Jan. 12, 2024 – Issue 01

Happy New Year and welcome to the From the Capitol Steps distribution. The Cobb Chamber publishes FTCS weekly as the Georgia General Assembly is in session to keep the business community apprised of key happenings at our state Capitol. A key aspect of the advocacy efforts at the Chamber is to work with our local state legislative delegation representing Cobb and the general assembly-at-large to pass bills and policy measures that maintain Georgia’s status as the number one state to do business.
 

2024 Chamber Legislative Priorities

For the Cobb Chamber, preparation for the legislative session begins in Q4 of the year prior to convening. The Cobb Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC), led by 2023 GAC Chairman Trey Paris of Freeman Mathis Decisions, and 2024 GAC Chairwoman, developed, and submitted the 2024 Cobb Chamber Legislative Agenda to the Cobb Chamber Board for its adoption on Dec. 4, 2023.

Sharon Mason, President and CEO of the Chamber, presented the priorities to the Cobb Legislative Delegation at their annual pre-session meeting with other business and community organizations on Dec. 14, 2023. The Cobb Chamber was honored once again to host this meeting at its offices, adjacent to The Battery.

The legislative priorities are divided into five policy areas:

• economic & community development
• transportation, mobility & infrastructure investment
• education & workforce development
• healthcare
• continued support for Dobbins Air Reserve Base and our defense community

You can click here to access the 2024 Cobb Chamber Legislative Agenda.

Sprint to the Finish – Year Two of the 2023-2024 Term

The 2024 session marks year two of the term and any bill or resolution that did not pass by the end of the 2023 session is still available for consideration by the House and Senate. As it is an election year, the General Assembly has agreed during the first week of business for the second year in a row on full session calendar through Day 40 with a defined end on Thurs., March 28.

Both Chambers started off the new year with a deficit in members as Senator Mike Dugan (R-Carrolton) resigned immediately to run for Congressman Drew Ferguson’s seat, and Rep. Barry Flemming (R-Augusta) resigned to accept a judicial appointment.

While standing committees are beginning to meet, significant work will resume after the budget break on Mon., Jan. 22 . Next week, the bodies will be in recess for the MLK, Jr. Day holiday and to allow the Joint Appropriations Committee to meet to hear from the Governor and state agency heads on their Amended FY 24 and FY 2025 budget proposals. If you want to get a jump start on reading the documents, the Office of Planning and Budget released the Governor’s AFY2024 and FY2025 Budget Proposals for your weekend reading pleasure. 

Governor Reveals 2024 Priorities

At both the Georgia Chamber’s Annual Eggs & Issues breakfast and during his State of the State Address, Governor Kemp rolled out many of his priorities for the 2024 session. Built upon his first administration and the first year of his second term, his announcements include increased mental health funding, more money for public safety and funding for K-12 education.

As the Governor’s new chief of staff said at the Cobb Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee meeting on Jan. 12, the $16 billion budget surplus has already been spent five times, referring to the numerous wants and wish lists coming from lawmakers and state agencies. In the Governor’s budget, we see how he wants the surplus to fund state government initiatives:

• Accelerate reducing state income tax rates, which is part of a plan to gradually reduce the income tax rate from 5.75 percent to 4.99 percent by 2029 and increase exemptions.
• Awarding $1,000 retention bonuses to more than 300,000 teachers, school workers and state agency staffers.
• Costing the state about $700 million a year, the Governor announced the following pay raises:
  
  • Giving state employees and teachers 4 percent raises — up to about the first $70,000 in salary
  • State law enforcement employees would see another raise in their salaries by $3,000, which is in addition to the $6,000 2023 increases
  • Child protection and placement services caseworkers in the Division of Family and Children Services will receive pay raises of $3,000
  • Teachers will receive an additional $2,500
• $1.4 billion in additional spending on K-12 education
• $500 million for the Employees’ Retirement System
• $205 million in new money for mental health, bringing the overall state total to $1.6 billion annually — an all-time record for the state.
• For the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Governor recommends:
  
  • $250 million dollars of new state funds into the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for local water and sewer projects across the state.
  • An additional $1.5 billion dollars in state funds for projects that directly help move commuters and freight, accelerating GDOT’s existing project pipeline.
  • Establishment of a new program focused on Freight Infrastructure projects that improve efficiency, safety, and reliability for the transportation of goods.
    
    • $200 million dollars from this allocation will go to the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant, doubling the amount available to local governments for Fiscal Year 2024 for local road engineering, construction, paving, and maintenance.
      

For the text of these news-making speeches, please click on the following:

Gov. Kemp Lays Out Priorities for 2024 Session at Georgia Chamber's Annual Eggs and Issues Legislative Event

Governor Brian P. Kemp's 2024 State of the State Address

January Government Affairs Committee

The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee kicked off its first meeting of 2024 with a fireside chat with Lauren Curry, moderated by Hillary Thrower of The Home Depot, 2024 Government Affairs Committee Chair.

Curry not only discussed the Governor’s priorities for the 2024 Legislative Session but also gave the packed room insight into her career path and leadership style, and how she will continue to work with the business community as the first female chief of staff to a Georgia Governor.

General Assembly Calendar

For the second year in a row, the General Assembly passed a full session calendar outlining the dates it will be in session and recess. The full resolution may be read here – important dates to note:

Budget Week: Jan. 16 – 19, 2024
Crossover Day – Thurs., Feb. 29, 2024 (Happy Leap Year!)
Sine Die – Day 40 – Thurs., March 28, 2024

If you have any questions about the Cobb Chamber Government Affairs Committee, the Cobb Chamber legislative priorities or legislative advocacy in general, please reach out to Amanda Seals, Executive Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations.