Sen. Judson Hill: 2014 Georgia Session Begins

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As we approach this important 2014 Session, I wanted to share a brief update and invite you to share your ideas, concerns, and opinions with me.

State Sen. Judson Hill: Week 1

The Georgia Senate has completed 5 of our 40 legislative days. On Day 2, the Senate took swift action and passed the first bill of the year, House Bill 310. Due to a recent lawsuit and an order by a federal court requiring Georgia to have at least 45 days for run-off elections to accommodate absentee voters in federal elections the Primary Date was moved from the traditional July date to May. In response to this change, House Bill 310 was drafted to revise the schedule for state and local candidate elections to correspond with the federal candidate election date change. This revision was necessary because maintaining two separate election dates, one for federal races and another for state and local races, places a significant cost and burden on state and local election resources.

Wednesday Governor Nathan Deal gave three major speeches with the centerpiece being the State of the State Address.

In the State of the State address Gov. Deal announced a $547 million increase over last to appropriate toward Georgia’s institutions of education, the largest single year increase in seven years. He also announced that in the FY 2015 budget, almost 82 percent of new revenue receipts are dedicated to education, with 68 percent of those new revenues going to K-12 alone. This increase in education funding will go a long way to provide increased resources for our teachers and students. The Governor also highlighted funding for the expansion of the Port of Savannah – which is, without question, the single most important economic development project in our state.

Governor Nathan Deal has been leading Georgia with a steady hand. Governor Deal enjoys strong support from a majority of the Georgia General Assembly. Under Governor Deal’s leadership, Georgia is prepared better than many other states to meet the challenges we face as our state leaders work to balance our state budget, improve our educational system, attract new jobs, and provide public safety in our communities.

This week I introduced one bill and passed one resolution in the Senate, Senate Resolution 739 and Senate Bill 281.

SR 739 was introduced and passed to recognize our close relationship with the State of Israel and to express our support of Israel’s legal, historical, moral, and God-given right for self-governance and self-defense upon the entirety of its own lands.
SB 281 was introduced to require Georgia’s State Health Benefit Plan to once again offer a low-premium Health Savings Account option for all state employees and teachers to help make health insurance more affordable and to offer good tax savings.

Last Wednesday I was pleased to offer remarks in my capacity as Senate Co-Chair of the Legislative Diabetes Caucus. Dozens ofGeorgians gathered at your state Capitol to raise awareness of the deadly consequences of diabetes and fight for those affected by diabetes. The impact on people, which for many can be avoided, as well as the substantial cost in state healthcare resources makes this an important focus.

As I have worked the past several years with Governor Deal and my colleagues in the General Assembly I’d like to share a few facts of the success we have had in Georgia:

217,000 new private-sector jobs have been created,

Georgia was named the No.1 state in the nation in which to do business, and

The Tax Foundation lists Georgia has having the lowest tax burden on its citizens of any state in the nation.

Appointments:

I am honored to serve as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. I look forward to working for the taxpayers of Georgia on the important legislation which will come before our Committee. The Senate Finance Committee oversees matters relating to taxation, revenue, and our state’s fiscal policies. Over the summer and Fall I led a Fair Tax Study Committee and will continue with a Tax Reform Sub-Committee to explore fiscally responsible ways to lower our individual tax burden.

Additionally, I serve as Chairman of the Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee which oversees insurance and as Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee Subcommittee over Judiciary . I also serve on the Senate Rules, Health, Insurance and Regulated Industries committees.

Also as part of the Senate leadership I serve as Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus helping steadfastly maintain conservative principles and values. And, for the next year I will continue to serve in a bi-partisan effort as Chairman of both the Cobb County Legislative Delegation and the Fulton County/Atlanta Legislative Delegation.

2014 COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS –

Once again, I will hold a series of town hall meetings with Rep. Matt Dollar, Rep. John Carson and Sen. Albers throughout the first three months of 2014. The meetings will be held at Mountain View Regional Library,Walton High School Auditorium and Sandy Springs City Hall from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on January 27, February 10, February 19, March 10 and March 15 (11am to noon).

All Marietta, Cobb County and Sandy Springs residents are invited to attend.Mountain View Regional Library – 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta

WHEN: Mondays January 27; February 10 and March 10; from 7 to 8 PM

Walton High School Auditorium – 1590 Bill Murdock Road

WHEN: Wednesday February 19; from 7 to 8 PM

Sandy Springs City Hall – 7840 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

WHEN: March 15 , from 11 AM to 12 noon

Please join me for my Town Hall meetings every month to hear more about the 2014 Session and to share with me your ideas and thoughts.

At Your Service:

Capitol Office

421 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
404.656.0150
Fax: 404.651.6768

Legislative Assistant – Abigail Thompson

Judson@judsonhill.com