lee resigned, with the council formally accepting his resignation on Tuesday, meeting agendas and recordings showed. Lee was initially slated to be fired, according to media reports, but was allowed to resign.
Fort Valley Mayor Shakeena Reeves will take over the city administrator’s duties until a new hire is made, and Capt. Alger Raines will serve as interim police chief, according to city documents.
Fort Valley has not released any statements explaining the terminations or resignation, and did not respond to The Telegraph’s request for comment.
Five seats on Columbus City Council will be filled in this year’s election, according to the Columbus Ledger.
Council seats representing Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be up for election May 19. Councilors Byron Hickey, Bruce Huff, Charmaine Crabb, Joanne Cogle and John Anker sit in these seats, respectively.
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