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COLUMN: Walker: Week One Under the Gold Dome

By: Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry)

The 2026 Legislative Session is officially underway, and after our first full week under the Gold Dome, the Georgia Senate has hit the ground running. While I remain proud to represent Middle Georgia and the 20th Senate District, this year I am also mindful of a broader responsibility to help lead the Senate in a way that serves every corner of our state.

I am deeply humbled to serve as President Pro Tempore of the Georgia Senate. The trust my colleagues have placed in me is not taken lightly. The role of Pro Tempore isn’t about titles, it’s about keeping the Senate focused and results-oriented. I’ll be continuing to work on the issues that matter most to Georgians through my service on the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Rules, Insurance and Labor, and Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. This is where the real work of governing happens.

This week, I had the opportunity to introduce our Senate Majority Caucus priorities for the session, an agenda centered on reigniting the American Dream across Georgia. That mission matters now more than ever. Families are feeling squeezed by higher prices and economic uncertainty. Senate Republicans are focused on practical solutions that help people keep more of what they earn, afford a home and build a stable future.

That starts with lowering the cost of living. We will continue working to cut income and property taxes, while advancing reforms that reduce unnecessary red tape and lower housing costs. When government lives within its means, families can do the same.

Our priorities also reflect a commitment to long-term strength. We will continue investing in public safety, infrastructure, and protecting Georgia’s natural resources, which are assets that support economic growth and quality of life in every region of the state. We’re also serious about preparing the next generation. Strong investments in education, literacy and childcare made possible by conservative financial stewardship keep our communities strong for years to come.

Governor Brian P. Kemp reinforced that vision in his final State of the State Address, outlining a responsible agenda focused on tax relief, education and workforce development. Investments to keep postsecondary institutions affordable are opening doors for students from all backgrounds, while significant investments in healthcare education and medical residencies will strengthen access to care across Georgia, including in Middle Georgia. Governor Kemp’s steady leadership has helped keep Georgia the best state in the nation to do business, and the Senate will work to build on that success.

Affordability is not an abstract policy debate; it’s whether families can pay their bills and still plan for the future. Senate Republicans understand that, and we remain committed to policies that respect hard work, reward responsibility, and keep government accountable.

It remains an honor to serve you under the Gold Dome. As President Pro Tempore, I will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver results for Georgians and keep our state on a path of opportunity, stability and growth. As always, I encourage you to reach out to my office with your questions, concerns, or ideas.

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Sen. Larry Walker III serves as President Pro Tempore of the Senate. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Pulaski, Treutlen 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.

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Majority 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.

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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.

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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.

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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 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.

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COLUMN: Walker: Breaking Barriers, Building Careers: Reform That Keeps Georgia Working

By: Sen. Larry Walker, III (R–Perry)

As 2025 draws to a close, Georgia’s economy continues to expand. Still, I keep hearing a familiar concern echoed throughout our state. A lack of work isn’t holding Georgia back; it’s the barriers that prevent willing workers from accessing it.

Across our state, we’ve got men and women who know their trades inside and out. They’ve studied, trained and earned their stripes. However, the process of becoming “official” in the eyes of the state often slows them down. Whether it’s an HVAC technician waiting on a license renewal or a small business that can’t fill a vacancy, the result is the same… good work delayed by red tape.

If someone has the training, experience and work ethic to do a job, the government shouldn’t stand in their way. According to the Georgia Department of Labor’s Workforce Trends to 2028, our state is on track to add more than 550,000 new jobs by the end of the decade, an increase of nearly 12 percent statewide. Health care and social assistance will lead the charge, adding over 122,000 positions. Professional and business services will follow closely with almost 96,000 new opportunities. Our construction industry, which propels much of our rural economic growth, is projected to grow by more than seven percent as new roads, bridges and facilities rise across the state.

Those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Every new project depends on people who are licensed and ready to work. That’s where reform matters most.

This year, I sponsored Senate Bill 125, which helps engineering graduates gain a competitive edge in their careers. Before this law, graduates were required to complete four years of work experience before they could take the Professional Engineering exam. SB 125 decouples the exam from that requirement, allowing graduates to test while the material is still fresh in their minds. They’ll still need real-world experience to become fully licensed, but they won’t lose four productive years waiting for the state’s permission to prove what they already know.

We also passed House Bill 579, which I was proud to carry through the Senate. This new law streamlines the licensing process for skilled trades and high-demand professions by giving the Professional Licensing Boards Division more flexibility to issue temporary or provisional licenses. That means a qualified plumbing apprentice or HVAC technician can begin working under supervision while completing an exam, rather than sitting on the sidelines. In places like Houston County or Laurens County, that difference can determine whether a business grows or has to turn down work.

Together, these reforms move Georgia closer to being a state that rewards hard work and eliminates unnecessary red tape, and they come at the right time. The Department of Labor projects that more than 48,000 new transportation and material-moving jobs and 14,000 new construction-related positions will be available by 2028. Add to that nearly 95,000 new jobs in science, technology, engineering and math fields, and you can see the opportunity that lies ahead.

Rural communities, especially, can’t afford to lose momentum. When a single HVAC technician or lineman retires, it doesn’t just impact a business. It affects every family, church and school that relies on their skills. Georgians aren’t asking for shortcuts. They deserve a system that respects their training, values their time and recognizes that honest work shouldn’t be tangled up in paperwork.

SB 125 and HB 579 are all about clearing the road for our people to continue to build, heal and lead in every corner of the state. As we lay a foundation for the 2026 Legislative Session, I’m committed to being a champion for every Georgian who works hard to provide for their family. When our workforce succeeds, Georgia does too.

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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.