Following the lead of other Southern states, Georgia lawmakers adopt major school literacy initiative
ATLANTA — After watching high school graduation rates soar despite poor reading skills documented in tests, Georgia lawmakers have decided to send tens of millions of dollars to elementary schools to boost literacy rates. The Georgia Early Literacy Act approved by the...
Georgia Senate adds momentum to school literacy initiative
ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate overhauled one of the state House's top priorities for the year, passing an amended version of the Georgia Early Literacy Act Tuesday. But the measure that the Senate approved unanimously maintains nearly all the core elements that were in...
Georgia Senate moves to cut property taxes by increasing sales taxes
ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate passed a measure Tuesday that would reduce homeowner property taxes by creating a new sales tax in exchange. House Bill 1116 came from the House as a cap on property tax valuation increases. The Senate's amended version would create new...
Public school free speech bill honoring Charlie Kirk clears Georgia General Assembly
ATLANTA — A bill that honors conservative activist Charlie Kirk and protects students' political speech won final approval from the Georgia General Assembly on Tuesday. The Republican-controlled Georgia House voted 95-68 to pass the bill Tuesday over Democrats'...
Georgia lawmakers put 911 upgrades on this year’s ballot
ATLANTA — Georgia voters will decide this year on a constitutional amendment that would dedicate their 911 fees to a statewide fund for improving emergency services. The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to put the 911 referendum on the ballot in November. The House...
Georgia lawmakers went after corporate landlords. They did not get far
In a rare bipartisan moment during this year's legislative session in Georgia, Democrats and Republicans agreed on how to do something about what they said was a core cause of Georgia's housing affordability problem. The state Senate passed a bill that sought to...
Georgia Senate puts its stamp on 2026-27 budget
ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate approved its version of the $38.5 billion fiscal year 2027 budget Friday, sending it to the state House for negotiations over the disagreements. The House started the budget process, passing its version earlier this month. Among...
Georgia Senate votes for rapid move to hand-marked paper ballots before elections this fall
ATLANTA — A proposal for a quick switch to hand-marked paper ballots cleared the Georgia Senate on Friday, an idea that election officials say would disrupt this year's elections. The Senate's 32-21 party-line vote sets up a showdown over competing bills that would...
GOP measure to cap out-of-state campaign donations advancing through Georgia House
ATLANTA — A Republican measure to limit out-of-state support of Georgia political campaigns passed a state House committee and is nearing final passage in the final days of this year's legislative session. Senate Bill 423 would make it a felony punishable by up to a...