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Sen. Brian Strickland Highlights Funding for Newton County Agriculture Center in AFY 2026 Budget

ATLANTA (May 8, 2026) —Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough) today highlighted the inclusion of $450,000 in the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget for updates and improvements to the T.M. “Mort” Ewing Newton County Agriculture Center in Newton County. The funding was added to the budget at Sen. Strickland’s request and signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp as part of the AFY 2026 budget package.

The investment will support continued improvements to the facility, which serves as an important hub for agricultural education, youth development and community engagement in Newton County and the surrounding region.

“This investment continues our efforts to make certain that young people growing up in Metro Atlanta can learn through first-hand interactions how important agriculture is to Georgia’s economy, heritage, and safety,” said Sen. Strickland. “By continuing to invest in this facility, we are providing more opportunities for Georgians from across our state to come to Newton County and directly experience Georgia’s number one industry.”

The funding reflects the General Assembly’s ongoing commitment to preserving Georgia’s agricultural heritage while ensuring future generations understand the critical role farming and agriculture play in the state’s economy and daily life.

The AFY 2026 budget was signed into law earlier this year and includes targeted investments in education, public safety, infrastructure and economic development projects across Georgia.

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Sen. Brian Strickland serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. He represents the 42nd Senate District, which includes Morgan County and portions of Henry, Newton and Walton counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0508 or by email at Brian.Strickland@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Billy Hickman Celebrates New Law Strengthening Teacher Retirement Benefits

ATLANTA (May 7, 2026) — Today, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Sen. Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro) celebrated Governor Brian P. Kemp signing Senate Bill 150 into law.

This measure extends a program that allows certain retired teachers with at least 30 years of service to return to full-time classroom teaching while continuing to receive retirement benefits through 2030. Further, the law would give local school systems greater flexibility to identify their highest-need subject areas and to protect retired teachers who are already hired from losing their positions if those needs change.

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President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III Praises Signing of Legislation to Strengthen Georgia’s Forestry Industry

ATLANTA (May 6, 2026) — Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III (R–Perry) today praised the signing of House Bill 134, legislation designed to support Georgia’s forestry industry, drive innovation and provide targeted economic relief to rural communities impacted by recent mill closures.

Sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Walker, House Bill 134, known as the “Keep Georgia Forested Act,” creates new, transferable tax incentives for forestry manufacturers, helping businesses reinvest, expand and remain competitive in a challenging economic environment. The legislation builds on language previously carried by President Pro Tempore Walker and delivers a strategic response to job loss and supply chain disruptions following multiple mill closures across the state in 2025.

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Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick Celebrates Signing of Consumer Protection Measure to Return Unclaimed Funds to Georgians

ATLANTA (May 8, 2026) — Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R–Marietta) today announced that Senate Bill 403, legislation she sponsored to make it easier for Georgians to recover unclaimed funds held by the state, was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp. Gov. Kemp signed the measure into law on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the State Capitol.

“SB 403 is a great step for helping Georgians find and retrieve unclaimed property held by the state,” said Sen. Kirkpatrick (R–Marietta). “This is a consumer protection bill, and I am thankful that the bill has now been signed.”

“I am proud that Governor Kemp signed SB 403 into law to make the process more efficient and less burdensome for Georgians to recover their owed funds, such as old utility deposits and other amounts owed to them,” said Representative Matt Reeves (R–Duluth). “SB 403 will also make it easier for families to claim money that belonged to a deceased relative by bypassing the probate court process in some cases. This new law is a win for all Georgians, making it easier than ever to search for and claim unclaimed funds. I urge residents to visit the Georgia Department of Revenue’s website to learn more and search for owed money.”

SB 403 updates Georgia law governing the disposition of unclaimed property by clarifying that property will not be considered abandoned if the apparent owner has demonstrated interest in the account, including by making changes to or directing activity within it. The legislation also streamlines the claims process for heirs of a deceased owner by eliminating the requirement for a probate court order in certain cases. Instead, heirs may submit an affidavit signed by all heirs, provided the total value of the unclaimed property held by the department does not exceed $7,500.

The legislation is intended to reduce unnecessary barriers for Georgians attempting to recover funds owed to them while modernizing portions of the state’s unclaimed property process. The full text of SB 403 may be found here.

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Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick serves as Chairwoman of the Children and Families Committee and Secretary of the Senate Majority Caucus. She represents the 32nd Senate District, which includes portions of Cobb and Cherokee counties. She may be reached by phone at 404.656.3932 or by email at Kay.Kirkpatrick@senate.ga.gov.

Representative Matt Reeves represents the citizens of District 99 which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and as Secretary of the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Insurance committees.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III Celebrates Signing of HB 1193 to Strengthen Early Literacy Across Georgia

ATLANTA (May 6, 2026) — Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III (R–Perry) today praised Governor Brian Kemp’s signing of House Bill 1193, the “Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026.” This comprehensive measure is aimed at improving reading outcomes for young students and strengthening Georgia’s education system from the ground up.

HB 1193 makes significant investments in early literacy by establishing school-based and regional literacy coaches, requiring unified literacy plans for all public schools and expanding access to evidence-based instructional materials aligned with the science of reading.

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