Georgia to give tax credits to protective equipment makers

Makers of personal protective equipment in Georgia will get a $1,250-a-job tax break for the next five years, with lawmakers saying they want to aid the businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Georgia lawmakers adopt $26B budget

Georgia lawmakers agreed Friday to a budget that promises sharp cuts but is supposed to avoid unpaid employee furloughs and layoffs in one of the closing acts of the 2020 session of the General Assembly.

A subdue 'sine die' -- Georgia House Speaker tells lawmakers to break with tradition this year

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, behind a panel of Plexiglass at the front of the House chamber, broke one more tradition during a legislative session of firsts thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

SINE DIE: Measures that passed or failed in Georgia General Assembly

Lawmakers in the Georgia General Assembly on Friday are concluding the regular 2020 session of the General Assembly after a months-long recess because of COVID-19. Besides their annual duty of passing a budget to govern state spending, here’s a look at the fate of some other significant issues:

Georgia lawmakers: Block COVID-19 lawsuits against business

Georgia lawmakers want to protect businesses and other from being sued if someone blames them for contracting COVID-19, but House members voted Friday for less-extensive protections than the business community sought.

Gov. Kemp signs Georgia hate crime bill into law

Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 426 into law Friday afternoon at the State capitol in Atlanta, joining 46 other states who have hate crime laws.

Georgia lawmakers approve more health coverage for new moms

An expansion of medical coverage aiming at reducing deaths among mothers of Georgia newborns is headed to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for his signature or veto.

Georgia may limit film tax break as lawmakers eye new ones

Georgia lawmakers came closer Thursday to tighter oversight of tax breaks for television and film production, even as they proposed other new incentives for businesses.

Georgia House seeks vaping tax, doesn’t move on tobacco tax

Lawmakers in Georgia’s House voted Thursday to regulate and tax vaping products, but aren’t taking the chance to raise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Georgia measure would stop officials mailing ballot requests

Republicans controlling a Georgia House committee approved legislation Wednesday that would prevent election officials from proactively sending mail ballot request forms to voters ahead of an election.

State lawmakers reach budget deal, must still vote

With just one day left in the 2020 legislative session, lawmakers have reached a deal on the FY 2021 budget, which begins next week. The state has seen drastically reduced tax revenues in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Georgia teachers ask state lawmakers to preserve education funding

A small, grassroots group of teachers gathered outside the State Capitol Wednesday to urge lawmakers not to cut public education funding.

Kemp says Georgia lawmakers can spend savings to ease cuts

Gov. Brian Kemp is giving lawmakers permission to spend $250 million from Georgia’s rainy day fund to decrease budget cuts in the year beginning July 1.

Election chaos renews focus on gutted Voting Rights Act

When some Georgia voters endured a pandemic, pouring rain and massive waits earlier this month to cast their ballot, President Donald Trump and other Republicans blamed local Democrats for presiding over chaos.

Georgia lawmakers approve hate crime bill, goes to governor for signature

State lawmakers have approved hate crimes legislation after lawmakers struck a deal to remove language protecting police and first responders.

Georgia bill would ban Confederate monuments on public property

The bill would ban any monuments and markers related to the Confederacy and slave owners from any public property in Georgia.