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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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Sen. Brian Strickland Celebrates Signing of Rio’s Law to Protect Georgians with Developmental Disabilities

ATLANTA (May 6, 2026) — This week, Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough) celebrated Governor Brian Kemp’s signing of Senate Bill 433, also known as “Rio’s Law.” This landmark legislation aims to improve interactions between law enforcement officers and individuals with autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities.

Authored by Sen. Strickland, the bill creates a voluntary specialized license plate designation for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities and their families, and requires specialized training for Georgia peace officers beginning January 1, 2027.

“Today is a major step forward for families across Georgia who simply want safer, more informed interactions with law enforcement,” said Sen. Strickland. “Rio’s Law is about compassion, understanding and ensuring officers have the tools and training necessary to recognize and appropriately respond to individuals with developmental disabilities. This legislation has been one of my top priorities because these families deserve to feel seen, protected and supported.”

Under SB 433, the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council will work alongside the Department of Community Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and nonprofit organizations to develop training on effective communication, behavioral recognition, de-escalation techniques and emergency response protocols involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities.

“Rio’s Law represents the kind of thoughtful, people-centered policy that can make a real difference in everyday lives,” Sen. Strickland added. “I’m grateful to my colleagues in both the Senate and House for unanimously supporting this effort, and I thank Governor Kemp for signing it into law.”

Senate Bill 433 takes effect on January 1, 2027. You can find more information about the measure here.

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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. Lanny Thomas Announces Appointments to Senate Committees

ATLANTA (May 1, 2026) — Sen. Lanny Thomas (R–Trion) was recently appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments to serve on several key Senate committees, ensuring Northwest Georgia has a strong voice in shaping policy, advancing local priorities and preparing legislation for the next legislative session.

Sen. Thomas will serve on the following committees:

  • Banking and Financial Institutions
  • Education and Youth – Ex-Officio
  • Higher Education
  • Natural Resources and the Environment
  • State and Local Governmental Operations – Ex-Officio
  • Transportation

“I am honored to serve Northwest Georgia through these committee assignments, and I appreciate the trust placed in me by Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker and the Senate Committee on Assignments,” said Sen. Thomas. “These committees touch the everyday lives of the hardworking people back home, and I am grateful for the opportunity to bring Northwest Georgia’s voice into these conversations.”

A retired educator with more than 35 years of experience, Sen. Thomas brings a background in education to his committee work. He also has experience in local government, having served six years as a town councilman and eight years as mayor.

“Education has been my life’s work, and I have spent decades working with students, families, teachers and communities across Northwest Georgia,” Sen. Thomas added. “I have seen firsthand how decisions made at the state level impact our classrooms, and I look forward to bringing that perspective with me as we work to support strong schools and better outcomes for our students. My time in local government taught me that public service starts with listening and doing the work, and I will continue that approach in the Senate.”

You can find more information about Sen. Thomas here.

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Sen. Lanny Thomas represents the 53rd Senate District, which includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties, as well as a portion of Floyd County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 657-7716 or by email at Lanny.Thomas@senate.ga.gov.

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