by Dave Williams | Feb 12, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp has accepted an invitation to attend the Munich Security Conference in Germany this weekend to participate in a roundtable discussion with foreign leaders and partners on international economic relations and geopolitics.
The annual conference is the world’s leading multinational forum for debating international security policy. It also provides a valuable opportunity for bilateral meetings with economic development prospects that can lead to more jobs and investments in Georgia.
“I’m looking forward to representing Georgians and hardworking Americans at this year’s Munich Security Conference,” Kemp said Wednesday. “I will carry their loud and clear message that we need common-sense economic and security policy that does not disadvantage American families or their businesses.”
Kemp will hold meetings with private sector leaders in key industries while attending the conference, adding an economic development component to the overseas trip.
This will be the governor’s second trip to Europe already this year. Last month, he led a trade mission to Germany and Poland.
by Dave Williams | Feb 12, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Former Gov. Nathan Deal’s chief of staff will serve in that role in the House speaker’s office on an interim basis, Speaker Jon Burns announced Wednesday.
Chris Riley will fill in for former state Rep. Terry England, who has served as Burns’ chief of staff since 2023. England suffered a serious accident on his farm in Barrow County last weekend and remains hospitalized.
“I’m excited to be welcoming Chris Riley to our team in the speaker’s office for the remainder of this legislative session,” said Burns, R-Newington. “While we’re deeply saddened by the circumstances of this transition, Chris brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will be invaluable as we continue our work on behalf of the people of our great state.
“No one knows Terry England’s mind and heart for Georgia better than Chris Riley – and I’m confident he will step into this role with Terry’s love for our state at the forefront of his leadership as interim chief of staff.”
Riley served as Deal’s chief of staff from 2011 to 2018, Deal’s entire tenure as governor. Riley, his wife Bambi, and their two sons live on a farm in Hall County where they operate a small cattle operation.
“Terry England has been a tireless advocate for Georgians in every corner of our state for decades, and it’s an honor to be welcomed into this role while he recovers,” Riley said. “I’m looking forward to working alongside my friend Speaker Burns as he continues to advance a strong, common-sense agenda in the House.”
Burns told his House colleagues Wednesday that England is getting better every day and will return to his post in the speaker’s office after he recovers.
by Dave Williams | Feb 11, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – The University System of Georgia is responding to the rapid growth of artificial technology with a new degree program.
The system’s Board of Regents voted Tuesday to create the system’s first baccalaureate program, a bachelor of science degree in applied artificial intelligence at Middle Georgia State University’s Warner Robins campus.
The AI degree program is intended to offer students a pathway to pursue careers in industries including health care, business, and cybersecurity.
Atlanta’s emergence as a tech hub is creating an increasing number of job openings in information technology, while transportation assets including the Port of Savannah and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport rely heavily on AI for supply chain optimization, route planning, and operational efficiency.
The AI program is expected to attract 65 students initially and up to 168 by its fourth year. Classes are due to begin this fall.
by Dave Williams | Feb 11, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – The state Department of Agriculture has lifted a suspension of poultry activities in Georgia following the successful completion of testing for bird flu with no additional detections.
Two cases of avian influenza (HPAI) were discovered last month in commercial poultry flocks in Elbert County. That outbreak prompted the state agency to suspend poultry activities across Georgia including sales at auction, flea, or livestock markets, meet ups, swaps, and exhibitions. The order exempted the retail sale of poultry products including meat and eggs.
“I’m excited to announce that both commercial poultry producers in the control area and poultry enthusiasts across our state can return to normal operations,” Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper said Monday.
“While this announcement is a great step in the right direction, HPAI remains a significant threat to our No.-1 industry, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture will continue working around the clock to protect our state’s flocks and to keep prices as low as possible for Georgia consumers.”
Every commercial operation within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the affected area was subjected to increased testing and movement controls. Agency staff completed 4,541 tests representing 49,951 individual chickens and hundreds of flocks with no additional detections of HPAI.
Outbreaks of bird flu across the country have been blamed for record egg prices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of eggs has nearly doubled from a year ago.
by Dave Williams | Feb 11, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Legislation backed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp aimed at reining in huge jury awards supporters say cripple Georgia businesses has cleared a state Senate committee following a five-hour hearing.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 8-3 along party lines Monday night to advance the sweeping tort reform measure to the full Senate for consideration.
Among other things, Senate 68 would shield property owners from liability claims stemming from criminal acts committed by third parties outside of the owner’s control, allow lawyers for defendants in suits stemming from car accidents to introduce evidence showing the injured party was not wearing a seatbelt, and require plaintiffs in liability cases to show the jury their actual medical costs when the jury is deliberating on compensation.
The committee vote came after representatives of businesses including trucking companies, supermarkets, pest control companies, and hospitals complained that a civil justice system skewed against defendants is driving up insurance premiums, making it increasingly difficult for businesses to keep their doors open.
“The future of the grocery industry is at stake if something doesn’t change,” John Triplett, a grocer from Screven County, told the committee.
“We very much support plaintiffs’ access to the court system,” added Anna Adams, executive vice president for external affairs at the Georgia Hospital Association. “We just want this process to be fair.”
Opponents have argued that tort reform will let insurance companies further enrich themselves without reducing skyrocketing insurance premiums driven by climate change and the greed of insurers.
But Jimbo Floyd of Gainesville, president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia, said insurance companies are losing money because of excessive jury verdicts. For example, insurance companies in Georgia paid out $1.04 in 2023 for every $1 they collected, piling up $1.28 billion in losses, he said.
“The Georgia insurance marketplace is in crisis,” Floyd said. “If we don’t act to stabilize rates, many of these business owners will be forced to close their businesses.”
After supporters spoke in favor of the bill, members of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association poked holes in each of the comprehensive measure’s provisions.
Alan Hamilton, a lawyer who represents plaintiffs in truck accident cases, said a provision prohibiting plaintiff lawyers from bringing up specific amounts or ranges of damages they are seeking until closing arguments favors high-salary plaintiffs over stay-at-home moms, children, elderly retirees, and wage earners.
“This unfairly, unequally treats the wage earner different from the executive,” he said. “It raises serious equal-protection constitutional and practical concerns.”
Personal injury lawyer Drew Ashby said allowing defense lawyers to introduce evidence showing a plaintiff in an auto accident was not wearing a seat belt has an “unbelievably prejudicial effect” on juries.
“It shifts the focus from the person who caused the crash to the victim of the crash,” he said.
Ashby also argued that it’s hard to prove a plaintiff was wearing a seat belt at the time of a crash because either the victim, first responder, or police officer typically remove the seat belt immediately after an accident.
Kemp has made tort reform a top priority for this year’s General Assembly session.
