ATLANTA (January 6, 2026) — On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Study Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax, chaired by Sen. Blake Tillery (R–Vidalia), will hold its final hearing for the purpose of adopting the committee report.
Continue readingMajority Leader Jason Anavitarte Highlights Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act’s Role in Major Conservation Project
ATLANTA (December 22, 2025) — A major, multi-state conservation project protecting more than 10,000 acres of rare forestland and nearly 45 miles of waterways across the Georgia-Alabama border has been finalized, made possible in large part by Georgia’s continued investment through the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act (GOSA), according to Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas).
The newly completed Stateline Forest project permanently conserves 10,345 acres, including 8,384 acres in Georgia. It safeguards one of the South’s most endangered ecosystems, the longleaf pine forest, while guaranteeing permanent public access for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.
“This project is exactly why Republicans led the effort to pass the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act and put it before voters in 2018,” said Sen. Anavitarte. “Georgians approved a conservative, no-new-tax funding model, which now allows us to protect critical conservation corridors, preserve public access to our lands and deliver lasting results.”
Passed by the General Assembly and approved by voters as a constitutional amendment, GOSA created the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP), the state’s first dedicated funding source for conservation and outdoor recreation. The program dedicates a portion of existing sales tax on outdoor gear, without raising taxes or creating new fees, and is administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources through a competitive grant process.
In the 2022 Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grant cycle, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division received a $5.65 million GOSP grant to help acquire land within the Dugdown Mountain Corridor, one of Georgia’s highest-priority conservation areas. Those state dollars were required to secure a federal match and proved critical in leveraging more than $17 million from the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program.
“This is smart stewardship in action,” Anavitarte said. “Georgia Outdoor Stewardship funds didn’t just protect land, they unlocked federal dollars, stretched taxpayer resources further and ensured these lands will remain publicly accessible forever. This project proves that conservation and conservative principles can go hand in hand. I want to thank Congressman Brian Jack for his leadership and support in helping secure the federal resources that made this project possible. Thanks to GOSA, Georgia is creating a lasting legacy of protecting our forests, our wildlife and the outdoor traditions that matter to families across our state.”
The conserved property connects the Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area with Alabama’s Talladega National Forest, creating a continuous forested corridor that supports wildlife habitat, protects water quality and enhances wildfire resilience near the rapidly developing Atlanta region.
The Georgia portion of the acquisition will be added to the Treat Mountain Wildlife Management Area and the Tallapoosa River Wildlife Management Area, expanding public recreation opportunities in Haralson and Polk counties. The land will be permanently owned and managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Alabama Forestry Commission, ensuring long-term stewardship and public benefit.
You can find more information about this project here.
# # # #
Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Senate Majority Leader. He represents the 31st Senate District, which includes Polk County and a portion of Paulding County. He may be reached via email at Jason.Anavitarte@senate.ga.gov.For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
Anavitarte: A Christmas Reflection on Georgia’s Resilience
By: Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas)
As Christmas approaches, Georgians across our state are arriving at the end of a long, exhausting year. Whether you live in a small town, in the mountains, along the coast, or in the city, you don’t need an economist to tell you that 2025 has tested families in ways Washington still seems unwilling to understand.
Continue readingSen. Larry Walker, III Hosts Middle Georgia Listening Day with Local Leaders and Community Stakeholders
ATLANTA (December 3, 2025) — Today, Sen. Larry Walker, III (R–Perry) joined community leaders, local officials, educators and economic development partners from across Middle Georgia for a Regional Listening Day hosted by the Heart of Georgia Regional Commission. The event brought forth meaningful dialogue centered around local needs, opportunities and priorities ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Joined by Representatives Matt Hatchett (R–Dublin), Butch Parrish (R–Swainsboro) and Danny Mathis (R–Cochran), Sen. Walker opened the program with remarks emphasizing the importance of direct engagement with local leaders and the role these conversations play in shaping responsive policy at the State Capitol.
“It was a great day in Middle Georgia,” said Sen. Walker. “Conversations like this fuel our work and shape real, meaningful progress for our state. Our communities face urgent challenges every day, and they deserve solutions that actually work for the people we serve. Good government starts with listening, and hearing directly from Georgians who live and breathe these issues every day keeps me inspired as we head into the next legislative session.”
Throughout the morning, the delegation met with representatives from various organizations, including Trinity Christian School, Laurens County Commission, Bleckley-Cochran Industrial Development Authority, Dublin-Laurens Development Authority, Oconee Fall Line Technical College, Eastman-Dodge Chamber of Commerce, Middle Georgia State University, and representatives from multiple county commissions and chambers of commerce. Conversations centered on workforce development, school safety, infrastructure needs, economic competitiveness and tools required to support sustained growth across Middle Georgia.
Sen. Walker also extended his appreciation to the Heart of Georgia Regional Commission for organizing the event. “I want to thank Brett Manning and his team for putting together such a productive day. Their leadership helps keep this region moving forward, and I am grateful for our partnership.”
# # # #
Sen. Larry Walker serves as 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 a portion 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.
COLUMN: Walker: Looking Back with Gratitude & Moving Forward with Purpose
There’s a certain clarity that comes at the end of the year, especially a year like 2025. As families across Georgia sit down to stretch their paychecks and figure out how to make Christmas special despite rising costs, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of the moment we’re living in. Washington may be content with runaway spending and unstable leadership, but here in Georgia, we’re determined to chart a different course.
Representing the people of Middle Georgia comes with a responsibility I don’t take lightly. While debating legislation and casting votes are part of the job, the real work happens in the conversations at kitchen tables, local businesses, farm shops and church pews. This year, you’ve told me what’s working, what’s not and what you expect from your state leaders.
Over the last twelve months, Senate Republicans stayed focused on conservative, commonsense policies that strengthen our workforce, improve school safety and protect consumers from practices that drive up the cost of living. In a year when every dollar matters, we delivered meaningful tax relief and upheld Georgia’s long-standing commitment to responsible budgeting. Our investments in education, public safety and health care, while lowering taxes, aren’t abstract accomplishments. They’re making a difference in real homes and real communities.
Our law enforcement officers and first responders are better equipped to keep our schools secure. Farmers and agribusiness owners have more protection for the tools they rely on to feed our state. Small businesses are getting relief from lawsuit abuse that has driven up insurance premiums. Families are keeping more of their hard-earned money due to our income tax reduction.
As proud as I am of what we’ve done, I’m even more mindful of the challenges ahead. Rural health care remains a challenge. Workforce shortages continue to burden small towns and local economies. Affordable housing is slipping further out of reach for too many young families. Agriculture, the backbone of our economy, continues to need long-term, strategic support to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world.
In the upcoming legislative session, my priorities remain in advancing policies that help Georgians thrive, strengthening the industries that drive our state and pushing back against personal agendas that threaten to make life harder for working families. Before we talk about new programs or new spending, we must first ask whether we are protecting taxpayers and preserving the values that built this state.
As the Christmas season arrives, I hope you’re able to find time for rest, gratitude, and the people who matter most in your life. I remain deeply thankful for your trust and your willingness to stay engaged in the work happening under the Gold Dome. If my office can ever help you, whether you have an idea for legislation or need assistance navigating a state agency, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We work for you year-round.
I wish you and your family a joyful Christmas and a hopeful, prosperous New Year. I look forward to all we will accomplish together in 2026.
# # # #
Sen. Larry Walker serves as 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 a portion 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.