Capitol Update
2025 Legislative Session Recap - Week 1
On Monday, January 13, 2025, the Georgia House of Representatives convened for the first day of the 2025 legislative session, marking the start of a new biennium for the 158th Georgia General Assembly. To begin the session, all 180 House members took the Oath of Office, which was administered by Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Boggs. Following the swearing-in, our next order of business was the election of the Speaker of the House and Speaker Pro Tempore. Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) was re-elected as the 75th Speaker of the House, and Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones (R-Milton) was also re-elected to her respective position.
Governor Brian Kemp - State of the Union
On Thursday, January 16, members of both the House and Senate gathered for a joint session in the House Chamber to hear Governor Brian Kemp deliver his annual State of the State Address. This address gave the governor the opportunity to present his assessment of the state’s current condition and outline his legislative priorities for the year ahead, which include increased funding for school safety and security, the need for tort reform legislation, expanding access to healthcare in rural areas and increased support for Georgia’s Department of Corrections. You can watch a video archive of the governor’s address here, and I will highlight some of his address.
Governor Kemp began his State of the State address by reflecting on the impact and destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Helene last September. Georgia Power reported that Hurricane Helene was the worst storm in Georgia’s history, resulting in 34 Georgians who lost their lives during the storm. The governor went on to share some of the heroic stories of first responders and neighbors alike who risked their lives to help those in need. In response to this devastation, the state prioritized funding for hard-hit areas and repurposed $100 million to the Georgia Development Authority to support the farming and timber industries. Although Georgians are still grieving and rebuilding from Helene, the legislature remains focused on prioritizing support for the hardest hit regions and communities of our resilient state.
In his address, Gov. Kemp also emphasized that while communities directly affected by Hurricane Helene still need substantial disaster relief, all Georgians, regardless of location, also need long-term solutions to offset rising costs and inflation. He noted that Georgia families have struggled in recent years, but despite record inflation, Georgia achieved success through tax cuts, gas tax suspensions, a 2024 homeowner tax relief grant and an income tax cut that saved taxpayers more than $7.6 billion. Building on previous tax cuts, he proposed an additional reduction in the state income tax rate from 5.39 percent to 5.19 percent during his address. This move would save Georgians an expected $7.5 billion over the next decade.
Also in his address, Gov. Kemp underscored his administration’s ongoing efforts to address rising insurance costs, particularly for small businesses, and the need for tort reform. He highlighted the passage of House Bill 1114, the Data Analysis for Tort Reform Act, which was signed into law last summer and enables Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner to gather data and propose reforms that are aimed at stabilizing insurance costs, expanding consumer choices and preventing carriers from leaving Georgia. The governor pointed out that some small businesses have seen their insurance premiums increase by as much as 100 percent, threatening their operations. To combat this, he announced that one of his top priorities this session is passing comprehensive tort reform legislation designed to limit civil lawsuits.
Lastly, we reflected on the tragic shooting that occurred at Apalachee High School, honoring the victims and their families, as well as the heroes who prevented the incident from becoming an even greater tragedy. Responding Sergeant Chase Boyd, Deputy Brandon King and Sheriff Jud Smith joined us in the gallery during the governor’s address while we applauded their brave actions on that day. We were also joined by several caregivers who provided mental health services in the critical days following the events at Apalachee High School. In response, Gov. Kemp touched on the $294 million that has been allocated to school safety thus far, and his budget proposal includes an additional $159 million to bolster those efforts.






Remembering & Celebrating
President Jimmy Carter - This past week we remembered Former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away in Plains, Georgia, on December 29, 2024. As the 39th President of the United States and Georgia’s 76th Governor—the only Georgian to ever be elected president—Carter’s impact on both the state and the nation was immense.
Dr. Martin Luther King - To end our week, my colleagues and I joined Gov. Kemp, Speaker Burns and Lt. Gov. Jones for a Celebration of Service to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This event was a powerful reminder of Dr. King’s impact on our nation and the ongoing work to advance his vision of equality, justice and service to others.
President Donald J. Trump - Yesterday, our country celebrated the inauguration of our 47th President - Donald J. Trump. With all the official swearing in ceremonies completed, work now begins with confirming President Trump's Cabinet and the mapping out of his legislative agenda.
2025 Committee Assignments
House Committee on Assignments completed its work and announced committee assignments for each representative. I am excited to announce that I have been appointed to serve on the following House committees for the next two years:
- Natural Resources & Environment - Chairman
- Appropriations
- Creative Arts & Entertainment
- Economic Development & Tourism
- Reapportionment & Redistricting
- Rules
- Small Business Development
- Special Committee on Resource Management
This week, my colleagues and I had planned to return to the Capitol to begin the state budget process. This is when we hear directly from Governor Kemp and state agency leaders as they present their budget requests to the Joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee. However, due to the weather, this process has been delayed. I will send updates as they are available.
I am forever proud to serve the great people of District 70. Your support and friendship during my time as your Representative have meant the world to me. I am honored that you have placed your trust in me and I encourage you to reach out directly with comments, questions or concerns.
