Jan. 16, 2025 – Issue 01

Salutations and Happy New Year from the Chamber Advocacy Team. We are pleased to share with you the first edition of From the Capitol Steps (FTCS). We publish FTCS weekly during the Georgia General Assembly session to keep the business community informed about key developments at our state capitol. A crucial part of the Chamber's advocacy efforts involves collaborating with our legislative delegation representing Cobb and the broader General Assembly to pass bills and policy measures that uphold Georgia's status as the top state for business. The second year of the 2025-2026 biennium kicked off on Monday, Jan. 12. Below is a recap of Week One down at the state capitol, and a few items leading up to it.

Governor Kemp Gives Final State of the State Address

On Thursday, Jan. 15, Governor Brian Kemp gave his final State of the State address to a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly and the Georgia Supreme Court and Appellate Court Justices.

The Governor’s final message to the joint session was bittersweet as he thanked all those in attendance for the support and dedication during his tenure as Governor, especially highlighting his wife, Marty, and his three daughters, Lucy, Amy Porter and Jarrett, also known as The First Family.

Governor Kemp highlighted numerous milestones achieved during his two terms, including the delivery of many of his campaign promises such as lowering the personal and corporate state income tax to under 5%, providing infrastructure investments, lowering unemployment, and bringing many new businesses to Georgia. The results, of which, have provided the state with a diverse economy and made Georgia the #1 State to do Business for 12 consecutive years.

In addition, the Governor lauded the General Assembly for their help in accomplishing many of the goals he prioritized. These included increasing Georgia’s “rainy day fund,” providing tax rebates to Georgians, fully funding the k-12 education funding mechanism – QBE – seven times, increasing educator pay in the state by $9,500, and funding $4.1 billion in capital projects with cash, not debt.

The Governor also laid out his priorities for his final session, which include:

• Provide an additional one-time tax rebate of $250 for single filers and $500 for married filers.
• Reduce the state’s personal and corporate income tax by 20 basis points to 4.99%.
• Invest $2.1 million to increase medical residency slots.
• Create a $325 million endowment for the DREAMS scholarship program, which will provide needs-based financial assistance to students looking to attend higher education institutions after high school, and encourage the private sector to help build its coffers.
• Create an enhanced retirement plan for law enforcement officers, doubling the state’s current 401k match, and increasing recruitment and retention for law enforcement officers across the state.

In closing, the Governor again thanked his family, and his wife, Marty, for her tireless work with the GRACE Commission to lower the levels of human trafficking in the state. He announced that he and Marty’s next piece of legislation related to fighting human trafficking will be introduced in the coming days. The complete text of Governor Kemp’s address can be found here.

Next week during the joint Appropriations hearings, more of the Governor’s budget priorities will be highlighted as he and agency heads present the Amended FY 2026 and the FY 2027 Budget priorities. The Governor’s budget book can be found here.

Georgia Chamber Eggs & Issues

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce's annual Eggs & Issues breakfast took place on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Always a sold-out event, it is seen by the business community as the kickoff to the Georgia General Assembly legislative session. Governor Brian Kemp, Lt. Governor Burt Jones, and House Speaker Jon Burns were on the stage for remarks and fireside chats in front of over 3,000 business leaders, lawmakers, and civic figures to discuss priorities like affordability, infrastructure, taxes, education, and economic growth.

Governor Kemp previewed his top legislative and budgetary priorities for the 2026 session, focusing on affordability, transportation/infrastructure, energy, education/workforce development, and addressing homelessness. Key proposals included:

• Major infrastructure investments to reduce traffic congestion:
  • $1.8 billion for new express lanes (northbound and southbound) on the most congested sections of I-75 in Henry County
  • $200 million for improvements to GA-316
  • $250 million for the third round of LMIGs (Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant), which do not require any match for the local governments applying
  • $100 million for rural bridges
• $50 million in grants to local governments and nonprofits to combat homelessness, particularly in Atlanta.
• Additional emphasis on natural gas infrastructure, workforce development, and overall affordability (noting prior tax returns of over $9.7 billion to taxpayers).
• Broader themes of keeping Georgia the best place to live, work, raise a family, and do business.

During a fireside chat, Lt. Governor Burt Jones, who is running for Governor, emphasized tax relief and education choice. Priorities included:

• Continuing to lower the state income tax rate (building on prior reductions) and efforts to limit or reduce property taxes.
• Expanding private school voucher programs or related education choice initiatives.
• Overall focus on affordability for families and businesses.

House Speaker Jon Burns stressed maintaining Georgia's competitiveness and focused heavily on affordability and education:

• Doubling down on reducing or eliminating property taxes on primary residences via enhanced homestead exemptions (responding to local opt-outs from prior reforms).
• Education is a major priority: Placing a literacy coach in every elementary school, with literacy remaining a top focus for the House.
• Commitment to keeping Georgia the best place to live, work, raise a family, and do business (including his signature line: "It’s a great day to be in Georgia").

2026 Legislative Session Calendar Announced

For the fourth year in a row, the leadership of the House and Senate have set a 40-day legislative calendar, providing predictability for its members and those in the halls. To the benefit of the Legislature and those working in the Government Affairs space, the calendar for the 2026 Legislative Session was shared broadly by House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration and Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte the Sunday prior to Day 1 of the session. As shown below, Crossover Day, the last day for legislation to “crossover” from the House to the Senate or vice versa, has been scheduled for Friday, March 6, and Sine Die, the last day of the 2026 legislative session, will be on Thursday, April 2, one day before Good Friday and the Easter holiday. As this is the end of the two-year biennium, all bills that do not pass are officially dead.

Leaders in 2026

In the state Senate, as several ranking members have left the chamber to run for different offices or have relinquished their chairmanships for the same reasons, the Lt. Governor announced new committee chairs on the first day of the 2026 Session. See below for members of the Cobb Legislative Delegation in the Senate holding leadership roles:

• Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick will serve as chair of the Children and Families Committee.
• Sen. John Albers will serve as chair of the Public Safety Committee.
• Sen. Ed Setzler will serve as chair of the Science and Technology Committee.
• Sen. Donzella James will serve as chair of the Urban Affairs Committee.

In addition, the Senate confirmed Senator Larry Walker of Perry as the new Senate President Pro Tempore. Former Cobb Chamber GAC Chair, Senator Jason Anavitarte was elected by his caucus as Majority Leader, and Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick was elected as caucus Secretary.

In addition to leadership, the Cobb Legislative Delegation gained a new member via special election. Senator Jaha Howard was sworn into office on New Year’s Eve. District 35 covers portions of Cobb and Fulton Counties, which was vacated by Senator Jason Esteves (D-Atlanta), who resigned his seat to focus on his run for governor.

In the State House, a huge congratulations goes to Rep. Devan Seabaugh as he was tapped by Governor Brian Kemp to serve as one of his floor leaders. See below for members of the Cobb Legislative Delegation in the House holding leadership roles:

• Rep. Don Parson will serve as chair of the Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Committee.
• Rep. John Carson will serve as chair of the Retirement Committee.
• Rep. Joseph Gullet will serve as the chair of the Appropriations Judiciary Subcommittee.
• Rep. Sharon Cooper will serve as the chair of the Public and Community Health Committee.
  
  

Cobb Legislative Delegation Committee Assignments

The Cobb Legislative Delegation has seen a few changes in the past year including changes to committee assignments, as seen below. For more information regarding the Cobb Legislative Delegation, Cobb Congressional Delegation, and local elected officials, please visit the Cobb Chamber Advocacy Website.

House Delegation

Rep. Joseph Gullett (HD-19)
Committee Assignments: Appropriations - Chairman of Judiciary Subcommittee; Banks & Banking; Governmental Affairs; Insurance; Judiciary Non-Civil; Judiciary Juvenile; Technology and Infrastructure Innovation

Rep. Jordan Ridley (HD-22)
Committee Assignments: Code Revision - Vice Chairman; Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications – Secretary; Game, Fish & Parks; Public Safety and Homeland Security

Rep. Devan Seabaugh (HD-34)
Committee Assignments: Creative Arts & Entertainment - Vice Chairman; Industry and Labor - Vice Chairman; Appropriations - Vice-Chairman of Subcommittee; Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications; Public and Community Health; Transportation

Rep. Lisa Campbell (HD-35)
Committee Assignments: Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight; Human Relations & Aging; Interstate Cooperation

Rep. Ginny Ehrhart (HD-36)
Committee Assignments: Information and Audits - Vice Chairman; Intragovernmental Coordination - Vice Chairman; Higher Education; Interstate Cooperation; Regulated Industries – Secretary; Technology and Infrastructure Innovation; Transportation

Rep. Mary Frances Williams (HD-37)
Committee Assignments: Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications; Governmental Affairs; Natural Resources & Environment; Retirement

Rep. David Wilkerson (HD-38)
Committee Assignments: Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight; Education; Judiciary Juvenile; Retirement

Rep. Terry Cummings (HD-39)
Committee Assignments: Banks & Banking; Public Safety and Homeland Security; State Properties

Rep. Michael Smith (HD-41)
Committee Assignments: Economic Development & Tourism; Interstate Cooperation; Regulated Industries; State Properties – Secretary; Transportation

Rep. Gabriel Sanchez (HD-42)
Committee Assignments: Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight; Governmental Affairs; Interstate Cooperation

