When bills are written in the Georgia legislature each year and then signed into law by the governor, there are usually two different dates lawmakers use for the new laws to take affect – New Year’s Day (January 1st) and July 1st.  There are several new laws that go in place starting today in the Peach State.

House Bill 593 is a follow-up to legislation the General Assembly adopted in 2019 lowering Georgia’s income-tax rate from 6% to 5.75%.  Lawmakers say mostly lower- and middle-income families will benefit from the higher standard deduction.

But lawmakers didn’t let some larger industries down and new laws will provide some tax breaks for some major manufacturers. Tax credits to medical equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturers, aerospace defense projects, performing arts venues, short-line railroads and developers of corporate “mega-sites” all go in place starting today.

Lawmakers are also cracking down on “Porch Pirates.”  Legislation going into law today will make it a felony to steal three or more envelopes, bags, packages or other mailed items from the porch, front or back entrance of a residence.

Perhaps the most controversial law going in affect today is the election bill that is being challenged by the U.S. Justice Department in Federal court.