For your state lawmakers, a new year brings motivation and a fresh perspective on the needs of Georgians. Monday, January 9, 2017 is the beginning of the first session of the 154th Georgia General Assembly, and your legislators have been preparing for months by researching potential topics and issues. There will be forty days to present, discuss and vote on legislation to be considered for signing by Governor Nathan Deal.Along with recommendations from the many study committees, we will likely be focusing on issues dealing with economic development, education, health and human services and many others that affect the daily lives of Georgia citizens.
As the chairman of the Economic Development Committee, I’m always interested in hearing legislation that will bring jobs to our citizens and companies to our state. We were recently named the number one state in which to do business for the fourth consecutive year. While Georgia is home to eighteen Fortune 500 companies, it’s the small businesses that keep our economy growing and thriving. In order for us to support our small business owners and their employees, we must pass legislation that can alleviate the red tape and regulations on small businesses, and encourage new businesses to open in Georgia.
During the summer and fall months of 2015, Governor Nathan Deal’s Education Reform Commission (Commission) convened to study Georgia’s education system, including its funding formula, and provide recommendations intended to improve it. The Commission published a report in December 2015 with recommendations for legislation, including revisiting Georgia’s K-12 funding formula, to create a simpler, more transparent, student-based mechanism for allocating funds to districts. This is a key component in accomplishing Georgia’s overall education goals. However, any proposed legislation was delayed during the 2016 legislative session to allow for available funding and a full vetting of the Commission’s report. So we may see legislation this year based on the report’s recommendations.
The state of our health care system and its accessibility is a growing concern for Georgians, especially in the rural parts of our state. During the 2016 interim, several study committees met to study issues like the opioid abuse epidemic in Georgia and the possibility of providing an alternative solution to Medicaid expansion in the form of a premium assistance program. Any recommendations provided by these committees could result in legislation being introduced during the 2017 legislative session.
This year promises to be a session full of legislation designed to improve the lives of all Georgians. I am looking forward to working with my Senate colleagues to draft, vet and vote on legislation that will secure Georgia’s position as a great place to live, work and play. I’m thankful to represent you for another year.