Capitol Beat News Service contributed to this story
A proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution could eliminate sales taxes on timber, a move supporters say would help stabilize a forestry industry that has been hammered by mill closures and storm damage. House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration of Mulberry is sponsoring House Resolution 1000, saying the bipartisan effort is meant to protect what he called a cornerstone of Georgia’s rural economy.
State Senator Jason T. Dickerson of Canton has introduced Senate Bill 415, legislation aimed at banning the production, distribution, and sale of lab-grown meat in Georgia. Lab-grown meat, also known as cultured or cell-based meat, is produced by harvesting animal cells and growing them in a controlled environment rather than raising livestock.
Another Republican has joined the growing field to replace former State Sen. Colton Moore in Georgia’s 53rd Senate District. Moore resigned from the seat as he campaigns for U.S. Congress, triggering a special election now set for March 10, 2026, with early voting beginning February 16.
Parents looking to strengthen their child’s reading and writing skills have an option starting this week in Summerville. A Reading & Writing Class for home school children ages 6 to 12 is scheduled to begin Wednesday, January 28, at 2:00 p.m. at the Chattooga County Multi-Purpose Center, located at 152 Senior Drive.
The event listing says the in-person class focuses on building confidence through phonics-based reading strategies, guided writing practice, and encouraging daily reading habits. The class is scheduled for Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., meeting once a week for eight weeks, and is hosted by Nudd Academy.
Voters in Chattooga County and neighboring counties in Northwest Georgia are expected to see an additional special election tied to the shakeup in the 14th Congressional District. Gov. Brian Kemp has issued a call to fill Georgia Senate District 53, the seat vacated by Colton Moore after he qualified to run for the open U.S. House seat.
State Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R–Armuchee) says the Georgia House returned to Atlanta on January 12 to open the 2026 legislative session, beginning the second regular session of the 158th General Assembly. Lumsden noted the week included recognition of the newly restored House Chamber and adoption of the session calendar, with the 40-day session scheduled to end April 2, known as Sine Die. He also highlighted Governor Brian Kemp’s priorities shared at the Georgia Chamber’s Eggs & Issues Breakfast, including transportation spending proposals, a one-time natural gas infrastructure fund, and a Homeless Response Grant tied to preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. Lumsden said Kemp’s final State of the State Address focused on tax relief, cost-of-living issues, education and workforce training, school safety, and public safety priorities, including efforts to combat human trafficking and gang-related crime. The week concluded with a Celebration of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Lumsden said lawmakers returned after the holiday for “budget week,” when agencies outline funding needs to appropriations committees. You can see the complete legislative report below:
A Georgia state senator is renewing a push to make data centers pay more of their own way, sponsoring legislation that would roll back a major sales tax incentive while arguing the savings could be used to reduce taxes for everyone else.
Gov. Brian Kemp says Georgia should invest $1.8 billion to relieve one of metro Atlanta’s most notorious traffic choke points by expanding toll express lanes on Interstate 75 in the southern suburbs. The proposal would add a lane in each direction along a heavily congested stretch in Henry and Clayton counties, where 12 miles of reversible express lanes already operate, and Kemp argues the change could boost traffic throughput on I-75 by as much as 70% as congestion surges back after the pandemic-era lull.
Kemp pitched the plan during the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as part of a broader request for $2.4 billion in additional infrastructure spending, funded through an amendment to the current year’s budget using Georgia’s surplus cash. The package also includes $200 million to continue upgrades along Georgia 316, $250 million for local road improvements, $100 million aimed at bridges and rural communities, and $35 million to extend natural gas lines in rural areas.
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.
Gov. Brian Kemp delivered his final State of the State address this week at the Georgia Capitol, using the annual speech to lay out what he wants lawmakers to prioritize as he enters the home stretch of his second term. In front of a joint session of the General Assembly, Kemp struck an upbeat tone about Georgia’s economy and growth, while arguing the next set of decisions should center on affordability for families, long-term competitiveness for the state, and keeping Georgia “open for business” in a changing national landscape.
