Bill allowing broader sales of craft beer by Georgia breweries falls short
ATLANTA — An attempt to permit Georgia breweries to sell beer to restaurants, bars, and stores failed Tuesday when state senators refused to vote on the bill. The proposal’s demise means that craft brewers can still only provide alcohol to in-person customers, who are...
Georgia House adopts Kemp’s income tax cut
ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp is halfway to getting his income tax rate cut approved by the Legislature after the state House passed it in a mostly party-line vote Wednesday. "It's not the government's money. It's the peoples' money," said Rep. Will Wade, R-Dawsonville,...
Senate panel rewrites bill protecting Georgians from data centers’ power costs
ATLANTA — Georgia senators rejected a proposal Tuesday that would have explicitly prevented power companies from passing on data centers’ costs to customers, instead advancing a bill with fewer consumer protections. The 9-3 vote by the Senate Regulated Industries...
Georgia House passes literacy measure, high school cell phone ban, slew of other education bills
ATLANTA — Lawmakers in the Georgia House embraced a plan to send literacy coaches to elementary schools while also sending a high school cell phone ban to the Senate, as part of a package of eight educational bills approved Tuesday. Georgia lawmakers' years-long focus...
Protesters in Georgia could face harsher sanctions under new state legislation
ATLANTA — Bills to restrain public protests have advanced in Georgia's House and Senate in the wake of shooting deaths in Minneapolis that shocked the nation. One would expose people charged with blocking roads to stiffer financial penalties. Another would make it a...
Police death videos would be kept from the public under Georgia bill
ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers couldn’t agree Monday on a bill that would shield police videos from public view if they show someone’s death. Supporters of the bill say it’s needed to prevent tragic videos from being shared with the world online, while opponents said it...
Georgia natural resources chair Rep. Lynn Smith to retire from state House
ATLANTA — State Rep. Lynn Smith, one of the longest-serving representatives in the Georgia House, plans to retire after 30 years focused on environmental issues. Smith, R-Newnan, is the chair of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee, which is...
Judge rules against Burt Jones’ unlimited fundraising in race for Georgia governor
ATLANTA — Lt. Gov. Burt Jones can no longer raise millions of dollars for his gubernatorial campaign through a special fundraising committee, a setback in his race for the Republican nomination. A federal judge ruled Friday in favor of a Republican rival, Rick...