The Georgia Senate Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax held its fourth pivotal meeting this past week, accelerating its study into a potential policy shift that would fundamentally reshape the state’s fiscal landscape.

Created by Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, the bipartisan committee is tasked with developing a robust plan to completely eliminate the state income tax while crucially ensuring the continued fiscal soundness of Georgia’s budget and the funding of essential services.

Chaired by Senator Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), the committee’s central challenge is devising a reliable strategy for replacing the estimated multi-billion dollars in revenue currently generated by the tax—a key source of funding for public infrastructure, education, and social programs.

The Push for Competitiveness

The motivation behind the ambitious goal is rooted in economic competitiveness and tax relief for residents. Supporters of the elimination argue that scrapping the income tax will make Georgia one of only a handful of states without the levy, attracting new businesses, encouraging in-migration of skilled workers, and allowing current residents to retain significantly more of their earnings.

“This effort is about ensuring Georgia remains the economic powerhouse of the Southeast,” said one committee spokesperson, reflecting the view that lower tax burdens create a stronger, more attractive economy. “Our goal is to create a pathway where Georgians keep more of what they earn, driving local growth, but that pathway must be sustainable.”

Bipartisan Effort Meets Fiscal Reality

While the motivation for tax relief is widely supported, the process is fraught with complexity. Committee members are actively exploring various models for revenue replacement—potentially relying on increased consumption taxes or adjustments to existing tax structures—to offset the substantial loss.

Key to the committee’s deliberations are concerns regarding the maintenance of funding for crucial public services. Members are diligently studying the projected impact on vital state allocations, particularly budget items dedicated to public education and programs that support citizens with special needs.

The structure of the committee itself highlights the significance of the undertaking. It includes a bipartisan array of lawmakers dedicated to finding a workable solution, including Senators Jason Anavitarte, Greg Dolezal, Ed Harbison, Chuck Hufstetler, Steve Gooch, John F. Kennedy, Nan Orrock, Michael “Doc” Rhett, Larry Walker III, and Sam Watson.

The Special Committee is working toward developing a comprehensive, actionable proposal for tax elimination and revenue replacement, which they aim to present before the next legislative session convenes in 2024. The findings are expected to set the stage for one of the most significant fiscal debates in recent Georgia history.