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Sen. Frank Ginn: Week Three Under the Gold Dome

The third week of the 2025 Legislative Session has wrapped up, and we’re staying focused on passing common sense 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 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 necessary resources 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.

Back at the Capitol, we hit the ground running this week, advancing legislation that reflects our values and priorities. On Thursday, Gov. Kemp hosted a press conference discussing his (and my) number one priority for the session: tort reform. With the support of leadership officials, I am optimistic about the General Assembly’s ability to pass meaningful and effective tort reform. I know my fellow Senators and I can help achieve better transparency and safeguard our small businesses from being held responsible for criminal acts out of their control.  In the words of Gov. Kemp, “Tort reform is not anti-insurance or anti-lawyer, its pro-Georgia consumer.”

As committee meetings pick up, we’re working hard on issues that matter most to our communities, from protecting our schools to strengthening local infrastructure. I’m also excited to share my recent co-sponsorship of several Senate Bills, including the “Freedom of Speech and Belief Act,” which, if signed into law, would ensure that our constitutional First Amendment rights are protected in our 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. Interested students may apply for the program by emailing me or my administrative assistant at my office. (Frank.Ginn@senate.ga.gov.)

As always, I’m here to listen. 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. Frank Ginn represents the 47th Senate District which includes Madison County and portions of Barrow, Clarke, and Jackson County. He can be reached at (404) 656-4700 or by email at frank.ginn@senate.ga.gov.

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

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Sen. Mike Hodges: Week Three Under the Gold Dome

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

Last week’s snow 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 session is Governor Brian P. Kemp’s plan to return $1 billion in surplus funds to taxpayers directly. Thanks to years of conservative budgeting and fiscal responsibility, we can 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 necessary resources 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 ensuring they get the support they need to recover and move forward.

Back at the Capitol, we went straight to work this week, advancing legislation that reflects our values and priorities. Regardless of political agenda, the safety and wellbeing of Georgians is always a top priority for all State Senators. One of the bills I’m proud to cosponsor is Senate Bill 27, which would protect vulnerable individuals in our state from stalking and doxing, creating criminal penalties for endangering Georgians through these means. I also cosponsored Senate Bill 29, a measure that would make it easier for law enforcement officials to collect the DNA of criminals arrested for felonies.

This week, I had the pleasure of joining our Glynn County commissioners in meetings with the commissioners of both the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to discuss issues that are vitally important to my friends and neighbors. I am confident these discussions will bear fruit in future efforts to better our roads and bridges and to protect our beaches.

Finally, I want to continue encouraging 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 here.

As always, I’m here to listen. 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. Mike Hodges serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. He represents the 3rd Senate District which includes Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, McIntosh, and a portion of Ware County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 463-1309 or by email at mike.hodges@senate.ga.gov.


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

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Sen. Frank Ginn: A Strong Start to the 2025 Legislative Session

The Senate has accomplished a great deal in just one week under the Gold Dome.  Bills have already begun to move through the committee process, and the 2025 Legislative Session is underway.

We began the legislative session by voting on the Senate calendar, holding Senate elections, and establishing the Senate rules by which we operate throughout the session. We also established Senate committees and laid the groundwork for another productive biennium.

I am pleased to warmly welcome Sen. Drew Echols (R–Alto), one of my district neighbors and the newest member of the Republican caucus. His wife, former Sen. Shelly Echols, served with great distinction during the previous biennium. I am confident that Sen. Drew Echols will build on that legacy as a valuable addition to our team.

We have already made significant progress this legislative session. Gov. Brian Kemp has set a strong foundation with initiatives to increase funding for school safety, enhance our state’s skilled workforce, provide necessary aid to Georgia families impacted by Hurricane Helene and continue to provide accessible healthcare for all hardworking Georgians and their families. By expanding opportunities for high-demand, high-skill and high-wage careers, we are taking essential steps to secure Georgia’s economic future.

This week, I was proud to co-sponsor “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law,” or Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas). This bill will ensure the safety of our school teachers and students by requiring education boards to place mobile panic alert systems in schools that will provide real-time coordination among state and local first responder agencies during any emergency. School safety is a top priority for both the Senate and the Governor’s Office, and we remain committed to ensuring the safety of Georgia’s students. I also introduced Senate Bill 12, which will reform laws related to open records laws in Georgia. This bill will ensure public entities conform with open records requests while protecting private businesses from nuisance interference.

I was proud to serve on Gov. Kemp’s escort committee for the “State of the State” address. (My friend and reporter, Abby Kousouris, snapped the photo above at the event.) During his annual “State of the State” address, Gov. Kemp highlighted the need for tort reform, a cause I have long supported. The American Tort Reform Foundation’s current designation of Georgia as “the #1 judicial hellhole in the country” is unacceptable. We must tackle rising insurance premiums and ensure that frivolous lawsuits or excessive litigation costs do not burden our businesses.

