Savannah Standard

The Georgia State Senate recently passed SB 68, an omnibus bill that is part of Governor Brian Kemp's comprehensive tort reform package. The bill passed with a vote of 33-22 after intense efforts by Gov. Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, and their teams, which included agreeing to a last-minute floor amendment to secure the necessary votes.

Local senators Ben Watson and Billy Hickman supported the bill, while Derek Mallow opposed it during the debate and voted against it. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

In related legislative developments, a coalition of local chambers, including our own, expressed support for HB 361 through a signed letter. This bill aims to increase Georgia’s Military Retirement Income Exclusion to 100 percent, potentially making Georgia more competitive in retaining service members transitioning into civilian careers.

Georgia currently ranks as the fourth most expensive state for retired military service members due to state income tax on retirement income. In contrast, 38 states do not tax military retirement income at all, including neighboring states of Georgia.

Keeping or attracting veterans in Georgia can provide substantial economic benefits as they contribute significantly to community investment and overall economic growth. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to reduce the state's overall income tax rate while targeting competitive workers and supporting employers in Georgia.

Additionally, SB 12 passed unanimously in the Senate with a vote of 49-0. This bill stipulates that only custodian agencies of public records are subject to public records requests—not government contractors—and now awaits consideration in the House.

Attention also remains focused on a proposed $501 million state investment in regional water systems. This funding was included in Governor Kemp’s budget recommendation and retained in the House version of the amended budget. Senate appropriators are currently reviewing their version of the amended budget with hopes that this investment will gain full Senate support.