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Sen. Russ Goodman Urges USDA Secretary to Extend Indemnity Coverage to Georgia Counties Impacted by Hurricane Helene

ATLANTA (October 30, 2024) —Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, has formally requested that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) re-evaluate its coverage area for the Hurricane Indemnity Program to include several Georgia counties heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. In a letter sent to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Sen. Goodman emphasized the urgent need for support for Georgia’s agricultural community, citing an estimated $6.4 billion in total damage to the state’s agricultural industry, with direct crop losses expected to exceed $3 billion.

Several counties—Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Jenkins, Lincoln, Long, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall and Wayne—were excluded from the USDA Risk Management Agency’s initial coverage, potentially leaving local farmers without access to vital resources for recovery. Sen. Goodman’s letter, co-signed by several of his legislative colleagues, calls for a thorough analysis of the hurricane’s impact on these areas, leveraging all available data from reliable sources such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and IBTrACS.

“Seeing almost every Senator in our state come together on this issue speaks volumes about the gravity of the situation our farming families are facing,” said Sen. Goodman. “These farmers did their part by investing in Hurricane Indemnity policies. Now, they deserve to see the USDA step up to the plate. The impact of Hurricane Helene is apparent, and our farmers are counting on Secretary Vilsack to act, ensuring they are able to financially recover and rebuild from this devastation. As a legislative body, we’re united in backing our farmers and the belief that they deserve the support they were promised.”

Sen. Goodman’s letter also highlighted challenges due to Hurricane Helene’s impact on the National Center for Environmental Information, emphasizing that these data limitations should not hinder the assessment of damages in affected regions.

You can find a copy of the letter to Secretary Vilsack here.

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Sen. Russ Goodman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. He represents the 8th Senate District, which includes Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes and Pierce Counties and a large portion of Ware County. He may be reached at 404.656.7454 or at russ.goodman@senate.ga.gov

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Senate Advancing Forest Innovation in Georgia Study Committee to Hold Third Meeting

ATLANTA (October 22, 2024) — On Tuesday, October 29th,2024, at 11:00 a.m., the Senate Advancing Forest Innovation in Georgia Study Committee, chaired by President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R–Macon), will hold its third hearing.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024
  • Time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Location: Delta Airlines Headquarters – 1030 Delta Blvd, Hapeville, GA 30354
  • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here. Please note that there is a link to RSVP to the meeting pursuant to Delta’s security policies. We ask that all guests and staff planning to attend fill out this attendance questionnaire and bring a Photo ID to the meeting.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

The Senate Advancing Forest Innovation in Georgia Study Committee examines how public policy can encourage investment in facilities that create sustainable manufacturing components, practices, and energy derived from Georgia-grown products.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov. 

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Sen. John F. Kennedy serves as the President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate. He represents the 18th Senate District which includes Upson, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, as well as portions of Bibb and Houston County. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email at john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov.

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Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare to Hold Second Meeting

ATLANTA (October 22, 2024) — On Wednesday, October 30th, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., the Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare, chaired by Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough), will hold its second hearing.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
  • Time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Location: The Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County, 166 Holly Smith Dr, McDonough, GA 30253
  • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

Members will recommend measures to increase access to affordable child care in Georgia. This committee was created pursuant to Senate Resolution 471 during the 2024 Legislative Session. You can find more information about this study committee here.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov. 

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Sen. Brian Strickland serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. He represents the 17th Senate District, which includes all of Morgan and portions of Henry, Newton and Walton County. Sen. Strickland may be reached by phone at 404.463.6598 or by email at Brian.Strickland@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Blake Tillery – A Look at This Year’s Proposed Constitutional Amendments on Georgia’s Ballot

ATLANTA, GA (October 21, 2024) —As folks in our area fight to restore power, fix our homes, and return to some sort of business as normal, I know you will also be heading to the polls to state your opinion on the direction of our country. Like many of you, I know how I’m voting on the Presidential, state, and local levels. But what often goes overlooked—and can have just as much effect on our everyday lives—are the Georgia Constitutional Amendment Questions. These amendments are literally changing our state constitution, and only the voters of Georgia can make that happen. It’s an extremely powerful responsibility, one that can have a significant impact on our future.

Despite their importance, many voters don’t even read these questions until they’re in the voting booth; some skip them altogether. If you’re one of those people, keep reading, and I’ll give you a breakdown of what’s on the ballot this year.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment 1 (H.R. 1022 and H.B. 581)

This amendment would cap how much your home’s assessed value can increase each year, tied to inflation. It also introduces a local sales tax option, subject to a vote, which would be used specifically for property tax relief and further shift the tax burden from property taxes to sales taxes. This could really help protect homeowners from steep property tax hikes as their home values rise.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment 2 (H.R. 598 and H.B. 1267)

This amendment would establish a new court, the Georgia Tax Court, to handle tax-related cases. Currently, the Georgia Tax Tribunal, an administrative court, handles tax disputes. If this amendment passes, the Tax Tribunal would transition to the judicial branch, and the new Georgia Tax Court would have the authority to hear appeals and other tax-related issues.  I am not convinced of the need for another court system.

Statewide Referendum Question (H.B. 808)

This question asks if the personal property tax exemption should be increased from $7,500 to $20,000. In simpler terms, this would allow businesses and individuals to exclude up to $20,000 worth of tangible personal property from being taxed. This could be a big benefit, especially for small businesses and individuals who own equipment, furniture, and machinery for their work.  The only thing better than increasing this exemption, in my opinion, would be eliminating this tax altogether.

Though these amendments might not be the flashiest part of the ballot, they directly impact your taxes, property, and the overall structure of our state’s judicial system. Georgia’s Constitution isn’t something we amend lightly—so make sure your voice is heard on these important issues.

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Sen. Blake Tillery serves as Chairman for the Senate Committee on Appropriations. He represents the 19th Senate District, which includes Appling, Bacon, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Telfair, Toombs, Wayne, and Wheeler counties and a portion of Coffee County. He can be reached by email at blake.tillery@senate.ga.gov.

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