Additionally, we must prioritize recovery efforts for the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Gov. Kemp has announced $100 million in initial funding to address the damage, but we know the road to recovery will be long. The Georgia Senate will continue to work diligently to support local governments and their communities to ensure they have the necessary resources to rebuild.

Committee assignments for the session were released, and I appreciate Lt. Governor Burt Jones and the Committee on Assignments for assigning me to serve on various meaningful committees. I am thankful to serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Overview Committees. I look forward to serving as an ex-officio on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources and the Environment and Regulated Industries and Utilities, respectively and as a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Transportation and Rules.

As always, I want to invite students between the ages of 12 and 18 to serve as a Senate Page. This highly informative program allows students to participate in the state legislative process at our State Capitol for a day. Interested students may apply for the program by emailing me or my administrative assistant at my office. (Frank.Ginn@senate.ga.gov.)

I am honored beyond measure to serve the citizens of the 47th Senate District. Please do not hesitate to contact my office for any legislative matters, and I hope to see you soon under the Gold Dome.

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Sen. Frank Ginn represents the 47th Senate District, which includes Madison County and portions of Barrow, Clarke, and Jackson Counties. He can be reached at (404) 656-4700 or by email at Frank.Ginn@senate.ga.gov

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

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Capitol Recap: Budget Week

By: Sen. Larry Walker (R – Perry)

We traditionally set aside the week following the convening of session for Joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee meetings, where we begin the process of evaluating the budget and dive into the Governor’s recommendations for adjustments to the current budget and setting the next fiscal year budget. As you may know, the only action required of the Georgia General Assembly stipulated in the state constitution is that we pass a balanced budget each year, and I do not take this responsibility lightly.  The budget reflects our priorities as a state, and it is imperative we thoroughly and thoughtfully allocate funding in a manner that best serves the needs of all Georgians. Georgia is a large and growing state with a complex budget, and there is simply no way to cover everything that I would like to cover here.  Therefore, I will focus this week’s column on some of the highlights of the proposed Amended FY 2023 and FY 2024 budgets that have generated the most interest.

In the Amended FY 2023 budget, the Governor recommends $100 million of our revenue surplus be returned to all Georgians that paid individual state income tax in 2022. If passed, individual filers will receive up to a $250 tax refund and joint filers will receive as much as a $500. All state revenue comes from you, the taxpayer.  So, it is very appropriate that we return surplus funds to the taxpayer rather than growing government even more.

As has been widely reported, the Governor’s FY 2024 budget includes an across the board pay raise for state employees and educators, providing a $2,000 cost of living adjustment. I strongly support this and believe that our dedicated teachers and state employees have earned and deserve this COLA.

Each year, education in Georgia accounts for over 50% of the state’s budget. This year is no different. We must continue to invest in our education system at both the K-12 and higher education levels. Last year, a large portion of funds were appropriated to fund the K-12’s QBE formula. This year, an additional $745 million is recommended in the Amended FY 2023 and more than $1.1 billion in FY 2024 for K-12 education, fully funding the Quality Basic Education formula. It is imperative that we continue to build a workforce our growing state needs and that can only be achieved through providing our young Georgians with the highest level of education that will lead to fulfilling employment.

Healthcare in Georgia continues to remain a top priority. More specifically, we know that healthcare remains a significant cost for many Georgia families. With that being said, I am pleased to see the FY 2024 budget recommends including $52 million to implement the Georgia Pathways Coverage program which was established pursuant to the Patients First Act, legislation passed in 2019. The Georgia Pathways Coverage Program will increase access to adequate health insurance statewide and give Georgia families who struggle to find coverage through their workplace a better opportunity to provide care for their families. When the Patients First Act was signed in 2019, Georgia only had four carriers offering plans in the individual market. Today, we have seen an astonishing 250% increase with 10 carriers offering plans for 2023.

Agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry, providing jobs, goods and infrastructure, boosting our economy despite the record high inflation we have experienced in recent years. I am pleased to see that Governor Kemps FY 2024 budget proposal includes recommending funds be allocated to the Georgia Agricultural Trust Fund which is generated through agricultural tax exemptions to provide funding for the maintenance and operations of state farmers’ markets and marketing to promote the production of Georgia’s agricultural products. In addition, the Governor recommends providing funds to the Department of Transportation to replace lost motor fuel tax revenue resulting from the temporary suspension of this tax in order to help Georgians cope with exorbitant fuel costs.

While this is just a small fraction of what is recommended for the completion of this fiscal year and the upcoming fiscal year, I am pleased with the progress we have made thus far and look forward to getting these budgets vetted and passed through the General Assembly and signed by the Governor.

Next week, we will reconvene in the Senate Chamber Monday through Thursday for legislative days 5-8. We also plan to get back to work in our committees to assess legislation brought before us. If you have any questions or concerns related to the budget or any potential legislation that may come up this year, please do not hesitate to contact my office. I am here to serve you.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee.  He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Laurens, Pulaski, Treutlen and Wilcox counties.  He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0095 or by email at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov.