On January 27, 1785, a charter was approved by the Georgia legislature for the first publicly-supported state university in America.
On January 27, 1941, Delta Air Lines announced it would move its headquarters from Monroe, Louisiana to Atlanta, Georgia. It was an interesting case of public-money-fueled economic development.
In 1940, the city of Atlanta and Delta had signed an agreement whereby the city agreed to contribute $50,000 for construction of a new hanger and office building for Delta if it would move its headquarters to Atlanta. In turn, Delta agreed to pay the remaining construction costs and then assume a 20-year lease for the new facilities. On Jan. 16, 1941, Delta had secured a $500,000 loan from Atlanta’s Trust Company of Georgia, thus allowing it to make a public announcement of the move.
On January 27, 1945, Allied forces in Germany liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Until the liberation of some 7 thousand prisoners remaining at the site of the camp by soldiers of the Red Army, the German Nazis murdered approx. 1.1 million people in Auschwitz, mostly Jews, but also Poles, the Roma, Soviet prisoners of war and people of other nationalities.
On January 27, 1965, the Shelby GT 350 was unveiled.
Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” was released on January 27, 1965, seven weeks after his death.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Under the Gold Dome Today
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10:00 AM HOUSE FLOOR SESSION (LD6) House Chamber
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2:00 PM Senate Nat’l Res & Envt MEZZ 1
Governor Brian Kemp speaks frequently about tort reform as a legislative priority, according to the Capitol Beat News Service.
The signs are clear as Georgia lawmakers prepare to resume the 2025 General Assembly session on Monday after a weeklong recess: Gov. Brian Kemp is making tort reform a high priority.
Even before the session began two weeks ago, Kemp issued a call for tort reform in a speech to newly elected and returning legislators in a December speech at the University of Georgia.
He returned to the theme Jan. 14 in his annual address to political and business leaders at the Eggs and Issues breakfast sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
Two days later, Kemp devoted a major portion of his State of the State message to a joint session of the Georgia House and Senate to the need for tort reform.
“One of the biggest threats to Georgia’s future is our state’s legal environment,” he said. “The cost of insurance is threatening (small businesses’) ability to operate. … At the end of the day, the increased cost of doing business is simply passed on to the consumer, hardworking Georgians who are already struggling to make ends meet.”
Tort reform has been a goal of Georgia Republicans and their allies in the business community for decades. But most of their efforts have fizzed amid opposition from legislative Democrats and the trial lawyers lobby worried that imposing restrictions on lawsuits would rob victims in liability cases of their day in court.
The most significant reform legislation to make it through the General Assembly came way back in 2005, a bill that imposed a $350,000 cap on non-economic damage awards in liability lawsuits.
The cap immediately came under fire in a constitutional challenge. The Georgia Supreme Court sided with the plaintiffs and threw out the cap in 2010.
The General Assembly passed a Kemp-backed bill last year that laid the groundwork for a big push for tort reform in 2025. The legislation directed the state insurance department to gather data on legal trends affecting insurance premiums and deliver a report.
While Kemp has not yet released details on what his tort reform legislation will look like, the report – released in November – includes recommendations that could find their way into this year’s bill.
The report found that the number of tort claims in Georgia increased steadily between 2014 and 2023, while the average claim payout also has risen. Cases where the plaintiff retained a lawyer paid out 66.2% higher on average than claims where no lawyer was involved, according to the study.
The study pointed to a number of steps the General Assembly could take to rein in “runaway” jury awards in tort cases, including limiting liability property owners face from plaintiffs injured on their premises due to actions of third parties, restricting the use of third-party litigation financing, and limiting so-called “venue shopping” by plaintiffs looking for a favorable jurisdiction for filing a lawsuit.
The report even suggested revisiting caps on non-economic damage awards such as pain and suffering as a way to curb “nuclear verdicts” – those exceeding $10 million.
Accolades for Kemp’s stand on tort reform poured in following his State of the State speech, with representatives of Georgia retailers, restaurants, and convenience stores endorsing his position. The Georgia Senior Living Association also chimed in, arguing that runaway damage awards have driven up insurance premiums to the point that providers are having a hard time staying in business.
“Georgia’s imbalanced civil justice system threatens Georgia’s economic competitiveness and our long-term prosperity,” said Chris Clark, the Georgia Chamber’s president and CEO.
“Georgia’s litigation environment is among the most costly and unpredictable in the nation, contributing to rising insurance premiums for businesses and families alike,” added Will Barnette, chairman of the advocacy group Georgians for Lawsuit Reform and associate general counsel at The Home Depot. “These legal burdens stifle economic growth, discourage investment, and create barriers to job creation.”
But legislative Democrats say the state’s civil justice system is the wrong target for the vitriol aimed by Republicans and business leaders.
“The problem isn’t lawsuits. It’s the insurance companies themselves,” said state Rep. Tanya Miller, D-Atlanta, who chairs the House Minority Caucus. “Rather than holding insurance companies accountable, Republicans are standing in defense of corporate Goliaths while everyday Georgians are left to fight for their homes, their businesses, and their dignity.”
State Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs, warned Republicans that pushing tort reform could cost them politically because it’s not an appealing message to GOP base voters.
“I can assure you, they have more of a problem with insurance companies than they do with trial lawyers,” McLaurin said Jan. 17 on the floor of the Senate.
The prospects for meaningful tort reform legislation in 2025 are good. Kemp went so far during his State of the State address to suggest he would call a special session of the General Assembly later this year if lawmakers fail to act during the 40-day session that ends in early April.
With Republicans holding 100 of the House’s 180 seats and 33 of the Senate’s 56 seats, the GOP has more than enough votes to make it happen.
Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (R-Butts County) announced Senate efforts to reduce state regulation of small businesses, according to the Capitol Beat News Service.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones announced a new round of legislation Friday aimed at helping small businesses by reducing government regulation.
The Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025 is a follow-up to legislation the General Assembly passed last year. The 2024 bills included three measures easing license requirements for veterinarians, hair stylists and qualified veterans seeking certification as a nurse aide, paramedic, cardiac technician, emergency medical technician, or licensed practical nurse.
Another 2024 bill in Jones’ package eliminated state boards and commissions that are inactive.
Most of the 2024 measures received overwhelming support from minority Democrats as well as the General Assembly’s Republican majorities.
Bills that will be introduced into the state Senate this year, where Jones serves as the presiding officer, would require all state agencies to complete a thorough review of all agency rules and regulations every four years, require agencies to consider the economic impact of all proposed rules, and allow legislators to request an economic impact analysis of any legislation affecting small businesses.
“Last year, we made positive changes to combat burdensome and costly regulations on behalf of workers and business owners all over Georgia,” Jones said Friday. “As a business owner, continuing our efforts to promote deregulation and free our businesses from harmful government red tape will continue to be a priority.”
Hunter Loggins, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, said his organization will push for passage of Jones’ 2025 package.
“Main Street businesses are under tremendous economic pressure right now,” Loggins said. “Inflation continues to drive up the cost of doing business, and employers are still struggling to fill vacant positions. The Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025 would bring even more common-sense reforms to state government and make it easier for our members to own, operate, and grow their businesses.”
Local governments may consider a new local option sales tax under House Bill 581 from the 2023-24 Legislative Session, according to The Brunswick News.
Local elected officials may ask voters to consider a new 1% sales tax this year.
There are already three local 1% sales taxes in the county: LOST, SPLOST and ESPLOST.
The proposed fourth tax, yet unnamed, would be collected the same way as the other local option sales taxes – at the cash register. The tax is intended to offset losses to municipalities offering a homestead exemption.
Before considering the 1% tax, however, Glynn County officials have a more immediate task.
The new statewide homestead exemption went into effect Jan. 1. Any county that wants to opt out for whatever reason must hold three public hearings by March 1.
Glynn County commissioners learned more about the new Georgia homestead exemption law at a workshop on Jan. 21. Commissioners appeared to be leaning toward keeping the existing homestead exemption during discussions, but no decision was made.
County Finance Director Tamara Munson recommended opting out and keeping the local homestead exemption, named Scarlett-Williams, which has been in effect more than two decades. The local law was passed to protect people from being taxed out of their primary residences because of rising assessments.
The local homestead exemption locks in the assessed value in Glynn County at the time of the request, with no adjustment for inflation.
On the other hand, the new state law allows property owners to lock in the value of their primary residence, but the value gets adjusted annually based on the consumer price index. Georgia residents’ assessments for homestead properties would not increase by any more than the rate of inflation.
If commissioners choose to ask voters to consider a new 1% tax, another three public hearings would have to be held before a voters could consider the proposal at the polls. The city of Brunswick would also have to join with the county, or a referendum cannot be held.
Munson said the tax would be a “wash” for local governments because it would not generate any additional revenue for the county. The sales tax would replace money lost through homestead exemptions and lower millage rates.
County Tax Commissioner Jeff Chapman said the county’s homestead exemption is one of the best in the state. He supports the proposed 1% tax because it will provide relief for property owners in the Golden Isles.
County Commissioner Bo Clark said he has an open mind about the proposed 1% tax. If the tax works the way it’s intended, a significant percentage of the money collected would come from the more then three million visitors to the Golden Isles, as well as the commerce from Interstate 95 and connecting highways.
“We’re a tourism county,” Clark said.
It might be a hard sell, though. A referendum for a 1% Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax was narrowly approved by voters in 2022.
Clark said the benefits of the tax need to be explained to the public in layman’s terms. In some instances, Clark said some property owners may be unaware of the local homestead exemption.
“People aren’t aware of Scarlett-Williams,” he said. “Messaging needs to be out there.”
Commission Chairman Walter Rafolski said it might be a challenge to convince voters to approve another tax.
“There are people calling me who want to keep Scarlett-Williams,” he said. “Never vote to tax yourself.”
House Bill 118 by State Rep. Rick Townsend (R-SSI) seeks to make day care safer with additional safety requirement, according to The Brunswick News.
State Rep. Rick Townsend has introduced legislation in response to the death of a child who choked to death at a Brunswick day care center last May.
Townsend, R-St. Simons Island, said House Bill 118 has been filed requiring such centers and homes to maintain at least one portable airway clearance device, which he believes may have saved the life of 18-month-old Jamal Bryan Jr. at Kids Nest Learning Center.
The toddler was not properly supervised by day care center employees when he choked to death on a piece of watermelon that investigators said was too large for him.
The proposed legislation also requires day care employees working with children to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Townsend said he is proposing training within 45 days of being hired at a day care center, but some of his fellow lawmakers believe the requirement should be more stringent. The current time limit is 90 days for training.
“It’s a safety issue for sure,” he said. “It’s not a partisan issue.”
Townsend said he is also planning to introduce separate legislation next week that would require day care centers to carry liability insurance. After the death of Jamal Bryan Jr., the Kids Nest Learning Center closed after dropping an appeal to the state revoking its business license.
Townsend said he wants the proposed liability insurance legislation to stand separately from tort reform the General Assembly will consider this session.
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