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Sen. Larry Walker III Applauds Rural Site Development Investments in Dublin-Laurens and Pulaski Counties

ATLANTA (June 20, 2025) — Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry) today celebrated Governor Brian Kemp’s recent announcement of Rural Site Development Initiative grants awarded to communities across Georgia, including key investments in Dublin-Laurens County and Pulaski County.

The Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority was awarded a $2 million site improvement grant to support sewage and drainage upgrades at the Georgia Highway 257 Rail Site—a 250-acre GRAD Select-certified location positioned to attract significant economic development opportunities. Local leaders are contributing more than $6 million to the total infrastructure cost, emphasizing the community’s strong commitment to long-term industrial growth.

Meanwhile, the Pulaski County-Hawkinsville Development Authority received a $31,455 GRAD Certification Scholarship to assist in certifying the 170-acre Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Industrial Park, expanding the region’s readiness to recruit major employers and support high-quality job creation.

“These investments show exactly what it looks like when state and local leaders work together to build a brighter economic future for rural Georgia,” said Sen. Walker. “With strong infrastructure and certified, development-ready sites, Laurens and Pulaski counties are better positioned than ever to compete for private investment, good-paying jobs, and long-term prosperity. I’m thankful to Governor Kemp for his support of this funding for the 20th Senate District.”

The Rural Site Development Initiative is administered by the OneGeorgia Authority and the Department of Community Affairs. The program supports infrastructure improvements, site grading, and GRAD (Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development) certifications to strengthen Georgia’s economic competitiveness.

For more information about the Rural Site Development Initiative, visit www.dca.ga.gov.

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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 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.

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Sen. Larry Walker III Named Republican Nominee for President Pro Tempore Ahead of 2026 Session

ATLANTA (June 18, 2025) — Yesterday, the Georgia Senate Republican Caucus announced that Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry) has been selected as its nominee for President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate, following today’s internal caucus vote. Walker, who has served the 20th Senate District since 2015, will stand for formal election by the full Senate body at the start of the new legislative session in January 2026.

“I’m honored by the support and confidence of my Republican colleagues,” said Sen. Walker. “This nomination reflects our shared vision for a Senate that remains fair, efficient and stands in service to the people of Georgia. While January’s full Senate vote is still to come, I’m prepared to bring forward my experience and commitment to this important role.”

In the position of President Pro Tempore, Walker would preside over Senate sessions in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor and collaborate closely with Senate leadership to streamline legislative procedure and enhance transparency.

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Sen. Larry Walker III 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 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.

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COLUMN: Walker: Your Money, Your Future: Delivering Real Tax Relief

By: Sen. Larry Walker, III (R–Perry)

Across Middle Georgia, folks are working hard to provide for their families, and every dollar matters. Whether you’re filling up your gas tank, checking out at the grocery store, or trying to cover your utility bill, the cost of living has gone up. I’ve heard it from farmers in Pulaski County, parents in Houston County, and retirees in Laurens and Dooly…Georgians are stretched thin.

This year, we delivered real relief. I’m proud to report that the General Assembly passed two crucial measures, House Bills 111 and 112, to put more money back in your pocket and help ease the strain on household budgets.

HB 111 reduces Georgia’s personal income tax rate from 5.39 percent to 5.19 percent, with a plan to reduce it even further to 4.99 percent in the coming years. While that may sound like a small number, it adds up in a big way for working families. Those savings will show up in take-home pay across our state, giving folks more flexibility to cover everyday costs.

We know that when government takes in more than it needs, it should return the surplus to the people who earned it, not spend it on bureaucracy or pet projects. That’s why we also passed HB 112, which sends a one-time refund to Georgia taxpayers. The Department of Revenue is now issuing these checks. If you filed both your 2023 and 2024 tax returns on time and have no outstanding debt to the state, you can expect to receive a refund of $250 if you filed as a single taxpayer, $375 if you filed as head of household or $500 if you filed jointly as a married couple. It’s a direct result of responsible, conservative budgeting and the third year in a row we’ve been able to return excess revenue to Georgia families.

We’re doing all this while still fully funding critical priorities. Our budget includes investments in school safety, teacher pay raises, mental health services, and rural healthcare infrastructure. We’ve supported hurricane recovery efforts and made sure our rural communities aren’t left behind. In fact, our state’s economy remains strong. Georgia’s net tax collections for May were up more than nine percent from last year, thanks in part to strong individual and corporate income tax returns. That’s not just good news for the state, it’s proof that our conservative approach is working.

To my constituents in the 20th District, these policies were written with you in mind. Whether you’re running a small business in Eastman, tending a family farm in Cochran or living on a fixed income in Hawkinsville, this tax relief matters. It means fewer hard choices at the end of the month. It means peace of mind when planning for the future.

I’ve always believed that Georgians know how to spend their money better than the government does. As Chairman of the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I take that belief seriously. It’s my job to protect your hard-earned income and ensure the state lives within its means.

Georgia didn’t become the best state to do business by accident. We got here through discipline, smart policy and a deep respect for the taxpayer. This year’s tax relief package is just the latest chapter in that story, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure it’s not the last.

If you have questions about your rebate or how these changes might affect your family or your business, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. It’s an honor to serve you, and I remain committed to building a stronger, more affordable Georgia—one that works for every family in our part of the state.

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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.

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Sen. Larry Walker III Announces Funding to Improve Runway Lighting at Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Airport

ATLANTA (April 29, 2025) — Senator Larry Walker III (R–Perry) today announced that the Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Airport will receive more than $165,000 in state funding to rehabilitate its primary runway lighting system. The funding is part of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) FY25 Airport Aid Program.

The project will upgrade the lighting along Runway 10-28, enhancing pilot safety and reliability and improving airport operations. The total project cost is estimated at $221,222.85, with the Department’s contract providing $165,917.14 in state funds. The City of Hawkinsville will contribute a local match of $55,305.71.

“This investment is critical for the future of Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Airport and the entire community it serves,” said Sen. Walker. “Upgrading the runway lighting ensures pilots have access to safe and reliable facilities, which in turn supports local economic development, emergency services and connectivity for our region. I appreciate the continued partnership between state and local leaders to keep our rural airports strong.”

Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood, LLC will conduct construction inspections and testing. GDOT’s District Engineer and Materials Research Engineer teams will support the project, with services charged to the Capital Outlay–Airport Aid Program.

For more information about Georgia’s Airport Aid Program, visit www.dot.ga.gov.

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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.

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Sen. Larry Walker Celebrates Final Passage of Occupational Licensing Reform

ATLANTA (March 31, 2025) — Last week, the Senate unanimously passed House Bill 579, which broadly revises occupational licensing regulations in Georgia. This legislation is a result of the Joint Blue-Ribbon Committee on Licensing, upon which Sen. Walker served. It grants the professional licensing board division staff the ability to routinely issue licenses for the profession’s licensing boards when the applicant meets all license requirements. HB 579 also enables the division director to provisionally license an individual before they take their examination and extends the timetable for renewing licenses after they expire.

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