Thursday was the Third Legislative Day for the Georgia General Assembly, but the day was all about Governor Brian Kemp and the State’s constitutional officers. Under overcast skies, the House and Senate convened in a joint session at Georgia State University’s gleaming new Convocation Center to inaugurate Georgia’s top executives and hear the Governor’s vision for the future. Despite the gloom overhead, Kemp laid out his sunnier plans to cut taxes, return excess tax revenues to the citizens, and execute the priorities he laid out on the campaign trail.

In addition to reiterating several of his policy goals unveiled over the past several months, the Governor announced his intent to make Georgia the “Electric Mobility Capital of America”. Kemp also offered his first tease of his forthcoming state budget proposals, announcing $2,000 salary increases for state employees and teachers and a $150 million grant program to address school safety, learning loss, and teacher training and recruitment. The Governor’s full budget proposals are due to be released on Friday, and we’ll have it all in the #GoldDomeReport.

In this Report:

• Senate Announces Committee Appointments

• New Legislation

• What’s Next

Senate Announces Committee Appointments

Late yesterday, members of the State Senate got their “class schedules” (also known as committee assignments) for the 2023-24 Legislative Session. As expected, there were a number of changes driven by retirements and new members on the powerful Senate Committee on Assignments. Full committee rosters are available online, and committee chairs are as follows:

• Agriculture and Consumer Affairs – Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell)

• Appropriations – Senator Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia)

• Banking and Financial Institutions – Senator Carden Summers (R-Cordele)

• Children and Families – Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta)

• Economic Development and Tourism – Senator Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta)

• Education and Youth Committee – Senator Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett)

• Ethics – Senator Max Burns (R-Sylvania)

• Finance – Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome)

• Government Oversight – Senator Marty Harbin (R-Tyrone)

• Health and Human Services – Senator Ben Watson (R-Savannah)

• Higher Education – Senator Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro)

• Insurance and Labor – Senator Larry Walker (R-Perry)

• Interstate Cooperation – Senator Colton Moore (R-Trenton)

• Judiciary – Senator Brian Strickland (R-McDonough)

• Natural Resources and the Environment – Senator Lee Anderson (R-Grovetown)

• Public Safety – Senator John Albers (R-Alpharetta)

• Reapportionment and Redistricting – Senator Shelly Echols (R-Alto)

• Regulated Industries and Utilities – Senator Bill Cowsert (R-Athens)

• Retirement – Senator Rick Williams (R-Milledgeville)

• Rules – Senator Matt Brass (R-Newnan)

• Science and Technology – Senator Chuck Payne (R-Dalton)

• State Institutions and Property – Senator Ed Harbison (D-Columbus)

• State and Local Governmental Operations – Senator Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville)

• Transportation – Senator Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming)

• Urban Affairs – Senator Donzella James (D-Atlanta)

• Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security – Senator Mike Dugan (R-Carrollton)

New Legislation

The following legislation of interest has been introduced in the House:

The following legislation of interest has been introduced in the Senate:

What’s Next

The General Assembly will reconvene for Legislative Day 4 on Friday, January 13 at 10:00AM.