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Summers: Week One Under the Gold Dome

Last week marked the beginning of the 2026 Legislative Session, and we have officially finished five days of legislative business. It’s an honor to represent more than eight South Georgia counties under the Gold Dome, and I’m looking forward to the next few months.

Governor Brian Kemp addressed the Senate and House, laying out his vision for the 2026 legislative session in his final State of the State Address. His agenda includes continued tax cuts, state employee and retiree raises, and targeted investments in education and workforce development.

Many families, farmers and small businesses across Georgia are still struggling to make ends meet, thanks to the previous White House administration’s reckless financial policies. Thankfully, Senate Republicans have stepped up and already outlined a comprehensive plan, in line with the Governor, to fully reignite our economy. Our plan ensures that all Georgians who are willing to work will keep more of what they earn.

Instead of living paycheck to paycheck, those who live and work in our state can comfortably save and reinvest in our growing economy. Individual filers will not be taxed on the first $50,000 of earnings, and joint filers will not be taxed on the first $100,000 of earnings. State employees, including our teachers, will also receive a one-time $2000 supplement. This is another tangible investment in the long-term health of our state. Democrats can continue to throw short-sighted pipe dreams at the wall, knowing they will never stick, but we’ll be making changes that move South Georgia families from scarcity to security.

This past week, members of our majority party introduced Senate Resolution 563. This resolution will urge Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to immediately and fully comply with the United States DOJ in producing Georgia’s voter registration list. It’s a simple ask, but our Secretary of State refuses to cooperate and do the right thing. Nobody is above the law, and it is important to uphold integrity at all levels of government. I’ll always make sure that South Georgians have the full truth and all the facts, especially when it comes to our elections.

In the Senate Chamber, we also took action on a measure to regulate firearm storage and further strengthen state gun laws: Senate Bill 204. When the Second Amendment needs to be protected, you can rest assured that I will step up to protect your right to bear arms.

As the legislative session begins, I would like to invite students ages 12 to 18 to serve as Senate Pages. This highly informative program allows students to participate in the legislative process at our State Capitol for one day during the legislative session. Interested students may apply for the program by contacting my administrative assistant or me at my office via email. (Carden.Summers@senate.ga.gov.)

It is a privilege to serve the people of South Georgia, and I look forward to another productive Legislative Session. If you have any concerns, questions, or comments on legislation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Please like and follow my Senate page on Facebook (Carden H. Summers) for continuing updates.

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Sen. Carden Summers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions. He represents the 13th Senate District, which includes Ben Hill, Berrien, Crisp, Irwin, Lee, Tift, Turner and Worth counties, as well as a portion of Coffee County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-9224 or by email at Carden.Summers@senate.ga.gov.

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

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 Sen. Carden Summers: Weeks 2 & 3 Under the Gold Dome

The third week of the 2025 Legislative Session has concluded, and we’re staying focused on passing commonsense legislation that puts Georgia families, businesses and communities first.

Last week’s snowstorm may have delayed budget hearings for a few days, but it didn’t slow us down. The General Assembly has been hard at work in joint sessions, carefully reviewing budget requests to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. Passing a balanced budget is not only our constitutional duty—it’s the foundation of a responsible government that serves its people.

One of the most crucial budget proposals this legislative session is Governor Brian P. Kemp’s plan to return $1 billion in surplus funds directly to taxpayers. Thanks to years of conservative budgeting and fiscal responsibility, we’re in a position to give back to the hardworking Georgians who keep our state running. This is just part of the $2.2 billion in statewide allocations designed to benefit families, businesses and communities across Georgia. I’m proud to support Gov. Kemp’s efforts to strengthen our economy by putting more money back in your pockets.

Another key priority is ensuring communities hit hardest by Hurricane Helene have the resources they need to rebuild. Gov. Kemp has proposed $614.72 million in recovery funding, including $150 million for the Governor’s Emergency Fund to help with debris removal and housing assistance. Another $300 million will go to the Georgia Department of Transportation to restore roads and infrastructure. Many rural counties are still reeling from this storm, and we’re committed to making sure they get the support they need to recover and move forward.

One of the bills I’m proud to sponsor is Senate Bill 43. This legislation aims to update the qualifications for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transition property and would increase the maximum acreage needed to qualify to meet these standards. I’m also proud to sponsor Senate Bill 13, legislation which provides the authority to finance and perform duties in connection with projects relating to natural gas facilities. This legislation is not only important to Senate District 13, but to the entire state.

Finally, I encourage students ages 12 to 18 to apply for the Senate Page Program. This is an excellent way for young people to see firsthand how the General Assembly works. If you know a student who might be interested, they can apply on the Senate website here.

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas about our work at the Capitol, please don’t hesitate to reach out. It’s an honor to serve you, and I appreciate your trust as we work together throughout the remainder of the 2025 legislative session.

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Sen. Carden Summers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions. He represents the 13th Senate District which includes Ben Hill, Berrien, Crisp, Irwin, Lee, Tift, Turner, and Worth County, as well as a part of Coffee County. He may be reached at (404) 463-5258 or by email at carden.summers@senate.ga.gov.

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