Author: Emily Leonard

By: Sen. Larry Walker, III (R–Perry)

Ten weeks into the 2025 Legislative Session, we reached several major milestones, delivering real results for our farmers, job creators and hardworking Georgians.

One of the most significant victories was the final passage of Senate Bill 68 through both chambers of the General Assembly, a major step forward in tort reform, which has been a top priority for Governor Brian Kemp. After extensive debate and deliberation in both chambers, this bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for final approval. SB 68 cracks down on lawsuit abuse, prevents bad actors from double-dipping on litigation expenses and shields small businesses from predatory legal tactics. With excessive verdicts and frivolous lawsuits running rampant in our state, this legislation will provide real relief for families and business owners alike.

We also took action to cut taxes and put more money back into your pockets. The Senate passed House Bill 111, which lowers the state income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19% beginning in 2025. The bill ensures additional tax cuts annually until the rate reaches 4.99%, delivering long-term relief for Georgia taxpayers. Additionally, House Bill 112 provides a one-time tax credit of $250 for individuals, $375 for heads of households, and $500 for married couples filing jointly. Both bills are now on their way to Governor Kemp’s desk, fulfilling yet another promise to ease the financial burden on Georgia families.

Meanwhile, work continues on the state budget as Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearings move us closer to finalizing the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. As the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Natural Resources Chairman, I led discussions on aid allocations to rural communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Our hearing helped ensure that our budget remains fiscally responsible while prioritizing the needs of our state.

On the legislative front, I’m proud that my bill, Senate Bill 35, passed unanimously through the House this week. SB 35 is my nonrenewal policy legislation, increasing the days’ notice required to be given to a policyholder before their homeowners’ insurance policy is not renewed. By providing more time for consumers to find alternative coverage or successfully manage concerns with their provider, this bill ensures that more Georgians maintain uninterrupted insurance coverage. Having passed both the Senate and House, SB 35 now awaits the Governor’s approval before it becomes law.

Additionally, my bill to enhance our skilled workforce, SB 125, passed through the House Committee on Regulated Industries. Historically, our future engineers have completed their academic pathway but had to wait until they had worked in the field to take the professional engineering exam and earn their accreditation. This bill decouples the sequential order of experience and examination requirements for professional engineers, allowing them to take their professional engineering exam directly after their studies. SB 125 will encourage more skilled workers to come to Georgia and improve pass rates for the professional engineering exam, ultimately improving the field on the whole in our state. I am confident that the House will show SB 125 the same bipartisan support it received in the Senate. 

Finally, I am carrying House Bill 579, which will revise provisions for professional licensing in Georgia. This bill empowers the professional licensing boards division to review and grant applications for the issuance, renewal or reinstatement of licenses on behalf of the profession’s licensing board. Notably, HB 579 also allows the division director to license an individual before taking an examination, encouraging the growth of their profession, business, or trade. With this legislation, we are streamlining professional licensing standards to protect all Georgians’ safety and welfare. I will always support legislation that allows qualified, trained workers to properly function without excessive red tape.

With just two weeks remaining in this legislative session, I encourage everyone to stay engaged and visit the Gold Dome to see the legislative process in action. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. Serving the 20th Senate District under the Gold Dome is an honor.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Majority Caucus and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski and Wilcox counties, as well as portions of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.

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

By: Sen. Larry Walker, III (R–Perry)

With Legislative Day 20 behind us, we have officially reached the halfway mark of the 2025 Legislative Session.

One of our biggest legislative priorities this session has been lawsuit reform. Reining in the costly legal environment that burdens small businesses, healthcare providers, and consumers has been long overdue, and I am proud to report that the Senate has taken a significant step forward with the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 68. These commonsense reforms will help stabilize insurance costs, prevent frivolous litigation and ensure that businesses—especially small, family-owned operations—can operate without the constant threat of excessive verdicts. By curbing lawsuit abuse, we protect jobs and keep costs down for Georgia consumers. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the House to send these bills to the Governor’s desk.

This week, we also passed SB 52, the “Timberlands Recovery, Exemption, and Earnings Stability (TREES) Act,” which provides vital tax relief to timberland owners impacted by Hurricane Helene. The storm caused catastrophic damage, destroying an estimated $1.3 billion in standing timber across South Georgia. Many of these landowners depend on their timber harvest for income, and the economic impact has been devastating. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), will help stabilize the market, ease the financial strain on affected families and support the long-term recovery of Georgia’s forestry industry—one of the largest in the nation.

Another key legislative win this week was the passage of SB 89, which expands Georgia’s Child Tax Credit to provide direct financial relief to families with young children. Sponsored by Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough), this bill builds on the recommendations of the Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare, which spent months gathering input from working parents, childcare providers, and business leaders. The bill increases the state tax credit for childcare expenses to 40% of the federal level and creates a new tax credit for families with children under seven. Additionally, SB 89 incentivizes businesses to help employees with childcare costs by raising the employer tax credit cap from 50% to 75%. With the rising cost of childcare making it harder for parents—particularly mothers—to remain in the workforce, this legislation will provide real relief for Georgia families and help grow our state’s economy.

In addition to these major policy advancements, I introduced SB 125 to address the arduous process that professional engineers face to obtain certification. SB 125 would decouple the current sequential order of experience and examination requirements, which would allow engineers to acquire their license more quickly. This reform would also help prepare engineers to enter the Georgia workforce and advance in their careers. SB 125 was passed out of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities, and I look forward to bringing it to the Senate floor in the coming weeks.

On a personal note, I was honored to celebrate Future Farmers of America (FFA) Day on Tuesday. Georgia is home to the third-largest chapter of this excellent organization, whose work is instrumental in directing young people to the forefront of agriculture and preparing them for career success. The future of farming depends on our youth, and with the help of FFA, Georgia agriculture will continue to be our state’s top industry.

As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the 20th Senate District. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions, concerns, or ideas. Your input helps shape the policies that impact our state, and I value your voice in this process.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Majority Caucus and Walker: Week Six Under the Gold DomeChairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski and Wilcox counties, as well as portions of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.