Georgia lawmakers have introduced a new bill that would expand the state’s restrictions on student cell phone use, potentially banning personal devices in high schools statewide.
Governor Brian Kemp used his final State of the State address last week to roll out his recommendations for Georgia’s amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget and the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, calling for major investments aimed at affordability, student opportunity, workforce development, and public higher education.
The State of Georgia says net tax collections in December totaled $3.44 billion. That’s up by about $101 million, or 3 percent, compared to December of last year.
January is National Blood Donor Month, and Blood Assurance is reminding residents that winter is one of the toughest times of the year to maintain a stable blood supply. Donations often drop because of holiday travel, seasonal illnesses, and weather-related disruptions—while hospital demand remains steady and can even rise.
Public health leaders across Georgia are renewing warnings about vaping as e-cigarette use remains a major concern for teens and young adults, even as prevention campaigns expand in schools and communities.
A major state program designed to help Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive in-home care and supports could see significant changes in 2026, as state officials consider proposals aimed at reshaping how applicants are prioritized for services.
Georgia’s official state song reaches a major milestone on January 1, 2026, when the original 1930 music and lyrics of “Georgia on My Mind” enter the public domain. That means the underlying composition—its sheet music and words—can be legally reused, reprinted, performed, and adapted without needing permission.
Georgia lawmakers are confronting a growing child welfare crisis: children with serious mental and behavioral health needs being left behind at emergency rooms and psychiatric facilities because families say they have run out of options.
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has awarded the Georgia Department of Public Safety a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic, or H.E.A.T., grant worth about $4.6 million to continue major traffic safety efforts across the state. The grant took effect October 1, 2025, and runs through September 30, 2026.
Georgia Tax Collections Edge Up in November, But Storm-Related Fuel Tax Changes Cloud the Comparison
Georgia’s net tax collections in November totaled nearly $2.4 billion, an increase of $22.4 million (0.9%) compared to the same month in FY 2025, when the state collected about $2.38 billion. For the fiscal year to date, Georgia’s net tax revenues reached nearly $13.28 billion, up $262.7 million (2.0%) from roughly $13.02 billion collected through November 2024.