Tort reform pros and cons aired out under Gold Dome
ATLANTA - Both sides of the controversial tort reform issue got their say at the Georgia Capitol Thursday, not on either the state House or Senate floors but in the hallways under the Gold Dome. A group of business owners held a news conference Thursday morning to...
Georgia unemployment holds steady in January
ATLANTA - Georgia's unemployment rate held steady in January at 3.6%, despite declines in jobs, the size of the state's labor force, and the number of employed. The jobless rate in the Peach State in February was four-tenths of a point lower than the national...
Legislature considers increased compensation for families of teachers killed at school
ATLANTA - A Georgia Senate committee advanced legislation Wednesday that would double the amount of money that families of teachers and other public school employees would receive when their loved ones are killed at school. House Bill 105 would double to $150,000 the...
State House OKs $37.7 billion fiscal ’26 budget
ATLANTA - The Georgia House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed Gov. Brian Kemp's $37.7 billion fiscal 2026 state budget Tuesday, a spending plan that prioritizes prisons and education. The budget, which cleared the House 171-4, is smaller than the record $40.5...
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust; Georgia legislature considers alternative path for corpses
ATLANTA - Legislation that would regulate an alternative method for disposing of the dead is moving through the Georgia General Assembly, leaving astonished lawmakers in its wake. "You're blowing my mind here today because I didn't know this was allowed," said Sen....
Legislation would make the driver’s license on a smartphone official for Georgia police
ATLANTA - Drivers in Georgia would be able to leave home without their wallet, so long as they bring their smartphone, if legislation that seeks to require police to accept a digital version of drivers' licenses becomes law. House Bill 296 passed the Georgia...
Fiscal ’26 state budget clears House committee
ATLANTA - Georgia House budget writers approved Gov. Brian Kemp's $37.7 billion fiscal 2026 budget Monday, a spending plan that emphasizes the needs of the state prison system. The budget, which takes effect July 1, builds on the mid-year budget the General Assembly...
Marijuana inspires debate in Georgia Senate, with three bills passing before this year’s deadline
Marijuana has been a major topic in the Georgia Senate this legislative session, with three bills passing the chamber just ahead of the deadline Thursday to keep them in play this year. Two of the measures, Senate Bill 33 and Senate Bill 254, seek to restrict what's...