Rep. Solomon Adesanya (HD-43)
Committee Assignments: Economic Development & Tourism; Governmental Affairs; Small Business Development

Rep. Don Parsons (HD-44)
Committee Assignments: Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications – Chairman; Appropriations; Code Revision; Health; Intragovernmental Coordination; Special Committee on Resource Management; Technology and Infrastructure Innovation; Ways & Means

Rep. Sharon Cooper (HD-45)
Committee Assignments: Public and Community Health – Chairman; Health - Ex-Officio; Human Relations & Aging; Intragovernmental Coordination; Judiciary Non-Civil; Regulated Industries; Rules; Special Committee on Healthcare

Rep. John Carson (HD-46)
Committee Assignments: Retirement – Chairman; Appropriations; Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications; Insurance; Rules; Transportation; Ways & Means

Rep. Sheila Jones (HD-60)
Committee Assignments: Appropriations; Health; Judiciary Juvenile – Secretary; Transportation; Ways & Means

Rep. Mekyah McQueen (HD-61)
Committee Assignments: Code Revision; Creative Arts & Entertainment; Special Rules

Senate Delegation

Sen. Donzella James (SD-28)
Committee Assignments: Urban Affairs – Chairman; Interstate Cooperation - Vice Chairman; Appropriations; Economic Development and Tourism; Education and Youth

Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (SD-32)
Committee Assignments: Children and Families – Chairman; Health and Human Services - Vice Chairman; Insurance and Labor – Secretary; Appropriations; Government Oversight - Ex-Officio; Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security - Ex-Officio; Rules - Ex-Officio

Sen. Michael “Doc” Rhett (SD-33)
Committee Assignments: Finance; Judiciary; Reapportionment and Redistricting; Regulated Industries and Utilities; Rules

Sen. Jaha Howard (SD-35)
Committee Assignments: Agriculture and Consumer Affairs; Government Oversight; Higher Education; State and Local Governmental Operations

Sen. Ed Setzler (SD-37)
Committee Assignments: Science and Technology – Chairman; State and Local Governmental Operations - Vice Chairman; Health and Human Services – Secretary; Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security - Ex-Officio; Appropriations; Education and Youth - Ex-Officio

Sen. John Albers (SD-56)
Committee Assignments: Public Safety – Chairman; Finance - Vice Chairman; Appropriations; Government Oversight - Ex-Officio; Regulated Industries and Utilities - Ex-Officio; Urban Affairs; Rules

A comprehensive list of committee appointments can be found here: Senate and House.

Introducing BillTrack50 – Priority Legislation

As a part of the Chamber’s Strategic Plan to increase Government Affairs and Advocacy activities, last year the Chamber Government Affairs Team researched additional ways to increase legislative tracking capacity to report legislative activities more effectively for each of our members.

We are happy to announce that we have implemented a new legislative tracking software called BillTrack50. This new platform will allow the Government Affairs Team to track legislation at both the State and Federal level to provide real time information to our members on new legislative actions related to “Relevant Legislation” that correlate to our annual State Legislative Agenda. Located on our new State Legislation Tracker page at the Cobb Chamber website, the Relevant Legislation tracker will be updated throughout the year with legislation that we are tracking during the 2026 State Legislative Session.

Within the tracker, feel free to review the specific legislation page on BillTrack50 by clicking on the bill number. Here you will be able to see each sponsor, current actions, bill text, and a summary of the legislation. If you have any questions regarding BillTrack50 or any of its capabilities, please feel free to reach out to Coleman Loftin, Senior Manager of Government Affairs and Advocacy.

Included in the Relevant Legislation tracker are the following pieces of legislation that were dropped this past week by members of the General Assembly:

HB 932 by Rep. Steven Sainz
Legislation which amends Georgia’s tax credit legislation for business enterprises in less developed areas by adding a new provision that allows census tracts in counties with federal military installations of at least 5,000 personnel to be designated as less developed areas for the specific years 2025 and 2026.
Assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee

HB 970 by Rep. Rick Townsend
Legislation which expands which healthcare professionals may conduct preparticipation athletic physical examinations.
Assigned to the House Health Committee

SB 382 by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler
Legislation which makes the state-wide base year homestead exemption, which is a property tax break for homeowners, mandatory for all local governments in Georgia.
Assigned to the Senate Finance Committee

SB 408 by Sen. Nan Orrock
Legislation advancing the sunset date of the data center equipment sales and use tax exemption from January 1, 2032 to January 1, 2027.
Assigned to the Senate Finance Committee

SB 410 by Sen. Matt Brass
Legislation which repeals the exemption from state sales and use taxes for equipment purchased by high-technology data centers and their customers, making these purchases subject to sales and use taxes.
Assigned to the Senate Finance Committee

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