Brian Kemp

Kemp signed House Bill 1503 on May 11, 2026, legislation that would exempt homeowners in the City of Covington from paying property taxes on their primary residences if approved by voters. The bill passed the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate nearly unanimously after the City of Covington proposed using revenue from nearby data centers to offset the loss of property tax collections. The measure places a referendum before Covington voters in November, with the exemption set to take effect on January 1, 2027, if approved, though Newton County ad valorem taxes would remain.

Governor Kemp signed legislation regulating the sale of kratom, establishing an age restriction prohibiting sale to individuals under 21 years old and requiring the substance to be stored behind counters accessible only to store employees. The regulatory measure followed a failed attempt by lawmakers four years prior to ban kratom entirely. The regulation took effect as medical examiners across Georgia began documenting kratom's presence in autopsy cases and toxicology reports.

Governor Brian Kemp appeared at the West Cobb Diner in Marietta on Monday to publicly support Republican U.S. Senate candidate Derek Dooley ahead of Georgia's primary election on Tuesday. Kemp stated that Republicans are focused on reclaiming the Senate seat that Democrats won six years earlier. Dooley was competing against Republican Congressman Mike Collins and Congressman Buddy Carter in the Republican primary race.

Kemp approved the Vince Dooley Battlefield Trust Fund Act, legislation passed by state lawmakers in 2025 to establish a trust fund for historic preservation in Georgia. The resulting grant program became operational in 2026, providing matching grants to eligible organizations and state agencies to acquire or protect historic battlefield properties identified by the National Park Service and Civil War Sites Advisory Commission. Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis yearly, covering up to 50 percent of appraised land value or conservation easements, with applicants required to provide one-to-one matching funds.

Governor Brian Kemp extended the suspension of Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch until June 17, 2026, following Couch's arrest in Dawson County on charges of driving outside the conditions of his limited permit and failure to maintain a lane. Couch was initially suspended in March after being arrested for driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of 0.212 percent, more than twice Georgia's legal limit of 0.08 percent. Under Georgia law, the governor holds exclusive authority to suspend or remove sheriffs from office.

Kemp vetoed approximately $300 million in spending from the state budget passed by the General Assembly, including funding for reforestation, land conservation, historic building restoration, the arts, live performances, and short-line railroads. Kemp stated the vetoes were necessary because the General Assembly failed to account for revenue loss when prioritizing the income tax cuts contained in House Bill 463, which he had signed into law. House Bill 463 reduced the state income tax rate to 4.99% from 5.19% with provisions for further reductions over eight years, while also increasing standard deductions and adjusting taxation of retirement income and overtime pay.

On May 15, 2026, Governor Kemp issued an executive order extending Georgia's state gas tax suspension through June 3, continuing a policy initially signed in March. The suspension was set to expire on May 19, and without the extension, gas prices would have increased approximately 33 cents per gallon for regular gasoline and 37 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. The extended suspension maintains Georgia's average gas price at $4.01 per gallon for regular fuel and $5.12 per gallon for diesel, among the lowest in the nation.

Kemp signed an executive order on Friday declaring a state of emergency and extending Georgia's suspension of the state motor fuel tax through June 3, two weeks beyond its original expiration date. The extension was authorized under HB 1199 and takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, maintaining the pause on the state's 33.3 cents per gallon excise tax on regular gasoline. The action was announced ahead of the Memorial Day holiday weekend to provide financial relief during peak travel periods.

Governor Brian Kemp called for a special legislative session beginning June 17 to redraw Georgia's congressional and state legislative districts for the 2028 election cycle. The redistricting effort followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Dozens of protesters marched to the Georgia State Capitol to demonstrate against the redistricting initiative.

Kemp called for a special legislative session to redraw Georgia state and Congressional district lines following a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down race-based, majority-minority districts. Kemp stated that the Supreme Court ruling required lawmakers to redraw the district lines and dismissed criticism of the process, directing people to wait and review the maps once they were produced before offering commentary. The governor noted that any maps approved by the General Assembly would not affect the 2026 election and would not take effect until the 2028 elections.

Governor Kemp issued a writ of election setting a special election for Georgia's 13th Congressional District seat on July 28, following the death of longtime Congressman David Scott in April. Six candidates officially qualified for the special election, which will include portions of Rockdale, Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, and Newton counties. A runoff election was scheduled for August 25 if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the initial election.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 220 on Tuesday, expanding Georgia's medical cannabis program to permit dispensaries to sell high-potency THC vaporized products and cannabis flower to qualified patients. The legislation removes the previous 0.5% THC content limit, allowing vape pens to contain up to 50% THC potency, and expands eligibility by qualifying all cancer patients for medical cannabis rather than only those with end-stage disease. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 220, known as the "Putting Georgia's Patients First Act," on Tuesday, expanding access to medical cannabis in Georgia. The law removes the previous 5% THC potency cap and establishes a legal possession limit of 12,000 milligrams of medical cannabis for registered patients while broadening the types of products dispensaries can sell, including edibles, gummies, and vaporized flower. The legislation adds conditions such as lupus, autism, Stage III HIV, severe Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease to the list of qualifying medical conditions, effective July 1.

Kemp signed House Bill 369, which requires nonpartisan elections for county governing authorities, tax commissioners, clerks of superior court, solicitor-generals, and district attorneys in five metro Atlanta counties: Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton. The law takes effect January 1, 2028, and repeals existing local laws requiring partisan elections for these offices. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced plans to file a lawsuit challenging the law's constitutionality.

Kemp called a special legislative session in June to redraw Georgia's Congressional district map following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibited states from using race as a predominant factor in voter map creation. The new maps would not take effect until 2028, allowing time for legal challenges before the next general election. This marked the third time Georgia has redrawn its Congressional map within a 20-year period.

Kemp signed HB 1005, legislation that amends the city of Austell's charter to create a city manager position. The bill, drafted by Rep. David Wilkerson and passed unanimously by the Georgia House and Senate, changes Austell's governance structure from a strong-mayor form of government to a city manager form. Under the new law, the city manager will serve as the chief executive and administrative officer responsible for day-to-day operations, department oversight, hiring and removal of staff, and budget preparation, while the mayor and City Council are prohibited from directly interfering with city department administration.

Kemp ordered a special legislative session for July 17 to redraw Georgia's electoral district maps following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that struck down a majority-Black legislative district as unconstitutional. Earlier in the week, Kemp signed House Bill 369, which requires five metro Atlanta counties—Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett—to conduct nonpartisan elections for county commissioners, district attorney, and other county offices. Democrats criticized both actions, with state Senator Harold Jones II contending that the moves reflected Republican concerns about electoral outcomes.

Kemp formally issued a call for a special session of the Georgia legislature in May 2026 to address redistricting following a U.S. Supreme Court decision prohibiting the use of race in creating majority-minority voting districts. The special session was also tasked with considering changes to the state's electoral and ballot processes related to paper ballots and QR codes. The redrawn maps would take effect for the 2028 primaries and general elections rather than the upcoming November midterm elections.

Governor Kemp signed House Bill 369, which mandates nonpartisan elections in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. The bill requires these five counties to remove party affiliation designations from county election ballots. District attorneys from DeKalb and Fulton counties announced they would pursue legal action challenging the constitutionality of the legislation.

Kemp signed legislation sponsored by State Senator Elena Parent that requires City Schools of Decatur to hold a mandatory referendum for any project exceeding $20 million in cost. The bill converts a voluntary referendum process into a mandatory one, preventing the school board from using $23 million in bond revenue approved for an Early Childhood Learning Center until voters approve the project by majority vote. The legislation was signed on May 13, 2026, following months of community opposition to the school board's bond issuance process.

Kemp signed House Bill 369, legislation that makes all elections nonpartisan in five metro Atlanta counties—Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton—with the exception of sheriff and coroner races. The bill's sponsor, state Senator John Albers, stated the measure aims to remove politics from local governance during major events. Following the signing, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced their intention to pursue legal action challenging the bill's constitutionality.

Kemp signed House Bill 369 on May 13, 2026, legislation that shifts races for district attorneys, county commissioners, tax commissioners, school board members, and other local offices in Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties to nonpartisan elections beginning in 2028. The bill applies only to these five metro Atlanta counties and does not change electoral procedures in other Georgia counties. Local Democratic officials including Cobb Board of Commissioners Chair Lisa Cupid and Rep. David Wilkerson raised concerns that the legislation singles out specific counties and diminishes voter access to candidate party affiliation information on ballots.

Kemp signed House Bill 974, the $36.6 billion Fiscal Year 2027 state budget, on May 12, 2026. The budget fully funds K-12 classrooms, public safety, mental health services, and the HOPE Scholarship program while implementing a $300 million spending freeze on new state agency spending to offset revenue reductions from tax cuts signed the previous day. Kemp stated that the spending freeze maintains a balanced budget while preserving all existing state services and prior commitments for the fiscal year.

Kemp signed House Bill 974, the fiscal year 2027 budget, on Tuesday after reducing $300 million in spending that the General Assembly had included in their $38.5 billion budget proposal. The Governor determined that state revenue estimates for the coming year would total $36.6 billion, creating a $1 billion shortfall relative to the legislature's spending plan. Kemp attributed the budget gap in part to income tax cuts he had signed into law the previous day through House Bill 463, which reduced the state income tax rate and created exemptions for overtime pay and tips.

Kemp signed legislation making district attorney elections nonpartisan in five metro Atlanta counties—Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett—while leaving elections in the remaining 154 Georgia counties subject to partisan labeling. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston and other metro Atlanta district attorneys announced they would challenge the law in court, contending it is unconstitutional because it applies only to the five specified counties. The legislation was created by State Senator John Albers in the final days of the legislative session and authored by Republican lawmakers, while Democratic officials argued the measure targeted Democratic strongholds.

Kemp signed legislation requiring nonpartisan elections for most local officials in Atlanta's five most populous counties—Fulton, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett—effective in 2028, while county sheriffs will continue to be elected under party labels. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced they would challenge the law's constitutionality. The bill was signed privately on the final day of Georgia's 2026 legislative session available for gubernatorial action.

Kemp vetoed 12 bills from the 2026 Georgia legislative session on May 12, 2026. The vetoed legislation included bills creating a Georgia music office, providing tax credits for historic properties, work opportunities, railroad maintenance, and reforestation, as well as measures concerning fine arts exemptions, Department of Family and Children Services reporting requirements, public retirement fund investments in real estate, gun rights litigation, outdoor recreation sales taxes, and red emergency light permits. Kemp stated that the tax credit vetoes resulted from the General Assembly's failure to account for revenue loss in appropriations, and he cited the Department of Family and Children Services bill as too narrow in scope.

Kemp signed House Bill 328 on Monday, which increases the aggregate cap on tax-credited contributions to private school scholarship organizations from $120 million to $150 million annually. The legislation expands eligibility for scholarships by allowing students from military families and those with intellectual or developmental disabilities to obtain scholarships without requiring enrollment in a low-performing public school. The measure also allows more taxpayers to contribute to these scholarship funds while receiving a full state tax credit for their contributions.

Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 556 on Monday, May 11, 2026, establishing the DREAMS Scholarship, a need-based financial aid program for students from low-income families attending Georgia's public colleges and universities. The program is funded by $325 million allocated in the amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget and will be administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission, which oversees the state's existing HOPE scholarships. Recipients may receive up to $3,000 annually for up to eight semesters, with $25 million made available for scholarships beginning in fall 2026 and the remaining funds designated to establish an endowment for future students.

Governor Kemp signed House Bill 328 into law in May 2026, legislation that includes a provision preventing Cobb County from holding another transit referendum for eight years following the county's failed transit tax vote in November 2024. The bill, authored by Republican state legislators from Cobb and Gwinnett counties, applies an eight-year waiting period to any metro Atlanta county whose transit referendum is rejected by voters. The transit provision was added to HB 328, which primarily expands Georgia's private school scholarship program, after originally being proposed as a standalone bill.

Kemp suspended Georgia's state gas tax approximately two months prior to the article's publication date, reducing the cost per gallon by approximately 33 cents for gasoline and 37 cents for diesel fuel. The suspension was scheduled to expire on May 19, 2026. Kemp had not publicly announced whether he would extend or reinstate the gas tax suspension following its scheduled termination.

On May 11, 2026, Kemp signed House Bill 463, which reduces the state income tax rate from 5.19% to 4.99% immediately and provides for a gradual reduction by an additional percentage point over eight years if state revenues remain strong. The legislation also increases income tax deductions by 50% over eight years, raises dependent deductions by $2,000, waives income tax on the first $1,750 of overtime pay and cash tips retroactive to January 1, and increases excluded retirement income for those 65 and older by $5,000. Kemp simultaneously signed a second measure to decelerate increases in local property tax costs for homeowners.

Senate Bill 33, which would cap annual increases to homestead property tax assessments at the rate of inflation, was passed by the Georgia General Assembly and awaited Kemp's signature as of May 2026. State Rep. Devan Seabaugh expressed support for the legislation, stating it would provide budget predictability for residents experiencing rising costs of living. State Rep. David Wilkerson raised concerns that the bill could negatively impact smaller rural counties and face legal vulnerability, noting that Cobb County's existing homestead exemption would limit the bill's local effect.

Kemp signed ten bills into law to support Georgia's agricultural, forestry, and fishing industries following damage from wildfires, hurricanes, and trade wars. The legislation included House Bill 134, which made the state's Jobs and Investment Tax Credits transferable for forestry manufacturers over five years, and Senate Bill 306, which allowed landowners with Conservation Use Valuation Assessments to participate in carbon credit programs while maintaining their tax incentives. Additional provisions exempted backyard chicken operations from egg candling requirements, required restaurants to disclose the origin of imported shrimp, and clarified prescribed burning exemptions for forest management purposes.

Governor Brian Kemp suspended Georgia's gas tax for 60 days beginning March 20, 2026, with the intention of allowing gas prices to decrease during that period. The suspension was scheduled to end on May 20, 2026, at which point the gas tax would be reinstated and add approximately 30 cents to the price of each gallon of gasoline. As of May 2026, gas prices in Cobb County averaged $4.17 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel, compared to $2.90 per gallon during the same period the previous year.

Kemp signed legislation on Tuesday establishing a "bell-to-bell" ban on personal electronic devices in all Georgia high schools, requiring students to lock up their cellphones from the morning bell until the end of the school day with exceptions for emergencies and students with special needs. The law expands an existing ban previously applied only to students in grades K-8 and will take effect during the 2027-28 school year. Individual school districts will determine the specific methods for storing devices during the school day.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 403 into law, legislation that requires Georgia's Department of Revenue to proactively match tax records with unclaimed property records to return funds to residents. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate before facing brief delay in the House over a provision regarding unclaimed funds that remain unclaimed, ultimately passing with only the automatic payment requirement included. Georgia holds approximately $3.3 billion in unclaimed property, and the law enables the state to send checks to individuals for unclaimed amounts under $500.

Kemp signed House Bill 1193, the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, which places dedicated literacy coaches in schools, expands kindergarten offerings, and establishes a statewide literacy task force to improve early reading skills. Kemp also signed House Bill 1030, the Math Matters Act, which requires a minimum of 60 minutes of daily core math instruction for fourth and fifth grade students and supports advanced math courses beginning in sixth grade. Additionally, Kemp signed House Bill 109, which extends Georgia's personal electronic device ban to high school campuses, building on existing restrictions in K-8 schools with exceptions for students with authorized health or safety needs.

Georgia temporarily suspended its state gas tax, reducing fuel costs by approximately 33 cents per gallon as gasoline prices surged above $4 per gallon in May 2026 due to Middle East conflict. The suspension was set to expire within two weeks unless Kemp extended the moratorium. If the suspension lapsed as scheduled, drivers would face an additional increase in fuel prices later that month.

Kemp prioritized the passage of House Bill 1000, which the Georgia legislature voted unanimously to approve in both chambers during the current fiscal year. The measure provided for one-time tax rebates of $250 for individual filers, $375 for heads of households, and $500 for married couples filing jointly, with an estimated cost of approximately $1.2 billion funded through the amended state budget. The Georgia Department of Revenue began distributing the rebates to eligible taxpayers who filed timely returns for tax years 2024 and 2025 in May 2026.

Governor Brian Kemp suspended Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch on March 17 following Couch's arrest on February 27 for driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of 0.212 percent. The suspension was set to expire on May 17. Couch was arrested again on May 5 in Dawson County for driving on a limited permit in violation of its conditions.

Kemp suspended Georgia's gas tax, a measure set to expire on May 19, 2026, amid rising fuel prices across North Georgia. The suspension has cost the state approximately $180 million in revenue, with projections to exceed $300 million by the end date. Democratic state lawmakers requested that Kemp extend the gas tax suspension, though his office did not indicate whether an extension would be granted.

Kemp suspended the state gas tax for Georgia drivers, reducing the cost of gasoline by approximately 33 cents per gallon and diesel by 37 cents per gallon. The gas tax suspension was scheduled to expire on May 19. The suspension was implemented as gas prices rose nationally, with the national average reaching $4.50 per gallon in May 2026.

Governor Kemp scheduled a special election for July 28 to fill the vacancy in Georgia's 13th Congressional District created by the death of Congressman David Scott. A writ of election was issued to the Secretary of State to begin formal preparations for the summer vote. The specific dates for candidate qualifying and voter registration deadlines for the special election were not immediately released.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which limited the use of race in drawing electoral districts, Kemp announced that Georgia would not redraw its electoral maps before the 2026 elections because voting was already underway. Kemp stated that new electoral maps would be required ahead of the 2028 election cycle and indicated he would consider calling a special legislative session to accomplish the redistricting. The decision came as some Republicans called for immediate redistricting while Democrats and voting rights advocates expressed concerns about the ruling's impact on minority representation.

Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais regarding Congressional district maps, Kemp announced that Georgia's May 19, 2026 primary election would proceed as scheduled because early voting had already begun. Kemp stated that any new electoral maps required by the Supreme Court ruling would need to be implemented for the 2028 election cycle rather than 2026, as it was too late to reconfigure district lines for the current election. Kemp indicated that it remained possible for him to call a legislative session to redraw maps for 2028 before his term ended in January 2027.

Kemp signed legislation suspending Georgia's state gas tax, a measure enacted in response to rising fuel prices across the state. The suspension provided relief to drivers, though gas prices continued to increase due to national and global factors. Georgia's gas prices remained approximately 60 cents below the national average despite the upward trend.

Kemp issued an executive order permitting the body of U.S. Representative David Scott to lie in state at the Georgia State Capitol rotunda. Scott, who represented Georgia's 13th Congressional District since 2003, died on April 22 at the age of 80. The tribute service and public viewing took place at the Capitol rotunda on Friday and Saturday, with Scott's homegoing service scheduled for the following week at Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that modified protections under the Voting Rights Act, Kemp announced his intention to redraw Georgia's congressional and legislative districts before the 2028 election cycle. Kemp stated that the redistricting would be conducted through a special legislative session and indicated that the new maps should reflect voter preferences without consideration of race as a factor. The governor determined that implementing new district lines for the 2026 elections was not feasible but that adoption of revised maps prior to 2028 was necessary in response to the Supreme Court decision.

On May 1, 2026, Governor Kemp signed an executive order scheduling a special election to fill the U.S. House vacancy created by the death of Representative David Scott. The election was set for July 28, 2026, to fill the seat representing Georgia's 13th Congressional District. Scott's name remained on the ballot as scheduled, though votes cast for him would not be counted in the final tally according to the Secretary of State's Office.

Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Louisiana's congressional map, state Senator Greg Dolezal called on Governor Brian Kemp to convene a special legislative session to redraw Georgia's congressional districts ahead of midterm elections. Kemp did not immediately announce a decision regarding whether to call such a session. The redistricting debate divided state officials, with Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones stating support for redrawing maps in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling while other officials cautioned about potential consequences.

Kemp signed off on tax rebate payments in March that the Georgia Department of Revenue began distributing in May to eligible state residents. The $1.2 billion distribution, drawn from a $14 billion state surplus, provided payments of $250 to single filers, $375 to heads of households, and $500 to married couples filing jointly. This marked the fourth consecutive year the state returned excess revenue to taxpayers through either direct deposit or mail.

Kemp signed an executive order authorizing Congressman David Scott's body to lie in state in the Georgia State Capitol Rotunda on Friday, May 1, following Scott's death the previous week. The executive order designated the memorial as a mark of respect for Scott's five decades of public service in both the Georgia General Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives. Scott represented Georgia's 13th Congressional District and served more than 50 years in state and federal elected office.

Kemp signed legislation in March 2026 authorizing one-time state income tax rebates for Georgia residents. The rebates ranged from $250 for single filers to $500 for married couples filing jointly, with payments distributed in early May to taxpayers who had filed state returns in both 2024 and 2025. The measure provided tax relief across the state through the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Kemp issued a state of emergency declaration in response to multiple wildfires burning across South Georgia, including the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch County which had expanded to nearly 30,000 acres with minimal containment as of April 23, 2026. The declaration accompanied implementation of widespread burn bans across dozens of counties and coordinated firefighting efforts involving more than 20 fire departments, Georgia Forestry Commission resources, and federal support. FEMA subsequently authorized federal funds to reimburse the state's costs in fighting the Pineland Road Fire and the Brantley County Fire.

Governor Kemp issued an executive order on April 22, 2026, declaring a state of emergency for 91 Georgia counties threatened by wildfires, effective for one month and authorizing state resources to assist affected communities. The executive order invokes the Price Gouging Statute, prohibiting artificial price increases on goods and services necessary for wildfire preparation, response, and recovery activities, including fuel and petroleum products, with permitted price increases limited to those reflecting actual cost increases plus the retailer's average markup from the ten days prior to the declaration. The state attorney general's office simultaneously issued guidance warning Georgia residents against fraud schemes related to disaster recovery, including contractor scams and charitable solicitations.

Kemp issued a state of emergency declaration for 91 counties in Georgia affected by wildfires in April 2026. The Georgia Forestry Commission, working with Kemp's office, simultaneously issued the state's first mandatory burn ban in history, covering 91 counties in the lower half of the state and remaining in effect for at least 30 days. The actions were taken in response to worsening drought conditions and rising wildfire activity that destroyed dozens of homes and buildings across southeast Georgia and northeast Florida.

Kemp received Senate Bill 547, legislation that reclassifies the sex trafficking crimes of pimping and pandering from misdemeanors to felonies in Georgia. The bill was drafted with input from students at The Forest School in Fayetteville and passed both houses of the General Assembly nearly unanimously. The measure awaited Kemp's signature as of April 2026.

Kemp discussed Georgia's election law that prohibits the use of QR codes to count votes, a requirement that takes effect July 1 but for which the legislature did not appropriate funding. Kemp stated that his policy team and legal advisors were reviewing whether to call a special legislative session to address the compliance issue. Kemp also indicated he was considering whether to sign or veto a separate bill that would make elections in five core metro Atlanta counties non-partisan, stating he would make a decision by mid-May.

Kemp announced that Prime, Inc., a transportation company, would invest more than $160 million to establish a new Southeastern regional hub in Spalding County, Georgia. The facility is expected to create 120 new full-time jobs, including positions for over 50 professional drivers in refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, hopper, intermodal, and logistics transportation services. Kemp stated that the project would contribute to Georgia's $107 billion transportation and logistics industry.

House Bill 369 would move local nonpartisan races in five metro Atlanta counties—Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton—from November general elections to May primaries. A coalition of Georgia civil rights and business leaders called on Governor Kemp to veto the legislation, arguing the change would reduce voter turnout in races for District Attorney, County Commission, and other local offices. Kemp's office stated he was reviewing the bill and would provide an update upon completion of that review.

Senate Bill 33, approved by the Georgia Legislature, awaits Governor Kemp's signature and would cap annual increases to the taxable value of homes at the rate of inflation or 3 percent. Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris stated that the bill could reduce revenue directed to the county's fire fund, which currently receives funding from property tax increases as properties gain value. McMorris indicated that if Kemp signs the legislation, Cobb County would explore alternative revenue sources such as voter-approved sales taxes to address potential funding shortfalls.

Governor Brian Kemp appointed Marietta attorney Tyler Browning to the Superior Court of Cobb County in April 2026, filling the seat vacated by Judge Gregory Poole's retirement in January. Browning, a graduate of Georgia State University College of Law, has practiced law in Cobb County since 2000, including prior experience as a staff attorney to a Cobb County Superior Court judge and as an assistant solicitor general. The Superior Court of Cobb County consists of 11 judges elected to four-year terms who preside over jury trials, rule on evidence, hear motions, and render verdicts in bench trials.

Governor Kemp issued an amended state budget that provided bonuses to employees covered under the Quality Basic Education Act, primarily teachers. The budget did not include funding for support staff such as bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers. In response, several metro Atlanta school districts including Atlanta Public Schools, Marietta City Schools, and Clayton County Public Schools approved their own local bonuses ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 to ensure these excluded employees received recognition.

Senate Bill 406 passed the Georgia General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support and awaited Governor Kemp's signature to become law. The legislation would establish new restrictions on homeowners' associations' authority to foreclose on residents' properties, including requiring annual registration with the Georgia Secretary of State, doubling the debt threshold for liens to $4,000, and mandating a hearing process overseen by the Secretary of State for disputes. The bill would also require associations to maintain publicly accessible financial records and limit the types of debt that could trigger property liens.

Georgia lawmakers passed House Bill 350, legislation that expands the state's existing Safe Haven law by authorizing the installation of medical-grade "baby safe haven boxes" at fire stations, police stations, and hospitals where infants can be surrendered anonymously. The boxes are equipped with security cameras and an automated system that triggers a 911 call once a child is placed inside, after which emergency responders transport the infant to a hospital and into the custody of the Department of Family and Children Services. The bill has been sent to Governor Kemp's desk for signature, with local communities responsible for fundraising to cover installation costs rather than local governments bearing the expense.

The Georgia Legislature passed legislation reducing the state income tax rate and increasing deductions, with a married couple earning approximately $100,000 annually expected to save around $500 in taxes in the following year, with greater savings anticipated in subsequent years. The bill requires Kemp's signature to become law. The legislation did not include a 3% cap on property tax increases, though it did establish a cap on how much counties can assess property values.

The Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 1187, known as Trey's Law, which prohibits nondisclosure agreements in civil settlements involving childhood sexual abuse from being enforced. Governor Kemp indicated during his State of the State address that the legislation aligned with priorities of First Lady Marty Kemp and the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education Commission. The bill advances to Kemp for signature following unanimous Senate approval.

The Georgia General Assembly sent Governor Kemp House Bill 506, the "Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act," on the final day of the 2026 legislative session. The legislation would cap insurance costs for ambulance rides requested by first responders, with charges indexed to a multiple of Medicare rates, and would require ambulance companies to bill insurance directly rather than patients. The bill is set to take effect January 1 if Kemp signs it into law.

Kemp signed House Bill 973 on March 3, 2026, legislation that provided a one-time $2,000 supplement for eligible K-12 teachers and school support staff across Georgia. The bill established a framework for the state-funded bonuses to specific employee classifications in public school districts. Atlanta Public Schools subsequently expanded the scope of the payments using district resources to include all employee classifications beyond those eligible under the state's original framework.

Georgia lawmakers completed the 2026 legislative session and sent multiple bills to Governor Kemp for approval, including a $38.5 billion state budget that provides cost-of-living increases for state retirees and establishes a new summer food voucher program for students. The legislature also passed tax relief measures comprising an accelerated state income tax cut to 4.99% with a sliding scale provision intended to reduce the rate further to 3.99% over time, and a property tax compromise capping assessment increases at 3% or the rate of inflation. Additional bills headed to Kemp's desk include exemptions for tips and overtime earnings from state income taxes, a new scholarship program for low-income college students, and transit oversight reforms across Georgia.

Kemp attended his eighth and final sine die address to the Georgia General Assembly on April 2, 2026, as lawmakers completed negotiations on the state's $38.5 billion budget in the final minutes of the legislative session. The budget agreement came after weeks of negotiations between House and Senate lawmakers over various provisions. Kemp has the authority to call a special legislative session if needed to address outstanding matters, including potential funding for election-related mandates before the July 1 deadline.

Senate Bill 220, passed by the Georgia legislature, lifted the current 5% THC limit on medical marijuana products and authorized the sale of marijuana vapes and leaf marijuana for vaporization at home. A group of medical professionals, including psychiatrists and internal medicine physicians, sent a letter to Kemp requesting that he veto the legislation, citing concerns about increased risks of psychosis, addiction, and cognitive impairment. The bill awaited Kemp's signature as the General Assembly concluded its session.

The Georgia House passed House Bill 1112 on April 2, 2026, which establishes rounding rules for in-person cash transactions to the nearest nickel, with the House voting 163-4 in favor. The bill rounds transactions ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 down to the nearest nickel, rounds transactions ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9 up to the nearest nickel, and leaves transactions ending in 0 or 5 unchanged. The legislation was sent to Governor Kemp for his approval or veto.

Governor Kemp received a letter from medical professionals including Dr. Karen Drexler and Dr. Elizabeth McCord urging him to veto Senate Bill 220, which passed the Georgia legislature and would lift THC potency limits, allow new forms such as vaping, and shift toward dosage-based regulation for registered medical marijuana patients. The healthcare professionals expressed concerns that the bill removes key safeguards and would increase risks of psychosis, addiction, seizures, heart attacks, and cognitive impairment. Bill sponsor state Rep. Mark Newton, also a physician, countered that the legislation strengthens doctor oversight, emphasizes precise dosing, and maintains controlled substance standards.

On March 20, 2026, Kemp signed legislation to suspend Georgia's gas tax for 60 days, reducing the state's fuel tax from a range of 33 to 37 cents per gallon depending on fuel type. The suspension was projected to cost the state approximately $360 to $400 million in revenue designated for transportation projects, though state officials indicated the state's budget surplus would cover the costs without impacting planned infrastructure work. As of eleven days after the suspension took effect, Georgia gas prices had declined an average of 16 cents per gallon while the national average continued to rise, resulting in Georgia prices 40 cents lower than the national average.

An anti-sex trafficking bill drafted by eleven high school students from Forest School in Fayette County passed both chambers of the Georgia legislature with support from State Senators Brian Strickland and Matt Brass. The legislation now awaits Governor Kemp's signature to become law. The students developed the bill following a classroom lesson on human trafficking and subsequently lobbied state lawmakers at the Capitol to advance the measure.

Kemp signed legislation implementing a 60-day suspension of Georgia's state gas tax, which amounted to 33 cents per gallon in tax relief. The suspension was set to expire on May 19, 2026, after which gas prices in the state were expected to approach the national average. Attorney General Chris Carr's office began investigating gas stations that failed to pass the tax savings on to consumers, with more than two dozen complaints received within the first twelve days of the suspension.

The Georgia House passed legislation that would convert most county offices in five metro Atlanta counties—Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Clayton—into non-partisan seats, affecting positions including county commissioners, district attorneys, solicitors, and tax commissioners. County officials and state lawmakers urged Governor Kemp to veto the bill, arguing that applying the change only to these five counties rather than all 159 Georgia counties violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution. Kemp's office stated the bill would receive thorough review before any decision was made, while several district attorneys indicated they would challenge the legislation in court if signed.

The Georgia House and Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 587 during the 2026 legislative session, which would create a publicly searchable database of individuals convicted of animal abuse, child abuse, or elder abuse in Georgia. The database would be maintained by the Prosecuting Attorneys Council, updated at least monthly, and made freely available to the public to assist animal shelters and services departments in screening potential animal owners. The bill awaited approval by Governor Kemp.

Senate Bill 406, the Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act, passed the Georgia House with a vote of 155-10 and was sent to Governor Kemp's desk for consideration. The bill limits homeowners association powers to seize property or foreclose homes for unpaid assessments, requires HOAs to register annually with the Secretary of State's Office and submit financial statements, and establishes that the Secretary of State's office would hear complaints between HOAs and homeowners rather than routing such disputes through court proceedings. If Kemp signs the legislation, it would take effect in 2027.

The Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 552, the "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act," which prohibits public schools from denying student groups access to school facilities based on political or ideological content while preserving schools' ability to restrict conduct that disrupts education or infringes on other students' rights. The bill, named to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk, passed the Republican-controlled House 95-68 and the Senate 42-7 despite Democratic opposition. The legislation now awaits Governor Kemp's signature.

In March 2026, Kemp approved a one-time $2,000 bonus for certified educators and select support staff to be paid from the state's amended fiscal 2026 budget. The Marietta Board of Education subsequently voted unanimously to extend bonuses to all eligible employees not originally included in Kemp's state-funded bonus program, allocating an additional $945,000 in district funding to ensure full-time employees received $2,000 and qualified part-time employees received $1,000. The district had received approximately $1.8 million from the state under Kemp's program and used supplemental local funding to reach employees such as custodians, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and cafeteria staff.

House Bill 369, a controversial election bill that would mandate nonpartisan elections for local offices in five Georgia counties—Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Clayton—reached Governor Kemp's desk following passage through the Georgia State Capitol. The bill would change how residents in these counties elect district attorneys, solicitor generals, county commissioners, and tax commissioners beginning in the 2028 election cycle by removing partisan labels from these races. Local leaders from the affected counties and Democratic state lawmakers have called on Kemp to veto the measure, arguing that applying nonpartisan election requirements to only five counties rather than all 159 counties in Georgia raises constitutional concerns.

Kemp received House Bill 1213, legislation that would grant the city of Mableton authority to use redevelopment powers to address underdeveloped areas within city limits. The bill, which passed both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly unanimously, would enable Mableton to create tax allocation districts and issue tax allocation bonds if authorized by voters in a November referendum. Upon Kemp's signature, the Mableton City Council would be permitted to call for a referendum allowing citizens to determine whether the city should exercise these redevelopment powers.

The Georgia legislature unanimously passed Senate Bill 542, the Georgia Clergy Sexual Abuse Bill, which adds clergy members to the state's list of authority figures subject to criminal prosecution for sexual misconduct. The legislation closes a legal gap in Georgia's criminal code by subjecting religious leaders to the same criminal standards previously applied to teachers, coaches, and other professionals in positions of trust. The bill now awaits action by Governor Kemp.

House Bill 369, which would make local elections in Cobb County nonpartisan by removing party affiliation from ballots for offices including the Board of Education, Board of Commissioners, and district attorney, passed both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly and was sent to Kemp's desk in March 2026. The bill applies to five consolidated law enforcement counties: Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Clayton. The House passed the measure 93-64, with Cobb's nine Democratic representatives and two Republican representatives voting against it.

The Georgia Senate passed legislation that would make most county elections nonpartisan in five core metro Atlanta counties: Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and most of DeKalb, while leaving the other 154 counties in the state unchanged. The bill, which covers offices including county commission and district attorney, was sent to Governor Kemp's desk for consideration. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced she would pursue legal action if Kemp signed the legislation, characterizing it as unconstitutional.

The Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 433, known as "Rio's Law," which creates a specialty license plate for people with autism or developmental disabilities to alert law enforcement during traffic stops. The legislation also requires police training in effective communication and alternatives to handcuffs when interacting with individuals with autism. The bill was sent to Governor Kemp for his signature.

Georgia lawmakers passed House Bill 1112, which would require Georgia businesses to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel, with transactions ending in one, two, six or seven cents rounded down and those ending in three, four, eight or nine cents rounded up. The Georgia House approved the bill on March 6 and the Georgia Senate approved it on March 26. The legislation now awaits Governor Kemp's signature.

Governor Kemp signed state legislation in May that created the Vince Dooley Battlefield Trust Fund, which provides funding for park preservation efforts in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources received an American Battlefield Protection Program Grant of more than $550,000 to protect approximately 2.63 acres at Kennesaw Mountain Park in Cobb County, a site of the June 27, 1864 Civil War battle. The combined state and federal funding will support the preservation of the historic battlefield land.

Georgia lawmakers introduced the "Georgia Sunshine Protection Act," which would require Governor Brian Kemp to formally request that the U.S. transportation secretary move Georgia into the Atlantic Time Zone, effectively establishing year-round daylight saving time in the state. The proposed legislation would eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes currently observed in Georgia. Any time zone change would require federal authorization before taking effect.

The Georgia Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1009, which would ban personal cellphones in Georgia public high schools beginning in the 2027-28 school year, sending the measure to Governor Kemp's desk for signature. The bill would extend an existing prohibition on personal devices that currently applies only to kindergarten through eighth grade schools. If Kemp signs HB 1009 into law, Georgia high schools would join other states in implementing comprehensive device bans in secondary education.

The Georgia General Assembly approved Senate Bill 220, which removes the THC content limit in Georgia's medical marijuana program and permits registered patients to vape medical cannabis. The bill passed the House 144-21 and the Senate 38-14, advancing to Governor Kemp for consideration. The legislation changes the product designation from "Low THC Oil" to "medical cannabis" and allows patients access to higher-potency formulations than the previous 5 percent THC limit.

Kemp signed legislation to suspend Georgia's state gas tax for 60 days, a measure expected to reduce prices by approximately 33 cents per gallon for regular fuel and 37 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. The suspension took effect on Friday, with gas prices in Georgia averaging $3.66 per gallon as of the following Monday, down from $3.79 on the day the bill was signed. Kemp stated that retailers with higher turnover would see price reductions sooner as they cycled through their fuel supplies.

The Georgia Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1009, legislation that would prohibit student access to cellphones during instructional time in public high schools, from the first bell of the day to the last. The bill was sent to Governor Kemp's desk following the Senate vote. The legislation has generated debate, with supporters citing improved classroom focus and student mental health outcomes, while opponents raised concerns about emergency communication capabilities during school crises.

Governor Kemp signed legislation five years prior that sought to move Georgia to Atlantic Standard Time and eliminate the practice of changing clocks for Daylight Saving Time, pending congressional approval. The Georgia Sunshine Protection Act passed the state Senate in 2026 with a 45-5 vote and would request that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation place Georgia in Atlantic Standard Time, exempting the state from the annual clock advancement. The bill requires federal authorization before Georgia can implement the permanent time change.

The Georgia House passed Senate Bill 443 on a 96-69 vote, which increases penalties for protesters who block streets by making the offense a high and aggravated misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $5,000 and one year in jail, and allows civil liability for damages. The bill was sent to Governor Kemp's desk after previously passing the state Senate. The legislation also permits protesters to be held civilly liable in court for damages including lost wages and medical costs incurred by those blocked from passage.

The Georgia state Senate passed House Bill 946 and sent it to Governor Kemp for his signature in March 2026. The legislation authorizes the use of drones to locate feral hogs on private property and permits individuals to capture and kill hogs without a hunting or trapping license. The bill was accompanied by budget allocations of $400,000 for a feral hog eradication incentive program and $500,000 for a state management program to address agricultural damage caused by the animals.

Kemp signed House Bill 1199, which suspends Georgia's state gas tax for 60 days in response to rising gas prices. Kemp also signed House Bill 1000, which approved approximately $1.2 billion in tax rebates as part of the state budget. The gas tax suspension took effect immediately following the signing ceremony on Friday morning, with the tax rebates expected to be distributed within six to eight weeks or longer.

Kemp signed Georgia House Bill 1199 on March 20, 2026, which suspended the state motor fuel excise tax for 60 days, eliminating the 33-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and 37-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel fuel. Kemp also signed House Bill 1000, which provided one-time income tax rebates of $250 for individual filers, $375 for heads of household, and $500 for married couples filing jointly. The fuel tax suspension, estimated to cost the state treasury $400 million, was the fourth such suspension during Kemp's tenure and was implemented amid rising gas prices.

Kemp signed legislation on March 20, 2026, suspending Georgia's state gas tax for 60 days in response to rising fuel prices resulting from geopolitical tensions involving Iran. The suspension removes approximately 33 cents per gallon from regular fuel and 37 cents per gallon from diesel. Kemp also signed a separate bill providing one-time income tax rebates of up to $500 for eligible taxpayers, with the combined measures delivering approximately $1.2 billion in tax relief.

Kemp signed a 60-day gas tax suspension on Friday that removes the state's 33-cent excise tax on gasoline and 37-cent tax on diesel fuel. The suspension was expected to reduce gas prices at the pump by approximately 33 cents per gallon, with price reductions appearing on retailer billboards as new fuel shipments arrived over the following days and weeks. The measure received bipartisan support in the legislature and represented the state's primary mechanism for directly affecting gas prices within its jurisdiction.

The Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 1199, a 60-day suspension of the state gasoline excise tax, and sent it to Governor Kemp for consideration. The suspension would reduce the cost of gasoline by approximately 33 cents per gallon and diesel by 37 cents per gallon, with an estimated cost to the state treasury of $200 million per month. The measure was enacted in response to increased fuel prices following geopolitical events affecting energy markets.

The Georgia Senate passed a gas tax suspension measure that was sent to Governor Kemp's desk in March 2026. If signed, the suspension would last for 60 days and reduce the state gas tax of approximately 33 cents per gallon of unleaded gasoline. Kemp had previously suspended the gas tax through executive orders on at least three occasions, including a suspension from March 2022 to January 2023 and shorter suspensions in 2023 and 2024.

Governor Kemp announced on March 18, 2026, that Glytec, a healthcare technology company specializing in diabetes management and insulin dosing software, would relocate its global headquarters to Cumberland in Cobb County from Boston. The relocation includes plans to add 500 new jobs to the county over the coming years. Kemp stated that the move demonstrates Georgia's appeal to healthcare technology companies based on its workforce and business environment.

Governor Kemp launched an investigation into Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch on March 6 by appointing a three-member committee consisting of Attorney General Christopher Carr, Greene County Sheriff Donnie Harrison, and Glascock County Sheriff Jeremy Kelley to review the case. The investigation followed Couch's placement on leave after he was found operating a county-issued vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.212 percent on February 27. Major Chris Matthews was subsequently appointed interim sheriff to serve during Couch's 60-day suspension.

Kemp issued an executive order on March 17, 2026, suspending Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch from duty for 60 days, effective immediately. The suspension followed an investigation by a committee composed of two sheriffs and the Georgia Attorney General, conducted pursuant to state statutory requirements after Couch's arrest on February 27 on charges of driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane, and open container violations. The investigative committee recommended the 60-day suspension, which Kemp's executive order implemented.

Kemp issued an executive order on March 17, 2026, suspending Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch for 60 days following Couch's arrest on February 27 for driving under the influence, failure to maintain a lane, and possession of an open container. Couch's blood alcohol level was measured at 0.212%, exceeding Georgia's legal limit of 0.08%. Kemp's office had appointed a three-member committee consisting of Attorney General Christopher Carr and two county sheriffs to investigate the matter after a request from the Georgia Sheriffs' Association.

The Georgia House approved an amendment to House Bill 1199 to temporarily suspend the state gas tax for 60 days in response to rising fuel prices driven by global market instability. The measure, which would be offset using state surplus funds, advanced to the Georgia Senate for consideration. If approved by the Senate, the legislation would proceed to Governor Kemp for signature.

Kemp was expected to sign legislation authorizing one-time state income tax rebates for Georgia taxpayers. The rebates would distribute $250 to single filers, $375 to heads of household, and $500 to married couples filing jointly, with eligibility requiring filed state income tax returns in both 2024 and 2025. The Georgia Department of Revenue would distribute the payments by direct deposit or mailed checks as part of an effort to return state surplus funds to residents.

Kemp proposed tax rebates worth $250 to individuals and $500 to married couples, which the Georgia General Assembly approved unanimously in March 2026. The state Senate voted 53-0 to approve House Bill 1000 after the House passed it 172-0, with the rebates funded by the state's $14 billion surplus at a cost of nearly $1.1 billion. Kemp indicated he would sign the legislation into law, making this the fourth tax rebate distribution in five years for eligible Georgia taxpayers.

Governor Kemp appeared at the Georgia State Capitol alongside U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to acknowledge the arrival of $530 million in federal block grant funding for Georgia farmers and growers recovering from Hurricane Helene's September 2024 impact. Kemp stated that Georgia's agricultural community had faced challenging conditions including damage from the destructive storm and economic headwinds beyond their control. The governor emphasized that the relief funding represents a necessary step for the recovery of the state's agricultural industry, with Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announcing that applications would open the following Monday.

Kemp announced that he would continue monitoring rising fuel costs linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict but decided against suspending Georgia's state gas tax at that time. The Governor stated he would observe market conditions for additional days before making a determination on the gas tax suspension. Kemp's decision came as the Georgia House approved a $38.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 that included investments in early literacy and student health programs.

In response to rising gas prices following increased Middle East tensions, Georgia State Sen. Nikki Merritt called on Gov. Kemp to suspend the state's gas tax to provide relief to Georgia families. Kemp stated he was taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding whether to suspend the tax, noting that the state had used such suspensions strategically in the past but preferred not to overreact to potentially short-term price fluctuations. The governor cited recent volatility in oil prices and expressed confidence in current U.S. energy policies.

Governor Brian Kemp appointed Attorney General Chris Carr, Greene County Sheriff Donnie Harrison, and Glasscock Sheriff Jeremy Kelley to a committee to investigate Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch following Couch's DUI arrest. The committee was tasked with examining dispatch communications and interviewing individuals involved in the incident that led to the DUI charge. The committee had 30 days to make a recommendation to Kemp regarding potential suspension or removal proceedings for Couch.

Governor Kemp issued an executive order appointing a committee to investigate Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch following Couch's arrest on charges of driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane, and possession of an open container of alcohol on February 27, 2026. The committee, composed of Attorney General Christopher Carr and Sheriffs Donnie Harrison and Jeremy Kelley, was ordered to submit a report to the governor within 30 days. The appointment followed a request from the Georgia Sheriffs' Association.

The Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 423 on March 6, 2026, which prohibits candidates from raising more than half of their campaign funds from outside the state. The bill passed on a 33-21 vote with Republican support and was sent to the state House. If enacted and signed by Governor Kemp, violations would be prosecuted as felonies carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Kemp signed Georgia's amended fiscal year budget on Tuesday at the Georgia State Capitol, with the signing ceremony attended by state leaders including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and House Speaker Jon Burns. The budget allocates $2 billion in income and property tax relief, makes transportation investments, and provides one-time bonuses for teachers, university employees, and state workers. The signing concluded weeks of negotiations over the fiscal year budget under the Gold Dome.

Kemp signed the 2026 Georgia amended state budget passed by the Georgia General Assembly, holding a signing ceremony at the State Capitol on March 3, 2026. The budget includes $1.2 billion in tax rebates distributed as $250 for single tax filers and $500 for married couples meeting eligibility requirements, along with $850 million in property tax relief through the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program. The budget also allocates $2 billion for transportation initiatives, $409 million for a new mental health hospital, and $366 million in bonuses for public school employees and state employees.

The Georgia General Assembly passed an amended state budget for the 2026 fiscal year that includes a $1.2 billion income tax rebate program providing $250 for single tax filers and $500 for married couples, as well as $850 million for the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program expected to provide approximately $500 in property tax relief to homeowners. The budget also encompasses $366 million in school staff bonuses, $2 billion in transportation initiatives, and $150 million for correctional bed capacity expansion, among other expenditures. The legislation was transmitted to Governor Kemp's desk for signature following his prior advocacy for tax relief measures in his State of the State address.

Governor Kemp introduced House Bill 1001, which the Georgia House of Representatives passed on a mostly party-line vote in February 2026, reducing the state income tax rate from 5.19% to 4.99% retroactive to the beginning of that year. The measure accelerates previously enacted rate reductions by removing revenue thresholds that had been required before the reductions could take effect. The bill proceeded to the state Senate for consideration after passing the House 106-66.

The Georgia Senate adopted a mid-year budget of $42.3 billion for fiscal year through June that retained Kemp's $1.2 billion taxpayer rebate while adding an $850 million property tax grant for homeowners. The Senate reduced Kemp's proposed $2,000 one-time pay supplement for state employees to $1,250 and cut his proposed $325 million Georgia DREAMS scholarship endowment to $100 million. The Senate reallocated funds toward other priorities, including $409 million for construction of a regional hospital for the mentally ill and $15 million to the Department of Veterans Service.

Kemp signed House Bill 1105 into law in 2024, legislation that permits Georgia law enforcement officers to arrest individuals suspected of violating immigration laws. The Marietta Police Department stated it entered into a task force agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to comply with the law and avoid losing state and federal funding. The department assigned one officer to carry out the agreement alongside regular duties, with no immigration-related arrests reported as of the agreement's implementation in the prior month.

Governor Kemp identified House Bill 1187, known as Trey's Law, as a priority initiative during his State of the State address, noting its alignment with the work of First Lady Marty Kemp and the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education Commission. The bill would prohibit nondisclosure agreements from being enforced as conditions of settling lawsuits involving childhood sexual abuse claims while maintaining confidentiality of victim identifying information. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the measure in February 2026, with the bill poised to advance to a full House vote.

In January 2026, Kemp announced a new national education tax-credit partnership between Georgia and the IRS at North Cobb Christian School. The tax credit, which will be managed through Georgia GOAL, is scheduled to take effect in January 2027. The announcement was attended by first lady Marty Kemp, state leaders, education stakeholders, and students from the school.

Kemp expressed support for a bill that passed unanimously in the Georgia State Senate to modify the state's unclaimed property system by requiring the Department of Revenue to proactively match tax records with unclaimed property records and automatically send checks to residents for unclaimed properties under $500. The legislation would streamline the process of returning unclaimed funds to property owners without requiring them to file individual requests or conduct searches themselves. The bill also includes a provision allowing the state to retain unclaimed funds after 25 years, or after 5 years for amounts under $10, pending House passage.

Kemp issued an executive order directing flags at the State Capitol and county buildings to be lowered to half-staff on Saturday, the day of the memorial service for Gwinnett County Officer Pradeep Tamang. Tamang died in the line of duty on Sunday after being shot by a suspect during a response to a fraud case at a Holiday Inn Express, along with Officer David Reed who was also injured. The memorial service was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, followed by a procession to a funeral home.

Kemp proposed a fourth year of tax rebates during his State of the State address, which would have provided $250 to single tax filers and $500 to married couples from the state's $1.2 billion surplus. The Georgia House of Representatives voted to approve House Bill 973, which amended the governor's state budget by removing the proposed tax rebates. The House instead recommended directing the surplus funds toward the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program and property tax reform, though the Senate retained the option to add the rebates back into the budget during its legislative review.

Georgia state Representative David Clark introduced House Bill 1154 in the state House of Representatives on Monday, which would add the death penalty as a potential sentence for those convicted of human trafficking, including trafficking for sexual servitude or forced labor. The bill entered the legislative review process with the potential to advance to a floor vote in the chamber. If the bill passes both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly and receives approval from Governor Kemp, it would become effective for all relevant offenses committed on or after July 1, with a stipulation that it would not apply retroactively to crimes committed or prosecuted before the effective date.

Kemp proposed a $47 million increase in state funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program administrative costs in response to new federal rules that shift more than 75% of SNAP's administrative expenses to states beginning in 2026 under the "One Big, Beautiful Bill." Civil rights and advocacy organizations called for lawmakers to approve $58 million instead, citing Georgia's $14.6 billion budget surplus and the risk that insufficient funding could reduce food assistance available to families. The Department of Human Services estimated the state would need at least $50 million to cover administrative costs under the new federal requirements.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced in February 2026 that his office filed an immediate appeal of a Fulton County judge's December dismissal of Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act charges against 61 defendants accused of domestic terrorism related to protests of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. Carr stated his office intends to continue full prosecution of those previously indicted under the RICO Act, though the judge upheld domestic terrorism charges against five of the defendants. The defendants were charged with conspiracy to prevent the facility's construction through coordinated acts of violence, intimidation, and property destruction across Georgia.

Kemp suspended Rep. Sharon Henderson from office pending the outcome of her federal case or the end of her term following her December indictment on charges of making false statements to obtain $17,811 in unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled. Henderson was one of three Georgia state representatives charged with fraudulently obtaining pandemic unemployment assistance through false certifications filed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension remained in effect while Henderson's case proceeded in federal court.

An 11th Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld provisions of Georgia's 2021 Election Integrity Act, including language allowing state takeovers of county election management and prohibiting ballot photography in polling places. Kemp was named as a defendant in the case, though the court ruled on standing rather than the merits of the challenged provisions. The decision affirmed the State Election Board's authority to assume control of underperforming county election boards and sustained the photography ban during active voting.

Governor Brian Kemp ordered the suspension of State Representative Sharon Henderson, D-Covington, after a review committee determined that her federal indictment on charges of theft of government funds and making false statements relating to pandemic unemployment benefits "does relate to and adversely affect" her duties as a lawmaker. Kemp signed the suspension order on Thursday, effective until Henderson's term ends or her case is closed. The suspension was issued following the constitutional requirement that Kemp assemble a review committee, which included Attorney General Chris Carr, Representative Jan Jones, and Senator Harold Jones II.

Governor Kemp issued a public warning regarding an approaching winter storm, stating that even small accumulations of ice could make roads impassable and bring down power lines and trees. Kemp urged residents to use the time before the storm to stock up on food, batteries, and gas in preparation for potential extended outages. The warning was issued as Georgia Power mobilized crews statewide to respond to anticipated widespread power disruptions from the forecasted snow, sleet, and ice.

Kemp opted Georgia into a new federal education tax credit program that allows taxpayers to receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits of up to $1,700 for donations to state-approved nonprofit organizations. Those nonprofits distribute the funds as scholarships to students from households earning no more than 300% of their county's median income, with scholarship funds usable for private school tuition, tutoring services, and school supplies. Kemp announced the program during a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol, with the program scheduled to launch in January.

Kemp signed the necessary Internal Revenue Service form to opt Georgia into a federal tax credit program established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which provides federal taxpayers up to $1,700 in tax credits for contributions to authorized K-12 scholarship-granting organizations. The action enables Georgia residents and businesses to receive federal tax credits when donating to private school scholarship funds, with eligibility limited to families earning under 300 percent of area median income. The federal program operates alongside Georgia's existing state tax credit program, which allows individuals up to $2,500 in state tax credits annually for similar scholarship contributions.

Kemp appointed Kimberly McCoy to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, filling the unexpired term left vacant when Margaret Heap departed the board in August 2025 to become U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. McCoy, a victim advocacy professional in Cobb County, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Brenau University and a master's degree in public administration from Kennesaw State University. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles is constitutionally authorized to grant paroles, pardons, reprieves, remissions, and commutations to incarcerated individuals and has the authority to commute death sentences.

The Georgia state Senate introduced Senate Bill 382, which would require all school systems to limit property tax increases to the inflation rate by removing their ability to opt out of an existing cap on assessed property values. Currently, approximately 71% of Georgia's 180 school systems have chosen to reject the cap under existing state law, but the bill would eliminate this option for school systems as well as city and county governments. The legislation would reduce property tax increases for homeowners but would also decrease funding available to school systems for educational expenses.

During his 2026 State of the State address, Kemp proposed a $1 billion tax rebate providing $250 for individual filers and up to $500 for married couples filing jointly, along with calling for further permanent cuts to the state's personal and corporate income tax rates. Kemp also proposed a one-time $2,000 pay supplement for all state employees, educators, and public safety officers. Additionally, Kemp announced a $325 million investment to establish the DREAMS Scholarship, described as Georgia's first need-based financial aid program for students.

Kemp proposed a state budget that would allocate $1 billion in tax relief to Georgia taxpayers through individual rebates averaging $250 and a reduction of the state income tax rate by one-fifth of a percentage point to 4.99%. The budget proposal also allocated funds for infrastructure improvements, employee pay supplements, retirement benefits, and needs-based scholarships for higher education while maintaining $10 billion in state reserves. Kemp announced the budget proposal during his eighth and final state of the state address to the Georgia General Assembly in January 2026.

During his eighth and final State of the State address in January 2026, Kemp announced a proposal to distribute $1 billion in tax rebates to Georgia taxpayers, with amounts of $250 for single filers and $500 for joint filers. Kemp also proposed accelerating the reduction of the state income tax rate to below 5 percent and allocating funds for a one-time $2,000 bonus to all state employees, including teachers and law enforcement officers. Additionally, Kemp announced the creation of Georgia's first needs-based scholarship program.

Kemp announced a transportation infrastructure investment plan totaling more than $2 billion during his final year as governor, which he presented at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's annual Eggs and Issues event on January 14, 2026. The plan includes $1.8 billion for dedicated express lanes on Interstate 75 in Henry County and $200 million to convert Georgia 316 from Athens to Gwinnett County into an expressway, along with $250 million for local road projects and $100 million for rural bridge improvements. Kemp also allocated $50 million as a one-time grant to address homelessness in Atlanta and other urban areas ahead of the World Cup events scheduled to be held in the state.

During his State of the State address in January 2026, Kemp announced a proposal for a fourth consecutive year of tax rebates to Georgia taxpayers, with single filers to receive $250 and married couples to receive $500. Kemp stated that the rebate proposal, which must be introduced as legislation and approved by the General Assembly before being signed into law, would bring total surplus revenue returned to taxpayers over four years to more than $7.5 billion. The governor framed the rebate as recognition that the state had collected more tax dollars than necessary to fund priorities and maintain reserves.

The Georgia Senate passed legislation that prohibits cities from requiring gun owners to store firearms in locked vehicles, voting 32–21 after the Georgia House had previously approved the measure. The bill was sent to Governor Kemp for final action, where he may choose to sign it into law or veto it. The legislation responds to a November ruling by a Chatham County judge that found Savannah's gun storage requirement unconstitutional.

Kemp proposed a budget allocation of $1.8 billion for dedicated express lanes along Interstate 75 in Henry County to address traffic congestion on a corridor that handles approximately 200,000 daily vehicles. The proposal also included $200 million for improvements to Georgia Highway 316 between metro Atlanta and Athens, $250 million for local road improvements, and $100 million for rural bridge upgrades. Additionally, Kemp announced a Homelessness Response Grant program with a one-time state investment of $50 million to support emergency shelter, transitional housing, street outreach, and wraparound services including mental healthcare and drug rehabilitation.

The Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 204 in January 2026 on a party-line vote to prohibit cities and counties from enacting local ordinances requiring gun owners to secure firearms in vehicles. The bill was introduced in response to a Savannah ordinance that had imposed storage requirements on unattended vehicles containing handguns, rifles, or shotguns. The legislation was sent to Governor Kemp for signature or veto following passage in both chambers of the state legislature.

Governor Kemp signed an executive order on Tuesday setting a special election for Georgia's 14th Congressional District for March 10 to fill the vacancy created by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation effective January 5. Greene had announced her resignation in November following public disagreements with President Trump, including disputes over the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and a covert military operation in Venezuela. The special election will determine who represents the district, which spans parts of northwestern Georgia and has been among the country's most conservative congressional districts.

Kemp signed legislation establishing a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence for individuals convicted of trafficking between four to eight grams of fentanyl. The law was enacted in response to the continued impact of fentanyl overdose deaths in Georgia, which accounted for more than 60 percent of all overdose deaths in the state in 2022. The legislation was supported by Carol McDermott, whose two sons died from fentanyl overdoses within months of each other.

Georgia received nearly $219 million in federal funding to support health care in 126 rural counties under the Rural Health Transformation program established by President Donald Trump's budget reconciliation bill passed in July 2025. The distribution was announced in December 2025 as part of a $10 billion allotment to the 50 states, with Georgia receiving the seventh largest sum nationally. Kemp stated that the funding would help strengthen rural providers and bring cost-saving innovations to the state's health system through the Georgia Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health program.

Kemp signed House Bill 567, which authorizes licensed dentists in Georgia to practice online with regulation by the Georgia Board of Dentistry and permits dental benefits plans to cover teledentistry services. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Katie Dempsey and addresses regional shortages in dental care access across the state. The bill took effect on January 1, 2026.

In March 2025, the Georgia General Assembly passed Governor Kemp's priority legislation overhauling tort law to create a more favorable regulatory environment for insurance companies. The bill represented Kemp's top legislative initiative for the 2025 session. The measure was enacted into law following passage by lawmakers.

Kemp announced the appointment of David Burge as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Revenue, effective February 16, 2026. Burge, currently a partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, will replace Frank O'Connell, who is transitioning to chief judge of the Tax Court on April 1, 2026. Burge brings experience in real estate law and has previously served on the Georgia Department of Community Affairs board, where he held positions as chair and vice-chair.

Kemp signed legislation in May that mandates restrictions on phone usage for students in grades K through 8, effective July 1st. Gwinnett County School District is set to vote on a policy that aligns with this state law while extending phone restrictions to high school students by prohibiting phone use during class. The district's proposed guidelines would implement a total phone ban for elementary and middle school students throughout the school day, while permitting high school students to possess phones but prohibiting their use during instructional time.

Governor Kemp signed House Bill 340, the Distraction-Free Education Act, in May 2025, which requires a bell-to-bell ban on personal devices including cellphones, smartwatches, and tablets for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, effective July 2026. School districts were required to develop implementation plans by January 2026 to comply with the mandate when the fall semester begins. The Cobb County school board subsequently developed a districtwide cellphone policy requiring all personal devices to be turned off and stored before students enter school buildings, with exceptions for devices covered under students' Individualized Education Plans or medical accommodations.

A federal judge permanently blocked Georgia's hormone therapy ban for transgender inmates, ruling that the state restrictions violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. The ban, passed by the Georgia legislature in May 2024, had prohibited the use of state funds for hormone therapy and gender-transition treatments for incarcerated individuals. Attorney General Chris Carr announced an appeal of the ruling and stated the state would continue the case through the Supreme Court.

Kemp required the most affected school districts and schools to establish a rigid reporting structure and attendance review teams to address chronic absenteeism in Georgia schools. The state experienced chronic absenteeism rates of 23.9% in 2021-22, 21.3% in 2023-24, and 19.5% in 2024-25, with approximately one in five students missing ten or more days of school annually. Kemp's directive was implemented alongside Senate Bill 123, which was signed into law and prevents students from being expelled due to chronic absenteeism.

Georgia's Ethics Commission determined that Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones could loan $10 million to his campaign's leadership committee, ruling that such loans constitute permissible contributions under state law. Attorney General Chris Carr, Jones's opponent in the Republican gubernatorial primary, had challenged the loan as an evasion of campaign finance restrictions that limit individual donations to candidate committees to $8,400. The commission adopted a legal opinion finding no statutory prohibition on candidates loaning personal funds to leadership committees, allowing Jones to continue deploying his personal wealth in his campaign to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 185 in May 2025, which prohibited state funds and resources for gender-affirming surgical and hormone replacement procedures for inmates in Georgia's prison system. A federal judge issued a permanent injunction against the law on Wednesday, finding that it violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. The Department of Corrections filed a notice of appeal with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday seeking to overturn the judgment.

On December 3, 2025, Kemp issued an executive order directing a commission to review the indictment of Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson. Henderson was indicted along with Deputy Austin Bradburn following a misconduct investigation related to a December 13, 2024 incident in which Henderson allegedly physically battered a Hiawassee police officer and Bradburn allegedly filed a false report. The review committee, composed of Attorney General Christopher Carr, Coweta County Sheriff Lenn Wood, and Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown, was given two weeks to submit a report to the governor regarding Henderson's suspension, which Kemp had ordered on October 22.

Kemp traveled to South Korea in October following a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid that detained 475 workers at the Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County, Georgia, including 300 Korean technical workers cited for visa irregularities. The trip was undertaken to address diplomatic concerns arising from the raid and to reinforce bilateral relations between Georgia and South Korea. Kemp's visit preceded a subsequent tour of the facility by South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha, which reaffirmed Korea's $18 billion investment in the state.

Kemp stated in past remarks that he does not support eliminating Georgia's state income tax, which currently generates more than $16 billion annually and represents over half of the state's revenue. When asked about a legislative proposal to end the income tax, Kemp's office indicated he would allow the legislative process to proceed without direct intervention. The proposal, championed by State Senator Blake Tillery and examined by a Senate committee, would require offsetting revenue through changes to sales tax structure and credits.

Kemp announced that Socomec, an electrical component and system manufacturer, will invest nearly $10 million in a new facility in Suwanee, Georgia. The facility is expected to create 300 new jobs and will focus on power switching, monitoring, conversion and energy storage operations. The company, which established its U.S. subsidiary in 2009, plans to begin hiring for production and operations roles in early 2026 at its location on Shawnee Industrial Way.

Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 465, known as "Austin's Law," in April 2024, which created a felony offense of aggravated involuntary manslaughter for individuals who supply fentanyl that results in a death. The statute carries a penalty of up to life in prison and was named after 17-year-old Austin Gentry, a Georgia teenager who died from a fentanyl overdose. Two Carrollton residents were convicted under this law following a fatal overdose investigation in Villa Rica, representing one of Georgia's first prosecutions under the new statute.

Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson for 60 days while an independent committee of sheriffs and the Attorney General investigated claims of misconduct. Henderson and Deputy Austin Bradburn were indicted on October 28, 2025, related to an incident on December 13, 2024, in which Hiawassee Officer Jose Carvajal was falsely detained and arrested. Henderson faced charges including three counts of violating his oath of office, false imprisonment, and simple battery on a police officer, while Bradburn faced charges including filing false reports and making false statements.

Governor Brian Kemp placed Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson on leave after ordering a committee to investigate the December 2024 detainment of Hiawassee Police Officer José Carvajal at a crime scene. Henderson was subsequently indicted by a grand jury on charges including three counts of violation of oath by a public officer, two counts of false imprisonment under color of law, one count of simple battery on a police officer, and one count of simple battery. The charges relate to Henderson's actions during an incident in which a sheriff's deputy was later determined to have shot himself in the leg.

Governor Kemp led a Georgia delegation to Japan following an official visit to South Korea, with stops in Osaka and Tokyo to meet with industry partners and participate in the Southeastern United States–Japan Conference. During the visit, Kemp presented the Governor George Busbee Award to Georgia-Kai in recognition of the organization's four decades of work advancing Georgia-Japan relations. The delegation included Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson and other senior state officials as part of efforts to strengthen the state's international business relationships with Japan, which maintains the largest international business community employment presence in Georgia.

Kemp traveled to South Korea on a scheduled economic development trip during which he addressed questions regarding a federal immigration raid that detained approximately 300 Korean nationals at a Hyundai manufacturing facility in Bryan County, Georgia. During meetings with South Korean government officials and Hyundai executives, Kemp discussed the raid and explored potential solutions, including the possibility of creating a special short-term manufacturing visa through conversations with the White House and President Trump. Kemp stated his intention to preserve Georgia's four-decade trade partnership with South Korea despite the immigration enforcement action.

Governor Brian Kemp designated November 18 as Election Day for the special election to fill the vacant Georgia Senate District 35 seat. The Cobb Board of Elections and Registration requested that Kemp amend the election date to November 4 to coincide with other scheduled elections, but Kemp denied the request. Early voting for the special election began on October 27 and runs through November 14.

Governor Kemp suspended Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson for 60 days following allegations of misconduct. Kemp had previously established a committee composed of other sheriffs and Attorney General Chris Carr to investigate Henderson, which subsequently recommended suspension. The specific details of the allegations against Henderson have not been publicly disclosed.

Governor Kemp announced a trip to South Korea to meet with corporate leaders following a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid that resulted in the detention of approximately 475 individuals, primarily South Korean nationals, at a Hyundai LG Battery plant in Bryan County, Georgia. Kemp stated he had advance notice of the raid but was unaware of its scope and stated he had communicated concerns about the incident to White House officials and President Donald Trump. The governor indicated the trip was designed to reaffirm Georgia's economic relationship with South Korea, which he characterized as a 40-year partnership that should not be disrupted by a single incident.

In 2022, Kemp signed the Constitutional Carry bill into law, which allows individuals to carry concealed firearms in public without a permit in Georgia. This legislation applies to public areas of airports outside Transportation Security Administration screening checkpoints, meaning firearms are permitted in airport terminals before security screening. The signing of this bill established the legal framework under which Georgia residents may carry weapons in such locations.

Gov. Kemp suspended Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson for 60 days effective immediately following a recommendation from an investigative panel consisting of Attorney General Chris Carr, Coweta County Sheriff Lem Wood, and Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown. Kemp appointed the panel on September 19 at the request of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association to review allegations of misconduct related to Henderson's handling of a December police response in Hiawassee. The panel submitted its findings to the governor on October 17, and Kemp signed the suspension order on Tuesday.

Kemp issued an executive order to lower flags at half-staff on all state buildings and property in memory of Georgia State Representative Mandi Ballinger, who died on October 12 following a cancer battle. Ballinger had represented Georgia District 23 for four terms and previously worked in victim advocacy and child protection services. The flags remained at half-staff on Friday, the day of Ballinger's funeral service.

In 2022, Kemp signed state legislation requiring that students in kindergarten through fifth grade have daily recess, though local school boards retain authority to determine the length and timing of recess periods. The law established the minimum requirement for recess but delegated implementation decisions to individual districts. DeKalb County schools subsequently announced they would implement 30-minute daily recess by January following parent advocacy.

Kemp signed a state law in 2022 requiring students in kindergarten through fifth grade to have recess every day, while allowing local school boards to determine the length and timing of those breaks. The DeKalb County School District subsequently reduced recess to 15 minutes at many elementary schools during the 2025 school year as part of efforts to expand daily literacy instruction to two hours. The DeKalb County Board of Education scheduled a Monday meeting to receive an update on recess and unstructured break time from Superintendent Dr. Devon Horton, with a public comment session that drew 20 scheduled speakers.

Kemp joined other Republican governors in urging Democrats to vote for a Republican budget bill to prevent a government shutdown, stating that "A shutdown is neither sustainable nor a responsible way to govern and the American people understand that." The governor's office of budget and planning issued a memo to state agencies directing them to prepare for potential impacts of a shutdown, including contingency planning for operations lasting more than a short period. The memo and shutdown threat prompted state agencies including the Georgia Agriculture Department to assess how a shutdown would affect their operations and the distribution of relief funds to Georgia residents.

Governor Brian Kemp signed the Georgia Distraction-Free Education Act into law, which mandated that each school district develop and implement a plan to limit or remove personal electronic devices from schools. The Troup County School System announced its implementation plan in response to this legislation, establishing a policy that prohibits personal electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches for students in Pre-K through eighth grade during school hours, class changes, lunch periods, and school-related activities, effective January 2026. The policy allows for exceptions based on students' Individualized Education Programs, Section 504 Plans, or medical requirements, and does not restrict the use of school-owned devices for instructional purposes.

Governor Kemp denied a request from the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration to reschedule a special election for state Senate District 35 from November 18 to November 4, 2025. The Elections Board sought the earlier date to align with statewide elections and reduce administrative costs and voter confusion, citing concerns about the timing of certification processes and potential runoff elections near the holidays. Kemp stated in his response that changing the election date would create voter confusion and deprive candidates and voters of adequate time for campaign and evaluation processes.

The federal government approved $531,236,000 in Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program funds for Georgia to provide financial aid to farmers and agricultural producers affected by the storm. Kemp announced the allocation on social media, stating the proceeds would assist as many farmers as possible in recovering from crop, infrastructure, and timber losses. This federal funding complemented state relief efforts, including a $100 million redirection from capital projects that Kemp had previously authorized and $867 million in disaster relief appropriated by the General Assembly in the fiscal 2025 mid-year budget.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $531 million grant to Georgia agricultural producers for recovery from Hurricane Helene under the American Relief Act of 2025. Kemp's office collaborated with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and USDA to negotiate and finalize a block grant agreement designed to address economic losses, infrastructure damage, and timber losses suffered by farmers and ranchers in the state. The funding represents a portion of a broader $30 billion disaster assistance relief effort authorized by Congress.

The Trump administration granted a one-year extension to Georgia's Pathways to Coverage program, a Medicaid initiative requiring recipients to document 80 hours monthly of work, volunteering, or education, extending it through 2026 with modifications. Kemp's administration requested and received permission to amend the program by shifting from monthly to annual reporting requirements and adding qualifying categories for parents of children under age 6 and childless adults meeting other program requirements. As of May 2025, the program had enrolled 7,463 participants, significantly below the state's initial projection of 47,000 enrollees.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Georgia's request to extend the Pathways to Coverage program through the end of 2026, preventing the program from ending on September 30, 2025. The extension includes modifications to the program's work requirements, such as adding parental caregiving as a qualifying activity, reducing reporting frequency to application and annual renewal, and establishing retroactive coverage beginning on the first day of the month an application is received. According to Kemp's office, the program has served more than 15,000 beneficiaries since its implementation.

Kemp's Georgia Pathways program received a one-year extension from the Trump administration, extending its authorization until December 2026 after it was set to expire at the end of September 2025. The program, designed as an alternative to full Medicaid expansion, had enrolled approximately 15,000 of its projected 50,000 eligible Georgians and faced criticism for spending more on administrative costs than healthcare delivery. The extension included modifications to work requirements, exempting parents of children six and younger from the work-school requirement and changing reporting from monthly to annual basis.

Governor Brian Kemp signed an executive order establishing a three-member investigative panel to examine the conduct of Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson following a December incident involving a confrontation between Henderson and Hiawassee Officer José Carvajal during the response to a deputy shooting. The panel, composed of Attorney General Chris Carr and the sheriffs of Newton and Coweta counties, was created at the request of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association. The panel has 30 days to deliver its findings to the governor, after which Kemp will determine whether additional steps are warranted.

Kemp signed an executive order on Friday to investigate alleged misconduct by Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson following a request from the Georgia Sheriffs' Association. The executive order established a committee composed of Attorney General Christopher Carr, Sheriff Lenn Wood of Coweta County, and Sheriff Ezell Brown of Newton County to conduct the investigation. The committee was given 30 days from the date of the order to complete its investigation and report its findings to the governor.

Kemp signed an executive order establishing a three-member investigative panel to review allegations of misconduct against Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson. The panel includes Attorney General Chris Carr and the sheriffs of Coweta and Newton counties. The committee was directed to submit its findings within 30 days.

Kemp announced an economic mission to South Korea scheduled for the following month to strengthen economic ties between Georgia and South Korea, one of the state's largest economic development partners. The trip represents Kemp's third visit to the Republic of Korea and will also include a visit to Japan. Kemp's office stated that the mission was planned prior to the September 4 raid at a Hyundai battery plant in Bryan County that resulted in the detention of 475 workers.

Kemp proposed changes to the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program, a Medicaid expansion initiative that includes work requirements for low-income Georgians, as the legislative session began. A Government Accountability Office report released in September 2025 found the program had enrolled fewer than 3,500 people in its first 15 months despite initial projections of 25,000 enrollees, and identified high administrative costs totaling approximately $54.18 million. The report attributed lower-than-expected enrollment partly to a two-year implementation delay that pushed the program's start from 2021 to July 2023, and noted that administrative spending comprised 67.5 percent of overall program expenditures.

A federal Government Accountability Office review of Georgia's Pathways to Coverage demonstration project found that approximately two-thirds of the $80 million spent on the program since 2021 went to administrative overhead rather than medical assistance, with more than half of that amount directed to contractors assisting with system overhaul. Kemp's office attributed delays in the program's implementation to obstacles imposed by the Biden administration, stating that federal roadblocks contributed to elevated administrative costs. Georgia is seeking federal approval to extend the Pathways program for an additional five years, with projections to enroll at least 18,000 participants in the first year of extension.

Kemp participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking near Social Circle for a Rivian electric automobile manufacturing plant expected to create 7,500 jobs by 2030, with vehicle production scheduled to begin in 2028. The government-subsidized project involved the state purchasing and preparing land that it leases to the company through a quasi-governmental entity, a structure implemented to circumvent local zoning restrictions on the 2,000-acre property. The arrangement faced legal challenges from nearby landowners in Morgan County Superior Court, with a judge ruling in favor of the plaintiffs the week prior to the groundbreaking ceremony.

Kemp attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Rivian's $5 billion manufacturing facility in Morgan County, Georgia in September 2025, marking the beginning of construction on the electric vehicle manufacturer's global manufacturing hub. The facility is expected to create 7,500 jobs, with the state offering $1.5 billion in incentives contingent on meeting the hiring target. Production of vehicles at the Georgia facility is scheduled to begin in 2028.

Governor Kemp redirected $100 million from a capital projects fund to provide financial support for farmers affected by Hurricane Helene and for debris cleanup for owners of damaged timberland. This action occurred as part of broader state and federal disaster relief efforts following the storm's passage through Georgia in late September 2024, which caused at least $5.5 billion in damage to crops, ranches, poultry houses, orchards, and timberland. The General Assembly subsequently set aside an additional $867 million for disaster relief as part of the fiscal 2025 mid-year budget.

Kemp issued a proclamation recognizing National Hunting and Fishing Day on September 27, 2025, which celebrates the contributions of hunters and anglers to wildlife conservation. As part of the observance, Georgia residents are permitted to fish without a license or trout license on any public waters in the state on that date. Kemp's proclamation noted that hunters and anglers contribute $18.5 billion to the economy through outdoor activities.

Kemp administered the oath of office to a graduating class of 30 new Georgia State Patrol troopers on September 5, 2025, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. His daughter Lucy Kemp was among the new troopers who completed 22 weeks of academy instruction and 12 weeks of field training. Lucy Kemp was elected vice president of her graduating class and achieved the highest average grades in academic work among her classmates before being assigned to one of the 52 patrol posts statewide.

Governor Kemp appointed Joyette Holmes to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles in January 2024. Holmes was subsequently selected by the board to serve as chair at the agency's monthly operational meeting in September 2025, with her term running through fiscal year 2026. Holmes became the second African American to serve as chair of the board, which is constitutionally authorized to grant paroles, pardons, reprieves, remissions, and commutations to those incarcerated in Georgia.

Kemp announced that more than 300 Georgia National Guard soldiers and 16 support staff would be deployed to Washington, D.C. in mid-September following President Trump's executive order declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. The deployment was intended to assist with public safety efforts in the nation's capital. Support staff arrived at Joint Base Anacostia-Boiling earlier in the week, with the main contingent scheduled to mobilize later in the month.

Kemp announced on September 5, 2025, that he would deploy 316 members of the Georgia National Guard, consisting of 300 soldiers and 16 support staff, to Washington, D.C., to support the Trump administration's response to crime in the nation's capital. The deployment was authorized following an executive order issued by President Trump declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. With Georgia's deployment, eight states led by Republican governors had mobilized more than 2,200 National Guard members to provide a visible presence in support of local law enforcement in Washington.

Governor Kemp announced that 316 Georgia National Guard members would deploy to Washington, D.C., in mid-September to support public safety operations following President Trump's executive order declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia on August 11, 2025. The Guardsmen would join the Joint Task Force–District of Columbia, with some personnel potentially armed under civilian law enforcement authority, while support staff including medical and administrative personnel had already arrived at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Georgia was one of eight states contributing troops to the mission, which involved more than 2,200 Guard members nationwide.

Kemp made a statement regarding JS Link America Inc.'s plan to invest $223 million in a new manufacturing facility in Columbus, Georgia, which is expected to create over 520 jobs producing rare-earth permanent magnets. The facility, located at Muscogee Technology Park, is slated to begin operations in late 2027 and will cover 130,000 square feet with an annual production capacity of 3,000 tons. Kemp stated that the project "strengthens Georgia's role in securing the U.S. supply chain in industries such as aerospace, mobility, and energy."

Governor Kemp signed an executive order on Friday suspending Cobb County Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor from her position effective immediately following her indictment on two counts of destruction of public records and two counts of violation of oath of office. The suspension will remain in effect pending the final disposition of the case or until the expiration of Taylor's term of office, whichever occurs first, according to the terms of the executive order. Taylor was indicted on July 31 on charges related to directing an employee to delete computer files and emails containing accounting records related to passport fee services.

Kemp issued an executive order on August 29, 2025, suspending Cobb County Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor, citing that her alleged offenses "relate to and adversely affect the administration of the office" she holds. Taylor had been indicted on July 31 on two counts of destruction of public records and two counts of violation of oath of office, and pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday. The suspension removed Taylor from her position as a constitutional officer of Cobb County Superior Court.

Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order on Friday suspending Cobb Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor from office without pay, effective immediately, based on a recommendation from a three-person commission he had appointed to investigate her case. Taylor was suspended pending the completion of her prosecution on four felony charges—two counts each of destroying public records and violating her oath of office—stemming from allegations that she ordered an employee to destroy records related to passport fees she collected as personal income. Under state law, the commission was required to determine whether Taylor's indictment adversely affected the administration of her office, and the commission found it had and recommended suspension; Taylor will be reinstated if acquitted or the charges are dropped, and will be permanently removed if convicted.

Kemp signed Georgia's tort reform bill, which was designed to reduce frivolous lawsuits and lower insurance rates across the state. The legislation mirrors Florida's 2023 reforms, though Georgia has not yet observed the anticipated effects on insurance rates as of August 2025. The House Blue Ribbon Study Committee on Insurance Rates held its first meeting to examine the bill's impact and conduct hearings across Georgia to gather information on insurance market outcomes.

Kemp announced the appointment of Oscar "Bo" Fears as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, effective September 1, 2025, following Kevin Hagler's retirement. Kemp also appointed Fran Dundore as director of the Governor's Office of Student Achievement, effective the same date, succeeding Ian Caraway who transitioned to director of policy and external affairs. Fears previously served as senior deputy commissioner at the Department of Banking and Finance and worked at the state attorney general's office for 16 years, while Dundore brings 28 years of public school experience in various leadership roles.

Kemp announced that the Georgia National Guard would mobilize 75 soldiers and airmen to provide administrative and logistic support to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Georgia. Guard personnel were scheduled to conduct training in mid-September and subsequently deploy to perform tasks including appointment scheduling, biometric collection, data entry, vehicle maintenance, and fleet tracking, allowing ICE agents to focus on field operations. The soldiers and airmen would remain under the control and direction of the Governor and Adjutant General of Georgia.

Kemp announced plans to lead an economic trade mission to Brazil and Argentina with first lady Marty Kemp. The trip will include meetings with business and government leaders in both countries to strengthen Georgia's trade relationships and promote investment opportunities. According to the governor's office, South American companies have invested more than $160 million in Georgia over the past six years.

Kemp signed legislation that allows pets to be included in protective orders for domestic violence survivors. The new law enables victims of domestic violence to include their animals in court-ordered protective measures. The Gwinnett County Solicitor General's Office launched the "Dog Days of Summer" drive to collect pet supplies for Ahimsa House, an organization that assists domestic violence victims escaping abuse with their pets.

Kemp announced in August 2025 that the Georgia National Guard would deploy approximately 75 soldiers and airmen to provide administrative and logistical support to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations across Georgia. The Guard personnel were assigned to perform duties including appointment scheduling, biometric collection, data entry, and vehicle maintenance rather than law enforcement or arrest functions. Kemp stated that the deployment was consistent with his previous efforts to address immigration enforcement and that the Guard members were scheduled to begin training in mid-September.

Governor Kemp announced that the Georgia National Guard will deploy 75 soldiers and airmen across the state in fall 2025 to support the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations. The Guard members will provide administrative and logistic support, including scheduling appointments, collecting biometric information, and vehicle maintenance, but will not participate in law enforcement activities or carry weapons. Kemp stated that the deployment aligns with efforts to secure the state's borders and assist the federal government's immigration enforcement initiatives.

Kemp authorized the Georgia Department of Defense to provide logistical and clerical support to Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of a multi-state National Guard deployment planned from late August through mid-November 2025. The deployment involves up to 1,700 troops across 19 states, with Georgia's military personnel designated to enable ICE to dedicate more trained agents to law enforcement activities. Kemp stated he remained in active communication with the Trump administration regarding border security efforts.

Kemp appointed a three-person commission via executive order to investigate Cobb Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor following her indictment on felony charges of record destruction and violation of her oath of office. The commission, comprising retired state Supreme Court Justice Keith Blackwell, Banks County Superior Court Clerk Tim Harper, and Dodge County Superior Court Clerk Rhett Walker, was directed to issue a recommendation within 14 days on whether Taylor should be suspended pending resolution of her case. Under state law, the governor must convene such a commission when a Superior Court clerk is indicted for a felony, and Kemp may suspend Taylor without pay if the commission recommends it.

Governor Kemp signed legislation sponsored by Senator Donzella James that renamed two roads in Douglas County in honor of Samuel Micah Moon and Aj'anaye Hill, teenagers killed in a shooting after a Sweet 16 party two years prior. The Samuel Micah Moon Interchange on Fairburn Road near I-20 and the Aj'anaye Hill Memorial Intersection on Campbellton Street at U.S. 78 were unveiled in August 2025 following the project's unanimous approval by lawmakers. The initiative was developed at the request of the victims' families in coordination with Dr. Ramona Jackson Jones, chairwoman of the County Commission.

Kemp presented official commendations to Good Samaritans and Cobb County police officers who rescued two children from a hot car in the Cumberland Mall parking lot on June 4, 2025. The children had been trapped in the vehicle for 41 minutes in temperatures that reached 117 degrees according to law enforcement measurements. The ceremony recognized the coordinated response between citizens who reported the emergency and officers who extracted the children from the vehicle.

Georgia Democrats, led by U.S. Representative Lucy McBath, urged Governor Kemp to allow Georgia to participate in the USDA's Summer EBT program, which would provide eligible low-income children with $120 monthly benefits during summer months. According to McBath's statement, Georgia refused federal funding for the program for the second consecutive year, despite approximately 40 percent of the state's 2.8 million children being eligible for assistance. Kemp's office responded that concerns about the program's nutritional standards, fiscal accountability, and sustainability remained considerations, and noted that Georgia operates alternative summer meal programs including the Seamless Summer initiative and Happy Helpings program.

Kemp signed House Bill 112 in April 2025, authorizing one-time tax refunds ranging from $250 to $500 for eligible Georgia residents. The refunds were distributed to nearly 3 million taxpayers who filed taxes in both 2023 and 2024 and owed no money to the state, with approximately 90% of the expected $1 billion in total refunds issued by August 2025. Remaining payments were scheduled to be processed in October for those who filed 2024 extensions.

Kemp signed House Bill 112 into law in April 2025, authorizing $1 billion in special tax refunds for eligible Georgia taxpayers. The Georgia Department of Revenue has issued approximately 3 million refunds totaling $1,006,766,461.54, representing over 90 percent of anticipated refunds, with eligible taxpayers receiving between $250 and $500 depending on filing status. A second wave of refunds is anticipated in October for taxpayers who filed 2024 returns on extension.

Kemp celebrated the U.S. Department of Transportation's announcement of a $3.89 billion loan through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act to finance the Georgia 400 toll lanes project in Fulton and Forsyth counties. The loan, the largest single award in the federal program's history, will support a public-private partnership between the Georgia Department of Transportation, the State Road and Tollway Authority, and SR400 Peach Partners to add two toll lanes in each direction along a 16-mile stretch of the highway. Kemp stated that the project would strengthen Georgia's transportation network and benefit commuters by reducing travel delays when the lanes open to traffic in 2031.

In April 2025, Kemp signed House Bill 112 into law, which authorized a $1 billion special state income tax refund for eligible Georgia taxpayers. The rebate provides $250 for individuals filing as single or married filing separately, $375 for those filing as head of household, and $500 for couples filing jointly, with amounts subject to reduction or offset if recipients owe outstanding debts to the state. Checks are issued daily in batches following the processing of 2024 state tax returns, with the state reporting an increasing weekly volume of refunds distributed.

Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor defended his office's implementation of House Bill 1105 during a press conference, stating that his department has an obligation to enforce the state law requiring local jails to coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when inmates are suspected of being in the country without legal authorization. Taylor clarified that deputies are not conducting immigration raids or traffic stops to check immigration status, but will honor ICE detainers for individuals held on legitimate criminal charges, with holds not exceeding 48 hours. Taylor responded to criticism from state lawmakers by noting they did not attend a meeting where immigration protocols were discussed and suggested they work on changing the law if they disagreed with it.

Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 268, a school safety law enacted in response to the September mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder that killed two students and two teachers. The law establishes a statewide database to identify individuals who may pose threats of violence and requires faster transfer of student records between schools. Barrow County Schools is implementing the law's requirements through weapons detection systems, anonymous reporting mechanisms, a 24/7 monitored tipline, mental health support positions, and enhanced law enforcement resources.

In April, Kemp signed legislation requiring Georgia schools to accelerate the process of sharing student records, with districts mandated to provide information regarding academics, attendance, discipline, felony charges, and psychological evaluations within ten days or face requirements to transition the student to remote learning. The law was enacted following a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County that resulted in the deaths of two students and two teachers. Barrow County School System subsequently implemented the record-sharing requirements alongside additional security measures including weapon detectors, mobile panic alert systems, and a crisis reporting application.

Kemp announced that Pilgrim's, a leading food company, will invest $400 million in a new multi-phase prepared foods facility in LaFayette, Georgia in Walker County. The facility is expected to create more than 630 jobs once at full capacity, with construction beginning in fall 2025 and completion targeted for 2027. The new facility will produce fully cooked chicken products and will begin hiring in 2027 when the first phase of construction is completed.

Georgia began distributing the first quarterly payments from its education subsidy program established under Senate Bill 233, with approximately 8,500 students approved to receive $6,500 annual subsidies for private K-12 education. The program received approximately 15,000 applications and is expected to distribute roughly $55 million in state funds, considerably less than the budgeted amount. About one-third of recipients are entering kindergarten, with nearly half in elementary school and the remainder in grades seven through twelve, with families able to use the funds for tuition, homeschooling costs, tutoring, therapy, and curriculum.

Governor Kemp signed legislation earlier in 2025 that requires Georgia schools to establish written attendance protocols while prohibiting expulsion of students based solely on attendance violations. The law represents an approach that combines formalized attendance procedures with restrictions on the most severe disciplinary responses to absenteeism. Two Georgia House committees are currently studying related issues including chronic school absenteeism and potential gaming legalization ahead of the 2025 legislative session.

Kemp commented on an agreement between Georgia's Technical College System of Georgia and University System of Georgia that allows nursing students with associate degrees from technical colleges to transfer directly into four-year public universities to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing without loss of credit. The agreement implements provisions of House Bill 192, the Top State for Talent Act, passed by the General Assembly in 2025. Kemp stated the partnership was designed to expand educational opportunities, strengthen the state's nursing workforce, and address healthcare worker shortages.

Kemp instructed Georgia state agencies to prepare for flat budgets in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 in anticipation of federal spending cuts outlined in President Donald Trump's budget plan. The state budget office, under Director Richard Dunn, notified agency heads that new spending increases would not be included in the amended budgets and that Georgia would not replace lost federal funds except for enrollment-based programs such as K-12 education and health care. Kemp declined to call a special legislative session to address potential funding shortfalls, instead directing agency heads to submit their budget requests by September 5.

In May, Kemp signed legislation restricting student cell phone access during school hours for kindergarten through eighth grade. The law requires school districts to develop and implement a cell phone policy by the 2026-27 school year, with Cobb County School District required to have its policy approved by January 2026. Superintendent Chris Ragsdale stated the district would communicate the new policy requirements to parents and complete the policy development process through board meetings before implementation.

Attorney General Chris Carr's campaign lawyer submitted a request to the Georgia Ethics Commission on July 17, 2025, asking for a legal opinion on whether Lt. Governor Burt Jones violated state campaign finance law by lending $10 million to his leadership committee. The lawyer argued that under Georgia law, loans can only be made to candidate committees, not to leadership committees, and cited a 2022 federal court ruling that found such arrangements could circumvent contribution limits. The Ethics Commission is required to issue an advisory opinion within 60 days under state law.

Kemp steered legislation through the Georgia General Assembly to reduce the state's income tax rate, with the Republican-controlled legislature passing a Kemp-backed bill this year to cut the tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19% retroactive to the beginning of the current tax year. The measure was part of Kemp's gradual approach to lowering Georgia's income tax during his term as governor. The bill was enacted alongside the creation of a state Senate committee announced by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to consider further eliminating Georgia's income tax.

Kemp appointed Judge Benjamin A. Land to the Georgia Supreme Court to fill a vacancy created by the March resignation of Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs. Land, who previously served on the Georgia Court of Appeals following a 2022 Kemp appointment and won election to a six-year term in 2024, brings experience as a former litigator, Superior Court judge, and appellate judge. Kemp stated that Land's commitment to fairness and impartiality, work ethic, integrity, and judicial background made him suitable for the position.

Kemp steered legislation through the Georgia General Assembly to gradually reduce the state's income tax rate. In 2025, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a Kemp-backed bill to cut the tax rate from 5.39 percent to 5.19 percent, effective retroactively to the beginning of that tax year. The measure was part of a broader effort to make Georgia more competitive with neighboring states on tax policy.

Governor Brian Kemp appointed Judge Benjamin A. Land to the Georgia Supreme Court on July 17, 2025, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Michael P. Boggs. Land has served on the Georgia Court of Appeals since 2022 and was elected to a full six-year term in 2024, following his earlier appointment to the Superior Court bench for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit in 2018. Land holds degrees from the University of Georgia and previously spent 26 years in private legal practice specializing in complex civil litigation.

Georgia's three major bond rating agencies assigned the state their highest AAA credit rating, citing the state's fiscal management and economic growth. Kemp and state lawmakers funded building projects with cash reserves rather than general obligation bonds for the second consecutive year. Kemp ordered state agencies to maintain current spending levels in their fiscal 2026 and 2027 budget requests in response to anticipated federal spending reductions.

Kemp ordered state agencies to freeze spending at current levels during fiscal years 2026 and 2027 in response to federal spending reductions contained in the budget bill Congress passed in July 2025. The directive, communicated through Rick Dunn, director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, required agencies to develop contingency plans for potential losses in federal funding while allowing exceptions for mandatory needs that cannot be met through budget redirection. Kemp cited conservative fiscal management and protection of taxpayer resources as the rationale for the spending freeze.

Governor Brian Kemp appeared at the Georgia State Capitol on July 10, 2025, alongside the family of Eviatar David, a 24-year-old Israeli hostage held by Hamas for over 640 days following the October 7, 2023, attacks. Kemp condemned Hamas's tactics and called for the immediate release of David and all remaining hostages. The event included remarks from David's brother Eli David, Jewish community leaders, and faith-based advocates seeking to maintain attention on the hostage situation.

Kemp appointed Dr. Dean Burke as commissioner of the Department of Community Health, effective August 1, 2025, replacing Russel Carlson who accepted a position in the private sector. Burke previously served as chief medical officer for the Department of Community Health, overseeing the State Health Benefit Plan and the State Office of Rural Health. Burke holds a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 27 years in rural Georgia.

Governor Brian Kemp announced the appointment of Dr. Dean Burke as commissioner of Georgia's Department of Community Health, effective August 1, 2025, succeeding Russel Carlson who is transitioning to the private sector. Burke previously served as Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Community Health and as a state senator representing Senate District 11, where he held positions on healthcare-related committees including chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee and vice-chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. Kemp stated that Burke's background in medicine and healthcare policy qualified him for the position during what he characterized as a pivotal time for the agency.

Governor Kemp appointed Dr. Dean Burke as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health on July 7, 2025, effective August 1, 2025. Burke, a former state senator and current chief medical officer at the agency, brings 27 years of medical practice in obstetrics and gynecology along with a decade of legislative service representing a Southwest Georgia district. Burke replaced outgoing Commissioner Russel Carlson, who departed state government for a private sector position.

In March 2025, Kemp announced that Georgia State Patrol troopers would participate in the federal 287(g) program, which authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to perform immigration enforcement functions. This announcement followed the passage of HB 1105 in 2024, legislation that required Georgia sheriffs to apply for 287(g) partnerships or similar federal immigration enforcement agreements. As of June 2025, twenty-four Georgia sheriff's offices had signed up for the program, representing a significant increase from five participating agencies at the beginning of the year.

Kemp issued a statement on social media endorsing the One Big Beautiful Bill after its passage, characterizing it as a major win for hardworking Georgians and their families. The bill, signed into law by President Donald Trump, included provisions for tax breaks and spending cuts, along with changes to Medicaid eligibility and work requirements. Kemp's statement indicated that he viewed the legislation as Republicans delivering results and prioritizing the American people.

The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation in the previous year that called for a temporary suspension of a state sales tax exemption designed to attract data centers to the state. Kemp vetoed the bill after the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and other business groups argued that eliminating the tax incentive would discourage corporate investment. The data center industry has grown rapidly in Georgia, with over 90 facilities operating in the state as of 2025 and contributing billions to the state's economy.

Kemp signed House Bill 112 in April 2025, which authorized $1 billion in special tax refunds for Georgia taxpayers. The refunds, ranging from $250 to $500 depending on filing status, are based on 2023 tax returns and require filers to have submitted returns for both 2023 and 2024 to be eligible. As of early July 2025, the Georgia Department of Revenue had distributed $621 million and expected most eligible taxpayers who met the May 1 filing deadline to receive their payments by early August.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced on Wednesday that Shriners Children's will establish a $153 million pediatric medical research facility in Atlanta's Science Square, expected to create 470 new jobs. The Shriners Children's Research Institute will focus on orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions, burn injuries, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and cleft lip and palate research, with recruitment planned across cell and gene therapies, robotics, artificial intelligence, and medical devices. The facility will be located adjacent to Georgia Tech's North Avenue Research Area and represents a private nonprofit investment in the state's research and life sciences sector.

Kemp's office released a statement indicating support for a multi-trillion-dollar budget bill passed by the Senate on July 2, 2025, specifically endorsing the legislation's tax cut provisions. The statement noted the governor's backing of efforts to renew and enhance tax cuts for Georgia families while also funding border security, public safety, national defense, and job creation measures. The bill subsequently moved to the House for consideration, where its passage remained uncertain amid ongoing debate over its provisions.

Governor Kemp signed House Bill 340 into law in 2025, establishing a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones, smartwatches, and tablets for kindergarten through eighth grade students in Georgia schools, with the law taking effect in July 2026. The statute exempts school-issued devices from the restriction and allows individual school districts to determine storage methods for personal devices. Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced that the district would not purchase specialized storage solutions such as pouches or lockers to comply with the law, instead requiring students to store devices in personal backpacks or bags.

Governor Kemp signed a state law that expanded the Georgia Legislature's subpoena powers, strengthening lawmakers' authority to compel testimony and obtain records during investigations. The law became a key element in the Republican-led Senate Special Committee on Investigations' ongoing dispute with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over subpoenas related to her office's spending and the 2020 election case. The Georgia Supreme Court agreed to hear Willis's appeal challenging the committee's constitutional authority to subpoena her, with the court required to accept the case due to its constitutional questions.

Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 68 into law in April 2025 as part of his civil justice reform agenda, which restricts "phantom damages" based on inflated medical bills and limits "jury anchoring" tactics where attorneys suggest excessive monetary figures to juries. The law also ensures juries receive critical evidence in vehicle crash cases, such as seat belt usage, and limits premises liability exposure for businesses regarding crimes committed by third parties. Kemp also signed Senate Bill 69, which requires transparency in third-party litigation financing arrangements.

Governor Kemp stated that while peaceful assembly is constitutionally protected, any violence against law enforcement during the scheduled "No Kings" protests would result in swift and severe accountability. Attorney General Chris Carr warned that violent acts intended to change public policy could be prosecuted as domestic terrorism under state law, carrying sentences up to 35 years. The statements came ahead of over 30 planned demonstrations across Georgia scheduled for Saturday as part of a national protest movement.

Kemp joined Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster in sending a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick requesting that their states assume management of red snapper and other reef fish populations in the Atlantic Ocean instead of federal authorities. The three governors specifically sought to overturn Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region and requested an increased fishing quota for red snapper based on their assertion that the species is no longer being overfished. Kemp stated the request was part of efforts to reduce federal regulations and allow state-level management of the fishing industry.

In a joint letter dated June 4, 2025, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, along with the governors of Florida and South Carolina, requested that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick approve an Exempted Fishing Permit that would transfer management of red snapper and other reef fish in the South Atlantic from federal to state authorities. The governors argued that federal regulations under Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery were based on flawed data and had restricted fishing access despite increased red snapper populations. Kemp stated that the fishing industry should be managed by state governments rather than federal bureaucrats, and cited Florida's expansion of its recreational red snapper season from three days to 127 days as evidence of successful state management.

Governor Kemp rolled out the Pathways to Coverage program in 2023 as an alternative to Medicaid expansion, which required adults to engage in qualifying activities such as work, school, or volunteering for 80 hours per month to be eligible. By early 2025, the program had enrolled approximately 6,500 Georgians despite an estimated 200,000 uninsured residents in the state. Democratic candidates vying to succeed Kemp in the 2026 gubernatorial race cited the program's limited enrollment and Georgia's lack of Medicaid expansion as evidence of inadequate health care policy.

In April 2025, Kemp signed House Bill 112 into law, which authorized a $1 billion special state income tax refund to eligible Georgia taxpayers. The rebate provides $250 to individuals filing as single or married filing separately, $375 to those filing as head of household, and $500 to couples filing jointly, with eligibility requiring full-time Georgia residency, non-dependent status in 2023, and filed tax returns for both 2023 and 2024. The Georgia Department of Revenue began issuing the refund checks in June 2025, with funds delivered through direct deposit or paper check depending on the taxpayer's filing method.

Kemp announced that the Georgia Department of Revenue would begin issuing one-time state income tax refunds to eligible taxpayers, with the rebate approved by the General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session. Single taxpayers and those filing separately would receive up to $250, heads of households $375, and married couples filing jointly $500. The refund represented the third such rebate issued during the decade and was accompanied by an acceleration of income tax rate reductions previously enacted by the state.

Kemp's office announced the distribution of one-time tax refund checks beginning in June 2025 pursuant to legislation passed earlier that year. The refunds provided $250 for single filers and married individuals filing separately, $375 for head of household filers, and $500 for married individuals filing jointly. Eligible taxpayers could verify their eligibility through the Georgia Tax Center using the Surplus Tax Refund Eligibility Tool.

In April, Kemp signed House Bill 112 into law, authorizing a $1 billion special state income tax rebate for eligible Georgia taxpayers. The one-time rebate provides $250 for individuals filing as single or married filing separately, $375 for heads of household, and $500 for couples filing jointly. To qualify, taxpayers must have filed Georgia income tax returns for both 2023 and 2024, not been claimed as dependents on 2023 returns, and maintained full-time Georgia residency for tax purposes.

Kemp's office responded to Democratic state lawmakers' requests for a formal legal opinion from the Attorney General regarding the scope of Georgia's Life Act, a law that bans most abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy. The governor's office stated that the Attorney General's office had already provided a clear answer that the Life Act does not apply to the case of Adriana Smith, a brain-dead pregnant woman at Emory Midtown hospital. Kemp's office characterized the lawmakers' press conference as partisan and stated that an additional formal opinion was unnecessary.

Democratic lawmakers held a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday calling on Governor Kemp and Attorney General Carr to clarify Georgia's abortion law, citing concerns that the legislation is dangerously vague and creating confusion for medical professionals and families during medical crises. The Democratic lawmakers referenced the case of a brain-dead pregnant woman kept on life support at an Atlanta hospital and requested that Kemp and Carr issue a formal legal opinion clarifying what the law permits in such medical situations. Governor Kemp's office responded by dismissing the press conference as partisan, while the Attorney General's office stated that Georgia law does not require life support for brain-dead pregnant women.

Kemp appointed Ian Caraway, his policy director, as interim executive director of the Governor's Office of Student Achievement, following the retirement of Joy Hawkins who held the position for six years. The agency, founded in 2005, produces annual school report cards and performance analyses while assisting lawmakers with special education tasks. Caitlan Coleman, a member of Kemp's staff, was designated to serve as interim policy director in Caraway's former role.

Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 123 last month, which amends Georgia's compulsory attendance law for students ages 6 through 15 and defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10% or more of the school year. The legislation requires attendance review teams in each school system where 10% or more of students were chronically absent and in each school where at least 15% were chronically absent. SB 123 also mandates that the Georgia Department of Education publish biannual reports on compliance with the law and on attendance rates.

Governor Kemp signed House Bill 481, Georgia's "heartbeat" law, in 2019, which bans abortion once cardiac activity is detected in a fetus, typically at six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, and risk to the mother's life. The law came under scrutiny in 2025 following the case of a brain-dead pregnant woman whose family's decision to maintain life support was attributed by abortion rights advocates to uncertainty created by the statute's provisions. State Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes requested that Attorney General Chris Carr issue a legal opinion clarifying the law's application to medical situations involving pregnant women, citing concerns that physicians were uncertain about what care remained legally permissible.

Kemp's administration worked to attract Mercedes-Benz to establish its North American headquarters in Sandy Springs, Georgia, consolidating corporate offices and research and development operations in the city. The company announced it would bring approximately 500 additional jobs to the region between the announcement and August 2026. Kemp stated that the establishment of the full North American headquarters represented a significant economic development achievement for Georgia.

Kemp appeared at a news conference at the state Capitol on May 21, 2025, to comment on Georgia Power's announcement of a proposed three-year rate freeze through 2028, an agreement reached between the utility and the state Public Service Commission's Public Interest Advocacy Staff. The proposed agreement, which remained subject to PSC approval, would cancel a rate case the company had planned to submit by July 1. Kemp stated that the rate freeze would benefit the state's ability to attract jobs and investment, noting it would serve as a competitive advantage against neighboring states.

Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 147, legislation authored by state Senator Michael "Doc" Rhett that requires all state correctional institutions to provide inmates with copies of academic and professional records upon request, including birth certificates, social security cards, work records, resumes, and vocational training certifications. The bill passed unanimously in both the Georgia Senate and House. The measure is designed to facilitate the reintegration of individuals released from prison by ensuring they have access to documentation needed for employment and other essential purposes.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 244 on May 15, 2025, meeting the legislative signing deadline. The bill combined two separate measures addressing the criminal justice system: one provision allows criminal defendants to recover legal costs when their prosecutor is disqualified and charges are dismissed, while the second provision establishes a new administrative process for compensating individuals wrongly convicted and imprisoned in Georgia, replacing the prior system that required individual legislative consideration for each case.

Kemp signed legislation authored by State Senator Brandon Beach that would require Fulton County taxpayers to reimburse President Donald Trump's legal fees from his indictment and prosecution under specified conditions. The reimbursement would occur only if the Georgia Supreme Court disqualifies Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the case and all criminal charges against Trump are dropped. The bill's passage prompted public reaction from Fulton County residents, with some expressing opposition to using taxpayer funds for the legal expenses.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 331, legislation that dissolved the Barrow County Airport Authority and transferred control of Barrow County Airport to the Barrow County Government. The action consolidated the airport's assets, obligations, and operations under county jurisdiction, ending the separate authority governance structure that had been in place since 1986. Stoney Bangert, a retired U.S. Navy officer with aviation and project management experience, was appointed as the new Airport Manager following the transition.

Governor Kemp signed the Georgia Justice Survivor Act, legislation that allows incarcerated domestic violence survivors to present evidence of past abuse in court to seek reduced sentences, even after conviction. The law is retroactive, permitting women currently imprisoned to petition for sentence reductions if they can demonstrate their criminal actions stemmed from documented domestic violence. According to advocacy organizations, the measure applies to a substantial portion of Georgia's incarcerated female population, as studies indicate between 74 and 95 percent of incarcerated women have experienced domestic or sexual violence.

Gwinnett County announced legal action on May 15, 2025, to challenge Senate Bill 138, which outlines the transfer of services to the newly incorporated City of Mulberry. County officials stated that SB 138 removes sovereign immunity protections for the county and imposes unfunded mandates for stormwater repairs, police costs, and election expenses. Kemp did not veto the legislation, prompting the county commissioners to pursue legal action challenging what they characterize as unconstitutional elements of the bill.

On May 15, 2025, Kemp signed Senate Bill 244 as part of a batch of 120 bills approved on the final day of the legislative session. Senate Bill 244 establishes a mechanism that could allow Donald Trump to seek reimbursement from Fulton County taxpayers for legal fees incurred in the Georgia election interference case if the court removes District Attorney Fani Willis from the case. Among the other bills Kemp signed were measures creating an "America First" specialty license plate, expanding child care tax credits, and addressing public safety, hurricane relief, and workforce development.

Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 291 on Wednesday, authorizing the Georgia Department of Revenue to issue specialty license plates bearing the "America First" slogan without the standard requirement of 1,000 prepaid applications before production begins. The legislation, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch and 24 other Republican senators, passed the Senate 33 to 21 in April and previously cleared the House, with revenue from plate sales directed to the state's general fund and production discontinued if 1,000 prepaid applications are not reached by January 1, 2028. The plate design features the American flag alongside the "America First" slogan and will become available to Georgia drivers beginning January 2026.

Kemp signed legislation on May 14, 2025, that would require Fulton County taxpayers to pay former President Donald Trump's legal fees in Georgia if District Attorney Fani Willis is disqualified from his case and the charges are dropped. The bill creates a mechanism by which Fulton County residents would be responsible for Trump's defense costs, which have totaled at least $2.7 million according to reporting by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Georgia Supreme Court retains authority to determine whether Willis will be disqualified, and if so, the Prosecuting Attorney's Council would inherit the case and decide whether to proceed or dismiss the charges.

Gov. Kemp signed Senate Bill 241, which legalizes human composting, also known as terramation, as a legal method for disposing of deceased persons' remains in Georgia. The law takes effect July 1 and amends existing state rules for funeral directors, embalmers, and crematories while directing the State Board of Funeral Service to develop licensing guidelines for human composting facilities. Georgia joins California, Colorado, and Washington in recognizing this end-of-life practice.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 79, the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act, legislation that establishes mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking convictions in Georgia. The law imposes a minimum of five years imprisonment for trafficking between four and fourteen grams of fentanyl. Kemp signed the bill on Monday along with nineteen other pieces of legislation.

Georgia Gov. Kemp signed legislation that shields pesticide manufacturers, including Bayer, from lawsuits claiming failure to warn customers of potential health risks from Roundup and other pesticides that comply with federal labeling requirements. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and does not apply to existing cases, including a March 2025 Georgia jury verdict awarding $2.1 billion to a plaintiff alleging Roundup caused cancer. Georgia became the second state to enact such legislation, following North Dakota, after Kemp consulted with farmers and others in the agricultural community.

Governor Kemp signed legislation on Friday that shields pesticide manufacturers from certain lawsuits alleging failure to warn customers of potential dangers, specifically targeting claims related to Roundup and its key ingredient glyphosate. The law applies broadly to any pesticide manufacturer in Georgia that complies with federal labeling requirements, making Georgia the second state to enact such protections after North Dakota. The legislation takes effect January 1 and does not affect existing cases, including a March 2025 Georgia jury verdict awarding nearly $2.1 billion in damages related to Roundup exposure.

Kemp signed House Bill 192, legislation that codifies the Georgia MATCH program into state law, a direct university and technical college admissions program that provides personalized letters to high school seniors listing institutions where they are academically eligible to enroll. Kemp also signed Senate Bill 85, which creates a college scholarship program for current or former foster children, and House Bill 38, which eases income eligibility requirements for need-based financial aid for students nearing degree completion. Additionally, Kemp signed House Bill 172, which increases loan forgiveness limits for veterinary students who complete degrees and specialize in animals raised for human consumption.

Governor Kemp signed House Bill 340, legislation that prohibits personal communications devices in public school classrooms from kindergarten through eighth grade across Georgia. The ban takes effect in the summer of 2026, with school districts required to implement policies for securing students' phones by July 1, 2026. The legislation passed the Georgia General Assembly with broad bipartisan support earlier in 2025.

Kemp signed House Bill 113 on May 9, 2025, requiring the Georgia Technology Authority to establish and maintain a list of companies and products produced or sold by entities designated as foreign adversaries by the U.S. Commerce Department. State agencies will use this list to inform purchasing decisions for state government. The legislation passed the Georgia Senate unanimously and the Georgia House of Representatives with minimal opposition.

Following a shooting at Apalachee High School in September 2024 that killed four people, the Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 862, which established a statewide school alert system requiring schools to notify parents, students, educators, and law enforcement of potential threats. The legislation creates a framework for threat assessment and response protocols that schools must implement to enhance safety. Kemp signed the bill into law as part of the state's response to the incident.

Kemp signed two bills into law focused on hurricane recovery and public safety. He scheduled additional bill signings for the state budget for fiscal year 2026 and a measure targeting government waste, fraud and abuse. Kemp announced he would not run for U.S. Senate but stated he would remain actively involved in Georgia politics and Republican electoral efforts.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 185 on May 8, 2025, legislation that denies state funding for sex reassignment surgery, hormone replacement therapy, and other gender-affirming medical care for Georgia prison inmates. The bill includes exceptions allowing the state Department of Corrections to pay for treatments deemed medically necessary, including care for inmates with chromosomal abnormalities. The legislation passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly largely along party lines, with Georgia House Democrats staging a walkout in protest.

Gov. Kemp signed Georgia's $37.7 billion fiscal year 2026 budget on Friday, which allocates $250 million to the Department of Corrections for salary increases and hiring of prison staff, $300 million toward K-12 education enrollment and expense growth, and $257 million in additional Medicaid and PeachCare funding. The budget also includes $290 million for transportation projects and $715 million for capital improvements across various state agencies and infrastructure needs. Kemp is expected to sign accompanying regulatory reform legislation addressing tort reform, foreign influence limitations, and insurance cost stabilization.

Kemp signed the $37.7 billion fiscal 2026 state budget on Friday, a spending plan passed by the General Assembly that allocates $300 million to fully fund the state's Quality Basic Education K-12 student funding formula and $200 million to hire additional correctional officers and raise salaries in the state prison system. The budget includes $108.9 million in grants for school safety improvements, $47.9 million for student mental health programs, and $141 million to launch the state's private-school vouchers program. Capital projects totaling $1.005 billion will be funded through cash reserves rather than borrowing, with Kemp stating this approach will save Georgia taxpayers $150 million annually in debt service costs over the next 20 years.

Kemp signed House Bill 223, which exempts federal crop loss and disaster payments from state income tax, establishes a reforestation tax credit, expands the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption program to cover materials for repairing agricultural structures, and allows local governments to temporarily suspend timber harvest taxes. Kemp also signed Senate Bill 201, which strengthens consumer protections in repair and reconstruction contracts following natural disasters, and House Bill 143, which transfers responsibility for agricultural water meter installation and maintenance from farmers to the state. The bills were presented as measures to support Georgia farmers and timber producers recovering from Hurricane Helene.

Governor Kemp signed House Bill 268 into law, which includes school safety measures such as a statewide protocol to alert schools when transferring students have been previously flagged for potentially dangerous behavior. According to an Emory University survey of Georgia parents conducted after the Apalachee High School shooting, more than 80 percent expressed support for the statewide alert protocol included in the legislation. The bill addressed concerns among Georgia parents about school safety, with 60 percent of survey respondents indicating they believe schools are less safe than they were a decade prior.

Kemp announced on Monday that he would not run for U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff in 2026. The announcement opened the field for multiple potential Republican candidates including Marjorie Taylor Greene, Buddy Carter, and Mike Collins. Political operatives indicated that Kemp's decision would shift focus to tier two candidates and potentially influence the eventual Republican nominee through his political organization and fundraising capabilities.

In 2023, Kemp signed into law a bill that prohibited the use of liens to enforce 40-year real estate listing agreements offered by MV Realty. The legislation did not ban the underlying contracts themselves but prevented the company from using liens as an enforcement mechanism for future agreements. The law followed investigations by state attorneys general and media outlets into the company's practices of offering homeowners fast cash in exchange for long-term contractual obligations.

Gov. Kemp announced on Monday that he will not seek the U.S. Senate seat held by Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff in the 2026 election, despite being considered a top recruitment target by Republican leadership. Kemp stated that after consulting with supporters, President Trump, and Senate leadership, he determined that running for Senate was not the right decision for himself and his family. Kemp indicated his commitment to supporting a strong Republican nominee for the Senate race and to electing Republican leaders throughout Georgia in 2026.

Kemp announced in May 2025 that he would not run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026, ending months of speculation about his candidacy. In a statement posted to social media, Kemp stated that remaining as governor was not the right decision for him and his family, and that he had communicated his decision to President Trump and Senate leadership. Kemp indicated he would continue to support Republican candidates in the 2026 election cycle.

Kemp signed House Bill 428 into law on May 1, 2025, codifying into Georgia state law the right of women to access in vitro fertilization treatment. The legislation passed the General Assembly with only one dissenting vote and was sponsored by Rep. Lehman Franklin. The measure was prompted by an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that had effectively banned IVF in that state and was intended to ensure that Georgia families would have unobstructed access to the procedure.

Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 351 into law in 2024, which requires children younger than 16 to obtain parental permission before creating social media accounts and mandates that companies verify users' ages by July 1, 2025. The law also restricts how social media companies can customize advertisements for children under 16 and limits the collection of personal information from that age group. NetChoice, an industry trade group, filed a federal lawsuit in May 2025 challenging the law as unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, while Georgia officials stated they would defend the legislation.

Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia and former agriculture secretary under President Trump, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior on April 17, 2025, urging support for designating the Okefenokee Swamp as a United Nations World Heritage Site. The letter, written on Board of Regents letterhead, cited an environmental conservation group's study indicating the designation would provide economic benefits to the surrounding Georgia region. Perdue did not address the pending draft permits for a titanium mine proposed near the swamp's southeastern border by Twin Pines Minerals.

Kemp swore in Bárbara Rivera Holmes as Georgia Labor Commissioner on April 4, 2025, making her the first Latina to hold statewide office in Georgia. Rivera Holmes oversees the Department of Labor during a period when Georgia's unemployment rate stands at 3.6%, below the national average of 4.2%, with the state supporting five million jobs. Since her appointment, Rivera Holmes has met with state employers and workers and announced plans to modernize the state's computer system for the Labor Department.

Governor Brian Kemp attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center on April 29, 2025, alongside Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. The 85-acre facility in DeKalb County's South River Forest was designed to provide training for Atlanta police officers and firefighters. The opening took place amid ongoing protests from activists who have opposed the project, while supporters stated the center was necessary for modernizing law enforcement and public safety training in the city.

Governor Kemp attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in southeast Atlanta on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, following years of construction delays due to protests and opposition. Kemp stated that he supported and encouraged the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Georgia State Patrol to conduct investigations and provide security at the construction site during demonstrations, and indicated that his commitment to the project's completion was reinforced after a state trooper was wounded and an activist was killed during an operation in the area. Kemp characterized the center's completion as important to public safety across Georgia and described his role in supporting cooperation between state and local officials on the project.

In 2022, Kemp legalized the distribution of fentanyl test strips in Georgia, enabling pharmacists and harm reduction advocates to provide the strips to the public. The legalization of fentanyl test strips occurred as part of broader efforts to increase access to overdose prevention tools throughout the state. Fentanyl test strips can detect the presence of fentanyl in street drugs within minutes, according to harm reduction advocates working in Georgia.

Governor Kemp signed House Bill 268 into law on Monday, establishing new school safety measures in Georgia following the shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County that killed four people. The law mandates police reporting to schools when officers learn a child has threatened death or injury, requires faster transfer of student records between schools, and creates a statewide alert system managed by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to flag students found to have threatened or committed violence at school. The legislation also makes adult prosecution the default for students aged 13 to 16 charged with certain violent crimes at school and requires public schools to provide wearable panic buttons to employees.

Kemp attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center on Tuesday morning, alongside Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. The $118 million facility was constructed to house training for police officers and firefighters after years of delays due to community opposition and protests. The center began operations the previous year and has expanded its training schedule to include monthly police recruit classes starting from the current month through September.

Kemp signed three workforce development bills during a leadership summit sponsored by the Technical College System of Georgia on Monday. House Bill 217 extended a pilot program allowing technical college students to earn high school diplomas for an additional five years and authorized the Georgia Student Finance Commission to use state Department of Revenue data for income verification in the private-school vouchers program. Senate Bill 180 permitted apprenticeship program sponsors to participate in funding the High Demand Apprenticeship Program, while Senate Bill 193 established an adult workforce high school diploma program within the technical college system for students aged 21 to 40.

Kemp's former opponent, David Perdue, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as ambassador to China by a 67-29 vote in April 2025, following his nomination by President Donald Trump in December 2024. Perdue's confirmation occurred during escalating tensions between the United States and China over tariffs, trade policy, and technological competition. The ambassador takes office as the U.S.-China relationship faces strain from multiple sources including a 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports imposed by the Trump administration and Chinese retaliatory tariffs of 125 percent on U.S. goods.

Governor Kemp signed legislation on Monday at the Georgia State Capitol focused on advancing education initiatives and workforce development across the state. The signed bills included SB 1, sponsored by Senator Greg Dolezal and carried in the House by Representative Josh Bonner, which addresses team competition policies in educational settings. Kemp stated the legislation was intended to support students, families, and educators while strengthening Georgia's workforce development efforts.

Kemp nominated Angelique McClendon to serve as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Driver Services, a position approved by the agency's board. McClendon, who had previously served as general counsel and assistant deputy commissioner of legal and regulatory affairs at DDS, succeeded outgoing Commissioner Spencer Moore on May 1. Kemp stated that McClendon's extensive career in state service would help ensure efficient operations at the department, which manages a fiscal 2026 budget of $89.3 million.

Governor Brian Kemp signed two tort reform bills into law on Monday afternoon, making legislation a priority that he stated would lower insurance premiums and frivolous lawsuits. The main bill limits when property and business owners can be held accountable for injuries and crimes committed by third parties on their property, with Fire and Insurance Commissioner John King stating he expects insurance decreases of 3% to 5% as a result. The legislation includes a carve-out for victims of sex trafficking but eliminates negligence security cases, which personal injury attorneys argue will make it significantly more difficult for injury victims to hold companies accountable in future lawsuits.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 68 and Senate Bill 69 on April 21, 2025, legislation designed to reform Georgia's civil litigation process. Senate Bill 68 modified trial procedures including rules governing non-economic damages arguments, discovery timing, and dismissal requests, while also establishing new limits on premises liability claims with an exemption for sex trafficking victims. Senate Bill 69 established regulatory requirements for third-party litigation financing arrangements, requiring safeguards for plaintiffs entering such agreements.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 69 and Senate Bill 68 into law in April 2025, enacting sweeping tort reform legislation designed to limit lawsuits in Georgia. Senate Bill 69 requires third-party litigation funders to register with the Department of Banking and Finance and prohibits foreign adversaries from investing in litigation, while Senate Bill 68 requires plaintiffs suing property owners to prove the owner knew of a specific security risk and failed to provide adequate security. The legislation was among Kemp's top priorities for the spring legislative session.

Kemp signed House Bill 92 into law on April 1, 2025, extending a deadline for Georgia cities, counties, and school districts to opt into Constitutional Amendment 1, which allows communities to limit annual increases in property tax values to the rate of inflation rather than allowing assessments to rise more steeply. The bill gave local governments until the end of April 2025 to reconsider participation in the tax limitation measure after many school districts initially declined to adopt it. The House passed the legislation 173-1 and the Senate passed it unanimously after amendments, with sponsors stating the measure was intended to help homeowners reduce property tax burden.

Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order on Friday directing flags at the State Capitol and across Fulton County to be lowered to half-staff on Monday, April 21, in recognition of Lieutenant Helio Armando Garcia III, a South Fulton police officer killed in a head-on crash while on duty. The flags remained at half-staff until sunset on the day of Garcia's memorial service. Garcia, 47, had served as one of the original officers of the South Fulton Police Department since its founding in 2018.

The Georgia Legislature passed HB 136, which renewed the Fostering Success Tax Credit and increased its funding cap from $20 million to $30 million. The tax credit allows Georgia residents to receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit when donating to organizations that support youth aging out of the foster care system. The expanded funding supports programs including Wellroot's Transitional Living Program, which provides housing, educational, and workforce support for former foster youth.

Governor Kemp signed House Bill 112 on Tuesday, legislation passed by the General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session that authorized $1 billion in special tax refunds for Georgia taxpayers. Eligible Georgia residents who filed timely individual income tax returns for both 2023 and 2024 will receive one-time refunds ranging from $250 to $500 based on their 2023 filing status. Refunds will be distributed through the method specified on taxpayers' tax forms, with over 75 percent of prior refunds issued via direct deposit.

Kemp signed House Bill 112, which allocates $1.2 billion from Georgia's $16.5 billion budget surplus toward tax rebates for state residents. Eligible taxpayers who were full-year Georgia residents in both 2023 and 2024 and filed income tax returns for both years can receive rebates ranging from $250 to $500 depending on filing status. The Georgia Department of Revenue will begin issuing the refunds in late May through direct deposit or check.

Kemp signed House Bill 111 on April 15, 2025, which reduces the state income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19% retroactive to the beginning of the current tax year. Kemp also signed House Bill 112, which provides one-time tax rebates to Georgia taxpayers of $250 for single filers, $375 for heads of household, and $500 for married couples filing jointly. Both bills were signed during an event at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre in Cumberland hosted by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

Kemp signed House Bill 112, which authorized a one-time special tax refund totaling $1 billion for Georgia taxpayers who filed returns for 2023 and 2024, with payments of $250 for single filers, $350 for head-of-household filers, and $500 for joint filers. Kemp also signed House Bill 111, which reduced Georgia's state income tax rate to 5.19% retroactive to January 1, 2025, accelerating a previously planned tax rate reduction. The governor held a signing ceremony with members of the Georgia General Assembly at the Battery during a Cobb Chamber of Commerce event on Tuesday.

Kemp signed House Bill 111, which accelerates Georgia's state income tax rate reduction that was previously approved, implementing what his office describes as the largest state income tax cut in Georgia history. Kemp also signed House Bill 112, which authorizes a $1 billion special state income tax refund with one-time rebate amounts ranging from $250 to $500 depending on filing status, to be distributed after processing of 2024 tax returns. Eligible taxpayers must have filed Georgia income tax returns for both 2023 and 2024, not be claimed as dependents, and be full-time Georgia residents.

Kemp vetoed a bill that would have temporarily suspended a state sales tax exemption aimed at attracting data centers to Georgia after business interests objected to the measure. The veto occurred in the previous year and was cited by energy watchdog Patty Durand as an example of state leadership's lack of accountability on energy issues. Durand subsequently launched Georgia Utility Watch, a nonprofit organization focused on transparency and accountability in state energy regulation.

Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation in April 2025 allowing anyone in Georgia to possess and administer naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication commonly known by the brand name Narcan. The law enables schools, public libraries, universities, and YMCAs to request and distribute free naloxone kits to their communities. Georgia pharmacies began offering free naloxone to the public through this program, with distribution coordinated through Georgia Overdose Prevention and accessible via pharmacy consultation or online request.

Kemp stated his support for President Donald Trump's 125 percent tariff on China, which took effect in April 2025 as an exception to a 90-day pause on international tariffs. Kemp acknowledged that China is Georgia's third largest trading partner, with significant business in aerospace parts and poultry exports, but stated that China has not been a fair trading partner. The tariff announcement came as concerns arose from import-export businesses in Atlanta and trade analysts regarding potential loss of market share for Georgia products in Chinese markets.

Kemp held a ceremony on April 10, 2025, to open a new Georgia State Patrol post in Buckhead on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion, a 1,750-square-foot facility funded by $1.3 million approved by the General Assembly in the 2024 budget and completed in March 2025. The post will serve the Buckhead area and surrounding neighborhoods with approximately 35 troopers, 13 of whom are directly assigned to the facility. Kemp stated the opening represented a collaborative approach to law enforcement in the state capital and was made possible through support from the General Assembly and local partners including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickels.

Senate Bill 331, which would dissolve the Barrow County Airport Authority and transfer its assets, obligations, and responsibilities to Barrow County government, passed both chambers of the Georgia legislature and was sent to Governor Kemp for consideration in April 2025. Barrow County initiated the legislation through local lawmakers and expressed support for the transfer, while the City of Winder opposed the bill, citing lack of prior communication and concerns about financial impacts on city residents. The bill will become law if Kemp signs it within 40 days, takes no action, or if the governor vetoes it and the veto is not overridden.

Governor Kemp allowed lawmakers to spend an additional $50 million in state funds under House Bill 68, a $37.8 billion state budget that the Georgia legislature approved in April 2025. The budget allocated $141 million to a new voucher program for private schools and homeschooling, while also providing $15.3 million in extra funding directly to schools serving large numbers of economically disadvantaged students for the first time. Kemp designated the $50 million increase for foster care programs and a new science building at the University of North Georgia.

Kemp signed the religious liberty bill into law, stating the legislation was necessary to protect people of faith from government intrusion and reflected policies adopted by most states. The bill allows individuals to assert religious freedom claims in legal proceedings. Democratic lawmakers raised concerns that the bill, enacted without an underlying state civil rights law, could permit discrimination against religious minorities.

Governor Kemp allowed lawmakers to increase state spending by $50 million under House Bill 68, Georgia's $37.8 billion state budget approved by the Senate 54-1 and the House 170-5 on Friday. The budget allocated $141 million for a new voucher program for private schools and homeschooling, providing approximately 21,000 vouchers at $6,500 each. The spending plan also included $15.3 million for a one-time pilot program to provide additional funding to schools serving large numbers of students in poverty.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 36, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, on Friday, April 4, 2025. The legislation was designed to prevent government intrusion into individuals' rights to exercise their religious beliefs and mirrored a 1993 federal RFRA that the U.S. Supreme Court had limited to federal application in 1997. The General Assembly's Republican majorities passed the bill primarily along party lines on Wednesday.

The Georgia House of Representatives and Senate passed a $37.7 billion fiscal 2026 state budget on April 4, 2025, with the House voting 170-5 and the Senate voting 54-1 in favor of the spending plan. The budget included $141 million to fully fund Georgia's private school voucher program, which reflected Governor Kemp's recommendation to the General Assembly. The spending plan also allocated $300 million for K-12 student funding, $108.9 million for school safety improvements, and a $200 million increase for the Georgia Department of Corrections.

Kemp boosted his tax revenue estimate by $50 million, which facilitated lawmakers' passage of Georgia's state budget on the final day of the legislative session. The $37.7 billion budget included an accelerated state income tax cut under House Bill 111, establishing a flat 5.19% income tax rate retroactive to January 1, and income tax rebates between $250 and $500 under House Bill 112. Kemp signed Senate Bill 36, a religious liberty measure, on Friday as part of the legislative session's concluding actions.

Senate Bill 147, authored by State Senator Michael "Doc" Rhett, passed unanimously through both the Georgia Senate and State House and was slated for Governor Kemp's signature. The legislation requires all state correctional institutions to provide inmates who request it with copies of academic and professional records, including birth certificates, social security cards, work records, resumes, vocational training certifications, and documentation of mock job interview practice. Upon implementation, the bill aims to facilitate the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into society by ensuring they possess necessary documentation to obtain employment and identification upon release from prison.

The Georgia legislature passed Senate Bill 291, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch and 24 other Republican senators, which authorizes the Georgia Department of Revenue to issue a specialty license plate bearing the phrase "America First" alongside the American flag. The bill passed the House on April 2 by a vote of 95-68 after clearing the Senate in early March, and exempts the plate from the standard requirement of 1,000 prepaid applications, with production to be discontinued if that threshold is not reached by January 1, 2028. Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Doreen Carter, called on Governor Kemp to veto the legislation.

The Georgia legislature passed Senate Bill 36, the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act, which was sent to Governor Brian Kemp's desk for consideration despite opposition from House Democrats. The bill establishes religious protections at the state and local level, according to its supporters, while opponents contended it could permit discrimination against certain groups. The passage occurred during the final days of the 2025 legislative session amid partisan tensions between Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

Kemp signed Senate Bill 36, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, into law in April 2025. The legislation, modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, prevents government entities from impeding on religious rights in most cases and restricts enforcement of laws that conflict with religious expression. The Republican-led House approved the bill 96-70, with two Republicans voting against it and one supporting it, while Democrats expressed concerns about potential discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals and religious minorities without additional protections.

Senate Bill 185, which prohibits state funding for gender-affirming care for inmates in Georgia's prison system, passed the Georgia House of Representatives 100-2 in April 2025 and was sent to Governor Kemp for signature. The bill bars the use of state tax dollars to pay for gender-affirming surgeries and hormone-replacement therapies for incarcerated individuals. The legislation's passage prompted a walkout by House Democrats, who argued the measure addressed a narrow issue affecting only five state inmates rather than broader healthcare and education concerns.

House Bill 582, which would reduce prison sentences for individuals whose crimes are connected to domestic abuse, passed the Georgia Senate 53-1 in April 2025 and awaited final House approval before going to Governor Kemp's desk for signature. The bill would allow judges to reduce sentences for crimes with life minimum sentences to 10-30 years if domestic violence, dating violence, or child abuse contributed to the offense, and would permit judges to impose no more than half the maximum sentence for other felonies when abuse is a factor. If signed into law, Georgia would join Oklahoma, Illinois, New York, and California in providing sentencing relief to domestic abuse survivors, and over 100 women currently incarcerated in Georgia could become eligible for resentencing.

The Georgia Senate passed legislation regulating vehicle booting practices, which was sent to Governor Kemp's desk for signature. The bill establishes licensing and regulation of booting companies under the Department of Public Safety, requires new signage requirements, and prohibits kickback payments to property owners, while stopping short of an outright ban on the practice. Kemp has 40 days to sign the legislation into law.

Kemp attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 2, 2025, for Flock Safety's new 97,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Georgia, which will produce drones for police departments. During the event, Kemp demonstrated the drone technology and praised the company's expansion within the state. The facility represents an expansion of Flock Safety's operations following its acquisition of drone company Aerodome and a $275 million funding round that valued the company at more than $7.5 billion.

Georgia lawmakers passed legislation banning personal electronic devices, including cellphones, for students in kindergarten through eighth grade during school hours, with the bill subsequently sent to Governor Kemp's desk for consideration. The measure received overwhelming approval from both the House and Senate. Some families of students at Apalachee High School have called on Kemp to veto the bill, citing concerns about emergency communication capabilities in the wake of a shooting incident at that school.

A federal judge ruled in favor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Georgia in a water allocation dispute with Alabama over Lake Allatoona, denying Alabama's request for increased control over water distribution during drought conditions. The decision upheld the Corps' 2021 update to its operational manual that granted Georgia's request for additional water supplies from the ACT Basin. Kemp's office stated that the ruling provides greater certainty to Georgia's access to water from Allatoona Lake for the state's growing population and water customers in the region.

House Bill 105, which doubled compensation to $150,000 for families of teachers and public school employees killed in the line of duty, passed both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly with Kemp's agreement to a Senate amendment. The amendment added a requirement that the State Board of Workers' Compensation inform injured police officers of their eligibility for a fund covering the difference between full pay and workers' compensation during recovery. The bill acknowledged the growing risk of violence in schools and brought teacher indemnification to parity with that of police officers killed on the job.

Kemp attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Smyrna for Flock Safety's new 97,000-square-foot drone manufacturing facility, a $10 million investment expected to create 210 jobs over three years. The Georgia-based technology company will produce drones and public safety tools at the facility while refurbishing damaged devices and assembling solar panels. Kemp stated in a prepared statement that Georgia fosters a business environment where innovative companies can grow while operating in safe communities, and expressed the state's readiness for a long-term partnership with Flock Safety.

House Bill 123 lowered the burden of proof for defendants claiming intellectual disability in capital cases from "beyond a reasonable doubt" to "a preponderance of the evidence," bringing Georgia's standard in line with other states. The legislation, which passed the Senate 53-1 and the House with bipartisan support, established new procedural requirements including a mandatory pretrial hearing, a separate trial phase for assessing intellectual disability, and specific disclosure deadlines for both defense and prosecution. Governor Kemp signed the bill into law, making it effective immediately.

A bill to regulate Georgia's vehicle booting industry passed the House on Monday with a significant modification that removed a provision banning booting companies from monitoring parking lots. The revised legislation, sponsored by State Sen. Josh McLaurin, retained a requirement prohibiting kickbacks to property owners for booting vehicles and would place booting companies under Department of Public Safety oversight for rate-setting and licensing. The bill was set for a final Senate vote before the April 4 legislative deadline.

The Georgia legislature approved House Bill 123, which would modify the evidentiary standard for proving intellectual disability in capital cases from "beyond a reasonable doubt" to a "preponderance of the evidence" and establish a pre-trial hearing process for such determinations. The House passed the bill 150-3 and the Senate passed it 53-1, with the Senate amendment adding a life sentence without possibility of parole as an alternative to execution. The bill was sent to Kemp for his signature.

Georgia lawmakers approved House Bill 268, a comprehensive school safety measure, and sent it to Governor Kemp's desk in March 2025 following the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School. The bill establishes mandatory police reporting of student threats to schools, requires faster transfer of student records between districts, creates a statewide anonymous reporting system, mandates wearable panic buttons for school staff, and requires each school district to add a mental health coordinator position. The legislation also scales back a proposed student-tracking database in favor of a more limited statewide alert system managed by GEMA that would flag students found to have threatened or committed violence at school.

The Georgia House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 241 on Monday by a vote of 157-4, legislation that would regulate human composting as an alternative method for disposal of the dead. The Senate had previously approved the bill in early March with near-unanimous support. The bill is now pending consideration by Governor Kemp.

The Georgia legislature passed House Bill 268 on April 1, 2025, a comprehensive school safety measure that received broad bipartisan support, passing the Senate 45-9 and the House 154-12. The bill requires schools to maintain records on students exhibiting troubling behavior, share those records within five business days when students transfer schools, and establish anonymous tip lines, while also mandating increased mental health services including state-funded student advocates and annual mental health training for teachers and students. The legislation was developed in response to the September 2024 mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County that resulted in four deaths and included provisions for threat assessment teams and a student database that were removed during the Senate review process.

A federal judge ruled in Georgia's favor in a dispute with Alabama over water withdrawals from Lake Allatoona, allowing the state to increase its daily withdrawals from 37.1 million gallons to 94 million gallons to serve growing suburban populations in Cobb County and Cartersville. Governor Kemp stated in response that the ruling "brings greater certainty to our state's access to the water supply from Allatoona Lake." The decision resolves the final remaining water dispute between the two states and solidifies water supplies for hundreds of thousands of customers in the region.

Georgia lawmakers voted to reject a Senate amendment that would have increased Governor Kemp's annual salary from $182,000 to $250,000, representing a 37 percent raise that would have tied his compensation with New York Governor Kathy Hochul's as the highest-paid governor in the United States. The House action also blocked proposed salary increases for state legislators and other top elected officials. The measure did not advance in the legislative process.

House Bill 123, legislation that would reduce the evidentiary burden required to prove intellectual disability in Georgia death penalty cases, passed the state Senate on March 31, 2025, and was sent to Governor Kemp's desk for consideration. The bill would align Georgia with 26 other states that retain capital punishment by modifying the standard of proof that defense attorneys and judges must apply when determining whether a defendant is intellectually disabled. The measure also would allow judges to issue decisions on intellectual disability claims before trial rather than requiring such determinations to occur during sentencing hearings.

The Georgia Senate passed House Bill 268, a school safety measure that had previously been approved by the House of Representatives, in a bipartisan 45-9 vote on March 31, 2025. The bill requires schools to maintain records on students with troubling behavior and establish anonymous tip lines, while also allocating funding for student mental health advocates and annual mental health awareness training for teachers and students. The Senate removed provisions from the House version that would have mandated threat assessment teams and created a statewide database of students flagged as potentially suspicious.

A bill to protect in vitro fertilization in Georgia passed both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly and was sent to Gov. Brian Kemp for signature. The legislation received support from both Republican and Democratic senators and was sponsored by State Sen. Lehman Franklin. Kemp will determine whether to sign or veto the measure.

The Georgia General Assembly passed the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act in March 2025, which establishes mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking convictions. The legislation imposes a minimum of five years imprisonment for trafficking between four and 14 grams of fentanyl and now awaits Governor Kemp's signature. The bill passed the House 131-31 and the Senate unanimously after the House made amendments to the measure.

House Bill 428, legislation guaranteeing Georgia women the legal right to pursue in vitro fertilization, passed both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly and was sent to Governor Kemp's desk for signature in March 2025. The bill was inspired by an Alabama Supreme Court decision that treated frozen embryos as children, prompting Alabama and Georgia lawmakers to enact protective measures. The Georgia House voted unanimously to accept Senate amendments to the bill, and the Senate passed it with only one dissenting vote before forwarding it to Kemp.

The Georgia State Senate budget committee advanced a $37.7 billion fiscal 2026 spending plan that included $170 million for prison system improvements, including hiring correctional officers and upgrading technology to prevent contraband smuggling. The amount fell between Governor Kemp's January request of $125 million and the House version of $250 million. The committee also voted to fully fund the state's private-school vouchers program at $140 million, restoring Kemp's original recommendation after the House had reduced it to $40 million.

The Georgia legislature passed Senate Bill 144, which would limit lawsuits against manufacturers of crop chemicals by establishing that product labels approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency constitute sufficient warning of potential health risks. The bill carves out an exception if a manufacturer knowingly withheld, concealed, misrepresented, or destroyed relevant health risk information to obtain EPA approval. Kemp has 40 days from the end of the legislative session on April 4 to sign or veto the bill, or it will become law automatically.

The Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 340, the "Distraction-Free Education Act," which bans personal cellphones in public elementary and middle schools beginning in July 2026, with the bill passing the Georgia Senate 54-2 and the state House with strong bipartisan support in early March 2025. The legislation requires schools to develop policies allowing parents to contact their children through alternative means such as the principal's office and includes exemptions for students with disabilities or medical conditions requiring cellphone access for learning or health purposes. Kemp has not yet signed or vetoed the measure as of the article's publication date.

Georgia lawmakers voted unanimously on March 24, 2025, to approve tax breaks for farmers and timber owners affected by Hurricane Helene, sending the bill to Governor Kemp for approval. The legislation includes exemptions from state income taxes on federal crop insurance and disaster payments to farmers, a tax credit for timberland owners replanting trees on damaged acreage, a waiver of sales taxes on building materials for agricultural structures, and a waiver of harvest taxes on timber cut during the final three months of 2024 and all of 2025, with an estimated total value of nearly $300 million. The measure represents part of Georgia's broader Hurricane Helene recovery package, which had previously allocated $862 million in spending and $285 million for low-interest farm loans and debris removal.

After two years of legislative effort, Kemp's civil litigation reform bill passed the Georgia General Assembly in March 2025, overhauling the state's system for filing certain lawsuits by establishing new rules governing when and how Georgians may initiate legal action. The Georgia Senate approved the measure with overwhelming Republican support and two Democratic votes, despite last-minute amendments proposed by Democratic senators to expand protections for crime victims beyond those already included in the bill. Kemp indicated he would sign the legislation into law in the following week.

The Georgia Senate passed House Bill 112 and House Bill 111 in March 2025, sending both measures to Governor Kemp's desk for signature. House Bill 112 would provide the third consecutive year of state income tax rebates, returning up to $250 to individual taxpayers, up to $375 to heads of household, and up to $500 to married couples. House Bill 111 would accelerate an already-planned income tax cut to establish a flat income tax rate of 5.19% retroactive to January 1, 2025, reducing state revenue by an estimated $149 million in the budget year ending June 30 and $744 million annually thereafter.

Governor Kemp made tort reform legislation his top priority for the 2025 legislative session, and Senate Bill 68 gained final passage in the General Assembly on March 21, 2025, with the Georgia Senate voting 34-21 to accept House amendments before sending the bill to Kemp's desk for signature. The bill modifies civil litigation procedures in Georgia, including restrictions on when plaintiff attorneys can argue for non-economic damages, timing of discovery, and dismissal procedures, along with a premises liability provision that was amended to carve out sex trafficking victims from its scope. The measure also grants trial judges discretion over the admissibility of evidence regarding seatbelt use in auto crash cases and provides victims the right to limit repetitive testimony.

Kemp designated Senate Bill 68 as his top legislative priority for the 2025 Georgia legislative session, focusing on tort reform measures. The Republican-controlled state House of Representatives passed SB 68 on March 20, 2025, by a vote of 91-82, the minimum number needed for approval in the 180-member chamber. The bill, which had previously cleared the Senate, includes provisions on premises liability standards, seat belt evidence admissibility in auto accident cases, and requirements that plaintiffs seek economic damages based on actual medical care costs.

Governor Kemp's office assisted in drafting Senate Bill 36, the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which prohibits government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion except in furtherance of a compelling government interest. The bill passed the state Senate along party lines and received a lengthy committee hearing in the House of Representatives on Wednesday without final action. The legislation would align Georgia with 39 other states that have similar religious freedom statutes.

Governor Kemp's lawsuit reform bill passed the Georgia House on March 20, 2025, by a single vote of 91-84, with three Democrats voting in favor and several Republicans voting against the measure. The bill would overhaul Georgia's civil litigation system by establishing new rules governing how and when residents can file lawsuits. The legislation now returns to the Georgia Senate for final approval.

The Georgia House voted to pass a tort reform bill that Kemp identified as his signature legislative priority for the session, sending the measure to his desk for approval. Kemp stated that the current civil litigation system was harming Georgia businesses through settlements, legal fees, and increased insurance rates, and he advocated for the bill to address these issues. The legislation would overhaul Georgia's civil litigation system and had previously received approval from the Senate.

Governor Brian Kemp backed Senate Bill 68, a tort reform bill that the Georgia House of Representatives passed by a single vote in March 2025. The legislation seeks to limit excessive lawsuits and adjust compensation in litigation cases with the stated aim of creating a more balanced court environment. The bill proceeded to the Senate for further consideration following its House passage.

Senate Bill 241, which permits the disposition of human remains through organic human reduction, or composting, passed the Georgia House and was sent to Governor Kemp's office for consideration in March 2025. The legislation establishes regulatory requirements for funeral homes and mortuaries performing this service, including licensing, permitting, record-keeping for unclaimed remains, and authorization procedures for release of remains to family members or legal representatives. If signed by Kemp, Georgia would become the 13th state to allow human composting, with the law scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025.

The Georgia Senate passed House Bill 112, which would provide Georgia residents a one-time tax credit of $250 to $500 depending on filing status for those who filed tax returns in 2023 and 2024. The bill now awaits Governor Kemp's signature or veto. If signed, this would represent the third consecutive year that Georgia has enacted state income tax rebates under similar legislation.

Governor Kemp appointed Bárbara Rivera Holmes as Georgia's labor commissioner in March 2025, filling the vacancy created by the death of former Commissioner Bruce Thompson. Holmes, the former president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, became the first Latina to hold a statewide constitutional office in Georgia and was scheduled to be sworn in on April 4, 2025, to serve the remainder of Thompson's term. She brings experience in economic development and workforce initiatives from her previous roles in the Albany area.

Governor Kemp identified comprehensive tort reform legislation as his top priority for the 2025 General Assembly session, and Senate Bill 68 cleared a House committee on March 19, 2025. The Republican-backed bill, which previously passed the state Senate largely along party lines, includes provisions on premises liability standards, seat belt evidence in auto accident cases, economic damages calculations, and trial bifurcation procedures. The measure underwent substantial revisions during its progression through both chambers based on testimony from lawmakers and stakeholders.

Kemp requested that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency provide training to approximately 1,100 Georgia State Patrol troopers, Capitol police officers, and Motor Carrier Compliance Division officers on handling individuals in the country illegally who have committed crimes. The Georgia Commissioner of Public Safety stated that the state applied for the federal immigration training program and is in the queue with other states, with details still being finalized. According to the Commissioner, the training is intended to provide officers with guidance on appropriate procedures when encountering individuals in the country illegally during routine operations.

Governor Kemp set out five years ago to make Georgia the "e-mobility capital of the world," a goal that has resulted in the state attracting multibillion-dollar electric vehicle manufacturing plants, battery factories, and related supply chain projects. The largest of these projects, Hyundai Motor Group's $7.6 billion manufacturing facility in Bryan County, began production in October 2024 and is expected to eventually employ 8,500 workers. According to a report released in March 2025, more than 82,000 Georgians worked in the clean tech industry at the end of 2024, with energy efficient appliances accounting for the largest employment share at 58,067 jobs.

Kemp appointed Barbara Rivera Holmes as Georgia's labor commissioner on March 18, 2025, succeeding Bruce Thompson who died in November 2024. Holmes previously served as president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Kemp stated that Holmes's experience in economic development and education qualified her for the position and indicated she would run for a full four-year term as a Republican.

Kemp sponsored a lawsuit reform bill that advanced from a House committee to the full chamber for a vote scheduled for the week of March 18, 2025. The bill would restructure Georgia's civil litigation system by establishing what sponsors characterized as procedural guidelines for lawsuits. The measure faced criticism from Democrats, trial lawyers, and some plaintiffs who raised concerns about its impact on civil litigation access.

Kemp announced that all 1,100 sworn officers at the Georgia Department of Public Safety would receive training from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to identify and apprehend immigrants considered a public safety risk. DPS Commissioner Billy Hitchens submitted a Memorandum of Agreement request to participate in the federal 287(g) program, which authorizes ICE to delegate enforcement authority to state and local law enforcement under federal oversight. The Georgia Department of Corrections already maintains a longstanding agreement under the same program and ICE subsequently requested additional correctional officers to assist in deportation operations.

Kemp announced that the Georgia Department of Public Safety would expand its partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by enrolling approximately 1,100 state troopers and other sworn officers in the 287(g) Program, a federal initiative that authorizes ICE to delegate immigration enforcement authority to state and local law enforcement. The training program, requested by DPS Commissioner Billy Hitchens, would enable Georgia state troopers to assist in identifying and apprehending individuals unlawfully present in the country who are suspected of criminal activity. The Georgia Department of Corrections already participates in the 287(g) Program through the Jail Enforcement Model, with the state agreement having been renewed in 2019 and 2020.

Governor Kemp submitted a $37.7 billion fiscal 2026 state budget to the Georgia General Assembly that prioritizes spending on prisons and education. The Georgia House of Representatives passed Kemp's budget proposal on March 11, 2025, with a vote of 171-4, authorizing $250 million in new prison spending to hire over 700 correctional officers and provide staff pay raises, as well as $98 million in additional education spending for student safety and mental health programs. The budget takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not rely on state surplus funding, reflecting expectations of economic constraints ahead.

Kemp announced his commitment to passing tort reform legislation in Georgia, stating that such reforms would help attract businesses to the state and protect them from what he characterized as abusive lawsuits. The governor declared that if the legislature did not pass the tort reform bill during the current session, he would call a special session to complete the measure. The legislation had already passed the Georgia Senate and was pending a floor vote in the House of Representatives.

Kemp submitted a $37.7 billion fiscal 2026 state budget that the Georgia House budget committee approved, with the spending plan taking effect July 1. The budget allocates $250 million to the state prison system, including $125 million recommended by Kemp in January, to address staffing ratios, correctional officer pay raises, and facility repairs following a federal audit documenting inmate safety concerns. The budget also includes $98 million in education spending and allocations for healthcare provider reimbursement rates and graduate medical education programs.

Georgia lawmakers advanced two tax relief bills during the March 2025 Crossover Day legislative session. House Bill 111 would lower the state income tax rate to 5.19% from 5.39%, retroactive to January 1, 2025, with further year-over-year decreases scheduled until the rate reaches 4.99%. A second bill would provide income tax rebates of $250 to $500 depending on filing status, pending full Senate approval and Governor Kemp's signature, with Kemp having previously signaled support for the income tax rate reduction as his proposal.

Kemp signed an amended $40.5 billion budget bill for fiscal year 2025 on March 6, 2025. The budget allocates funding for hurricane recovery from Hurricane Helene, school security improvements, prison system safety upgrades, economic development, and charter system grants, with $4.4 billion drawn from the state budget surplus. The amended budget represents a 12.2% increase from the original budget proposal.

Kemp signed the amended 2025 Georgia state budget on March 6, 2025, which allocated $862 million in funding for Hurricane Helene relief efforts, included tax cuts and tax rebates for Georgia taxpayers, and increased overall state spending to approximately $75 billion. The budget was supported by tax collections that exceeded the governor's earlier estimates and the use of $11 billion in accumulated state surplus. The spending plan designated funds for low-interest loans to farmers, debris removal, grants to rural hospitals in affected areas, and support for nonprofit organizations providing disaster relief.

Kemp signed a $40.5 billion mid-year budget on March 6, 2025, that allocated funds across multiple state priorities including $867 million for hurricane relief following Hurricane Helene, $434 million for prison guard pay raises and correctional officer staffing, and $50 million in school safety grants. The budget also included $501 million for water infrastructure in Coastal Georgia, $500 million for highway improvements, and $1 billion returned to taxpayers through a one-time rebate funded by a $16 billion state surplus. The spending plan covered state expenditures through June 30, 2025.

Kemp released a statement supporting the Georgia Student Finance Commission's announcement that 60 state colleges and universities would waive application fees for Georgia high school seniors applying between March 1 and March 30, 2025, as part of the Find Your MATCH in March initiative. The fee waiver program, which marked its eighth iteration since 2022, allowed students to apply to an unlimited number of institutions without application costs. Kemp stated the initiative opened pathways to successful careers for prospective students and their families in Georgia.

The Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 31 with a 53-1 vote to exempt retirement benefits from military service from state taxation for both active duty and reserve component members. The bill removes state tax liability on all retirement income paid to individuals who served in the Armed Forces of the United States or its reserve components. If approved by the Georgia House of Representatives and signed by Governor Kemp, the measure would take effect on July 1 and apply to all taxable years beginning January 1, 2026.

Senate Bill 55, known as the Dignity and Pay Act, passed the Georgia Senate with near-unanimous approval to phase out subminimum wage practices for disabled workers in the state. The bill would prohibit businesses from paying disabled employees less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, with a transition period allowing existing users of 14(c) waivers to continue until July 1, 2027. The legislation now proceeds to the Georgia House for consideration before requiring approval by Governor Kemp.

Kemp signed legislation establishing the Georgia Promise Scholarship, a school voucher program that provides up to $6,500 annually to eligible families for private school tuition, homeschool expenses, and other education-related costs. Applications for the program opened on March 1, 2025, with the first application window closing on April 15, 2025. Eligibility requires students to attend schools on the state's low-performing list, with priority given to families earning less than four times the federal poverty level.

The Georgia General Assembly passed a record $40.5 billion mid-year budget that received final legislative approval in March 2025, with the House voting 168-5 and the Senate voting 55-1. The budget increased state spending by $4.4 billion over the fiscal 2025 budget and included $862 million in disaster relief funding for Hurricane Helene victims, exceeding the $615 million that Kemp had requested in January. The budget also allocated $345 million for Georgia prison staffing and infrastructure improvements, $501 million for water supply expansion in Coastal Georgia to support a Hyundai manufacturing facility, and $500 million for the Department of Transportation's Freight and Logistics program.

Governor Kemp's tort reform legislative package advanced in the Georgia Senate when Senate Bill 69 passed with unanimous support on Thursday. Senate Bill 69 requires third-party litigation funders to register with the Department of Banking and Finance and prohibits foreign adversaries and governments from investing in litigation. The bill is the second component of Kemp's broader tort reform initiative, which also includes Senate Bill 68, aimed at establishing stricter property owner liability standards and enabling early dismissal of baseless cases.

The Georgia State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 69 on February 27, 2025, legislation that establishes regulatory guardrails for third-party litigation financing by requiring written contracts, state registration of financiers, restrictions on foreign adversaries, and prohibitions on financiers recovering awards exceeding plaintiff recoveries. The bill represents a narrowly tailored approach to tort reform that Governor Kemp identified as a top priority for 2025, following the Senate's passage the previous week of the broader Senate Bill 68. The measure now proceeds to the Georgia House of Representatives for consideration.

Georgia's state Senate voted 55-1 on February 27, 2025, to pass House Bill 67, which amends the state budget running through June 30 to increase Hurricane Helene relief spending beyond what Governor Kemp originally proposed. The Senate plan allocates $100 million each for low-interest loans to farmers and cleanup of downed timber on private lands, along with $25 million for a charitable grant program to aid individuals affected by the hurricane. The bill now proceeds to a conference committee to reconcile differences with the House version before it reaches Kemp for signature or veto.

Kemp requested $615 million in mid-year budget allocations for Hurricane Helene disaster relief, which the state House increased to $812 million total before the Senate Appropriations Committee added an additional $125 million on February 24, 2025. The Senate committee also approved Kemp's request for $501 million to increase surface water supplies in Coastal Georgia for a Hyundai electric-vehicle manufacturing plant under construction west of Savannah. The committee additionally supported Kemp's recommendation to hire more than 400 correctional officers for the state prison system and added $20 million toward a proposed pay raise for those officers.

Governor Kemp's tort reform bill passed the Georgia Senate on February 21, 2025, following intensive negotiations with Republican members. The legislation would limit the circumstances under which lawsuits can be filed, restrict jury awards, and require attorneys to present actual medical costs rather than initial billing amounts to juries. The bill now proceeds to the Georgia House of Representatives for consideration.

Kemp designated tort reform legislation as his top priority for the 2025 Georgia legislative session, citing goals to stabilize insurance costs and increase transparency in civil court proceedings. The Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 68, sponsored by Senator John F. Kennedy, following approximately two hours of debate, with voting largely along party lines except for one Democratic senator who voted in favor and one Republican senator who voted against the measure. Kemp indicated he would call a special legislative session if the House did not pass tort reform legislation during the current session.

Governor Brian Kemp signed Georgia's abortion restriction law in 2019, which prohibits most abortions once a detectable human heartbeat is present, typically around six weeks of pregnancy. A trial court judge struck down the law in September 2024 on state constitutional grounds, but the Georgia Supreme Court ordered the case back to trial court in February 2025 to reconsider whether the plaintiffs have legal standing to challenge it. The law remains in effect while legal proceedings continue.

The Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 68, a comprehensive tort reform bill that was Governor Kemp's stated top priority for the 2025 legislative session. The measure passed 33-21 along party lines and includes provisions such as restricting when plaintiff attorneys can request specific damage amounts, requiring judges to rule on dismissal motions before discovery begins, and establishing guidelines for premises liability claims. Kemp and legislative supporters stated the bill was intended to address jury awards they characterized as affecting insurance premiums, business operations, and access to healthcare services.

Governor Kemp shared a memo from the Georgia Technology Authority on Friday ordering state agencies to ban RedNote, DeepSeek, Webull, Tiger Brokers, Moomoo, and Lemon8 from state-issued devices. The Georgia Emergency Management Authority identified these Chinese-owned applications as security threats to state government data. This action expanded an existing prohibition on TikTok that Kemp had implemented on state-owned devices in 2022.

Kemp signed Georgia's "heartbeat law" in 2019, which prohibits most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and took effect in July 2022 following the U.S. Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade. The Georgia Supreme Court vacated a lower court's 2023 ruling that had blocked the law, sending the case back to Fulton County Superior Court to reassess the plaintiffs' legal standing under a recent decision eliminating third-party standing in Georgia courts. The legal status of the law now depends on whether the court finds that the plaintiffs have standing to continue their challenge.

Gov. Kemp signed Addy's Law in 2024 following the death of eight-year-old Adalynn Pierce, who was struck by a vehicle while boarding her school bus in Henry County. The law established a minimum $1,000 fine for drivers who pass a stopped school bus, along with a possible 12-month jail sentence. State Rep. Don Parsons introduced HB 344, which would reduce the initial fine to $300 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third offense, with some legislative committee members proposing to further amend the bill to a flat $500 fine per offense and remove potential jail time.

Kemp stated uncertainty regarding a $6.57 billion federal loan to electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian that was secured during the Biden administration to fund the company's Georgia manufacturing plant near Madison. The governor indicated that the Trump administration's freeze on federal loans created ambiguity about the loan's status and availability. Kemp affirmed his commitment to the Rivian project while emphasizing the importance of protecting taxpayers through incentive parameters regardless of the loan's outcome.

The Trump administration denied Georgia's request to extend the deadline for local governments to apply for federal disaster assistance related to Hurricane Helene. Kemp stated that he anticipated the denial and had budgeted state funds to address the gap in federal reimbursements. The General Assembly approved more than $800 million in the amended state budget to assist hurricane-affected areas of Georgia.

Kemp undertook an economic development tour of Germany and Poland to attract new businesses to Georgia and strengthen existing commercial ties with European companies. The governor met with business leaders to promote Georgia's workforce development, universities, and technical colleges, with more than 600 German companies already operating offices in the state. During the tour, Kemp indicated he was close to closing a deal with a prospective business prospect to expand Georgia's economic footprint.

Governor Kemp signed legislation in 2024 establishing the Georgia Promise Scholarship voucher program, which provides eligible families up to $6,500 annually for private school tuition, homeschool expenses, or other education-related costs. The Governor's Office of Student Achievement republished a list in February 2025 of low-performing public schools whose students qualify for the program, after the list was previously removed to allow for recalculation and validation of data. Eligibility for the vouchers requires students to attend a listed low-performing school for at least two consecutive semesters, and families must meet additional residency and income requirements.

Governor Kemp secured support from three Republican state senators who are trial lawyers for his tort reform legislation, clearing the bills through the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee in February 2025. The legislation, which Kemp had promised to the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 2023, establishes stricter standards for property liability, prevents double recovery of attorney fees, and ties compensation to actual damages. Kemp deployed a lobbying and advertising campaign to build support and threatened to call a special legislative session if the bills did not pass.

Consultants hired by Governor Kemp reported findings regarding staffing vacancies and maintenance issues at Georgia prisons, identifying that prisoners manufacture weapons using materials from aging facilities with widespread maintenance problems. The Georgia Department of Corrections investigated 66 prisoner deaths deemed homicides in 2024, with preliminary data indicating 13 deaths under investigation as homicides in the first five weeks of 2025. State legislators are developing plans to address conditions in Georgia's troubled prison system as violent deaths within facilities continue to rise.

Kemp proposed House Bill 112 in October 2024, which would provide Georgia taxpayers with a one-time special refund of $250 for single filers, $350 for head-of-household filers, and $500 for joint filers. The Georgia House Ways and Means Committee approved HB 112 in February 2025, advancing it to the rules committee for consideration of a full House vote. Kemp also proposed House Bill 111, which the committee approved, to reduce the state income tax rate to 4.99% over two years with annual 0.1% decreases.

Kemp designated House Bill 111 and House Bill 112 as key legislative priorities for his administration. House Bill 111 would accelerate income tax rate reductions for individuals and corporations that were originally approved in 2022, while House Bill 112 would provide tax refunds to Georgia residents who filed taxes in 2023 and 2024, potentially returning more than $2 billion to taxpayers. Both bills were approved by the House Ways and Means Committee on February 12, 2025.

Governor Kemp backed Senate Bill 68, a tort reform measure that advanced from the state Senate Judiciary Committee following a five-hour hearing in February 2025. The bill includes provisions shielding property owners from liability claims for criminal acts by third parties, allowing defendants in car accident suits to introduce evidence of seatbelt non-use, and requiring plaintiffs to disclose actual medical costs during jury deliberation. The committee voted 8-3 along party lines to advance the legislation to the full Senate for consideration.

Kemp administered the oath of office to Highland Rivers Behavioral Health CEO Melanie Dallas as a member of the state's Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission during a ceremony at the State Capitol. The swearing-in was attended by First Lady Marty Kemp and Kevin Tanner, who was reappointed as chair of the commission. Dallas, a licensed professional counselor with 37 years of experience in behavioral health, brings credentials including a Bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Kentucky and a Master's degree in counseling from Georgia State University.

Kemp implemented the Pathways to Coverage program in 2023, a limited form of Medicaid expansion that requires participating adults to work, volunteer, or engage in other qualifying activities for 80 hours per month. As of 2025, the program covered approximately 6,500 Georgians, leaving over 200,000 individuals in Georgia's coverage gap without access to affordable health insurance. Kemp expressed concerns about the long-term sustainability of federal funding for broader Medicaid expansion, stating that his limited approach protects state taxpayers from potential cost shifts.

State senators introduced Senate Bill 52, the Timberlands Recovery, Exemption and Earnings Stability Act, in response to timber industry losses from Hurricane Helene, which the Georgia Forestry Commission estimated at $1.3 billion as of November 2024. The legislation would authorize local governing authorities to provide temporary tax relief on standing timber taxes for eligible timber businesses and families during the remainder of 2024 and each quarter of 2025, with the costs offset through grants from the Georgia Tax Commissioner's office. If passed by the Georgia House and Senate and signed by Kemp, the bill would take effect immediately.

Governor Kemp announced that PBS Aerospace, a designer and manufacturer of small turbojet engines, would establish its North American headquarters in Roswell with an investment of up to $20 million. The new operation includes manufacturing and research and development facilities and is projected to create at least 95 new jobs in the metro Atlanta area, with full operations expected by April. The Georgia Department of Economic Development coordinated the project in partnership with the city of Roswell, Select Fulton, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and the Technical College System of Georgia's Quick Start program.

Kemp introduced legislation to overhaul Georgia's legal system, which would require plaintiffs to demonstrate actual medical bills during lawsuits and prohibit attorneys from suggesting specific damage awards to juries during closing arguments. The Georgia Hospital Association stated the bill would lower insurance premiums and prevent further hospital closures and physician departures from the state. Democratic legislators contended that Medicaid expansion, rather than tort reform, was the necessary measure to address healthcare provider shortages and hospital closures.

Kemp announced a tort reform plan during a news conference on Thursday designed to address what he characterized as frivolous lawsuits that he stated increase insurance rates for Georgia residents. The multi-pronged effort includes specific legal system modifications intended to limit certain types of lawsuits and damage awards while preserving the ability of injured Georgians to seek compensation through the courts. Kemp indicated that if the Georgia legislature does not pass the reform measures during the current session, he would call lawmakers back for a special session to address the issue.

Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled tort reform legislation during the 2025 Georgia legislative session, designating it as his top priority and stating the reforms aim to limit lawsuits and large settlements to address rising insurance costs for businesses. Kemp stated that insurance premiums have increased between 30 and 100 percent over recent years for small business owners and that some insurance companies have withdrawn from Georgia, and he warned of calling a special legislative session if tort reform legislation is not passed during the current session. The governor presented the proposal at the State Capitol with support from hundreds of industry leaders.

In January 2025, Kemp unveiled a comprehensive tort reform legislative package based on a state insurance department report documenting a 25% increase in claims over five years and steady growth in awards exceeding $1 million. The proposed legislation included provisions shielding property owners from liability for criminal acts by third parties, allowing defendants in car accident cases to introduce evidence of seatbelt non-use, requiring plaintiffs to disclose actual medical costs to juries, and limiting third-party financing of tort litigation. Kemp stated the package was designed to address increased costs of insurance premiums and business operations while preserving citizens' access to courts.

Kemp made tort reform a high priority during the 2025 Georgia General Assembly session, calling for it in a December speech to newly elected and returning legislators at the University of Georgia, returning to the theme at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's Eggs and Issues breakfast on January 14, and devoting a major portion of his State of the State address to the need for tort reform. Kemp stated that Georgia's legal environment posed threats to the state's future and that insurance costs were threatening small businesses' ability to operate. The Governor's push built upon legislation he backed in the previous year that directed the state insurance department to gather data on legal trends affecting insurance premiums and deliver a report.

Governor Kemp declared a state of emergency in Georgia on January 20, 2025, in response to a winter storm forecast to bring up to two inches of snow across 128 of the state's 159 counties. The declaration activated the State Operations Center and authorized the Georgia Department of Defense to deploy up to 250 Georgia National Guard troops for preparation, response, and recovery efforts. State offices in Atlanta were closed on Tuesday, and the first two days of budget proposal hearings before the General Assembly were canceled.

Kemp vetoed House Bill 1192, legislation passed by the Georgia General Assembly in the previous year that would have temporarily suspended a state sales tax exemption designed to attract data centers to Georgia. The bill had received support from Republican legislative leaders who expressed concern that the rapid growth of data centers was straining the state's energy grid. Following the veto, the Georgia House Speaker announced the creation of a special committee to develop a resource management plan addressing anticipated effects of growing energy and water demand on state supplies.

During his 2025 State of the State address, Kemp declared that the Georgia General Assembly must pass significant tort reform legislation during the current legislative session or he would call a special session to accomplish it. Kemp stated there would be "no room for excuses, half-measures, or failure" and cited business owners across the state who reported that soaring insurance premiums threatened their operations. He called on legislative Democrats to join Republicans in supporting tort reform, citing past bipartisan collaboration on hate crimes legislation, citizens arrest repeal, and human trafficking victim protections.

Kemp established the Georgia US250 Commission to coordinate statewide commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence signing scheduled for 2026. The commission, chaired by Cameron Bean of the Georgia Humanities Council, includes state officials and will provide local and county organizations with marketing materials and event planning resources to develop civic activities for the observance. Georgia was represented by three signers of the Declaration of Independence, according to Kemp's statement announcing the commission's creation.

On January 15, 2025, Gov. Kemp unveiled a health care proposal to expand the Georgia Pathways program, which currently provides Medicaid coverage to low-income adults in Georgia. The expansion would extend coverage to parents and legal guardians in households at or below the federal poverty level who have children six years of age or younger, and would extend postpartum coverage for new mothers beyond one year and introduce coverage for new fathers at childbirth. The proposal includes an allocation of nearly $4 million in additional funding for Maternal Health Services.

Governor Kemp proposed legislation to modify the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program, a work-requirement Medicaid initiative, during the 2025 legislative session with nine months remaining in its pilot period. The proposal would expand eligibility by adding a new qualifying activity that would provide Medicaid coverage to parents and legal guardians in households with incomes at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level who have children ages 0-6. According to Kemp's office, the expansion aims to support maternal and child health while assisting parents attempting to return to the workforce.

During his 2025 State of the State address, Kemp announced his intention to secure passage of significant tort reform legislation during the current legislative session, stating that lawmakers would need to pass such reform either during the 2025 session or through a special session later in the year. Kemp's statement followed three roundtable discussions he hosted across Georgia with business owners concerned about rising insurance premiums, which he characterized as creating a consensus that current conditions required legislative action. The governor called on legislative Democrats to support tort reform efforts and cited previous bipartisan legislative accomplishments as examples of cooperation on difficult policy matters.

During his seventh State of the State address on January 16, 2025, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced a proposal to accelerate the state's income tax rate reduction from the scheduled 5.29% to 5.19% for tax year 2025, doubling the annual cut rate established under a 2022 law that phases down the flat tax to 4.99%. Kemp stated he would call lawmakers into special session if necessary to pass the income tax acceleration along with his priority legislation on limiting civil lawsuit verdicts, with state officials estimating the accelerated tax cut would cost approximately $149 million in the current budget year and $744 million annually going forward. The proposal would be accompanied by a separate round of income tax rebates of up to $250 to $500 per filer, funded from Georgia's $11 billion budget surplus.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp prioritized the creation of a state-based health insurance exchange after his election in 2019, and the state received federal approval in August 2024 to proceed with the initiative. The Georgia Access marketplace launched in October 2024, operating through a model that directs consumers to private web brokers and insurance agents rather than a direct enrollment platform. The open enrollment deadline for the Georgia Access program occurred on January 15, 2025, with coverage beginning February 1 for those who enrolled by that date.

Kemp announced on January 13, 2025, that he would request the Georgia General Assembly provide an additional $50 million in state grants for school security improvements, bringing the total funding for the fiscal year to $158 million. The increased funding would allocate approximately $68,760 to each school in the state, with local school systems retaining discretion over how to deploy the money. Schools receiving the funds must submit safety plans to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency as required by 2023 legislation.

At the Georgia Chamber's annual Eggs and Issues breakfast in January 2025, Governor Kemp outlined his legislative priorities for the upcoming session, emphasizing workforce development and infrastructure investment. Kemp proposed legislation to create opportunities for ninth-grade students to pursue careers in high-demand fields and included in his budget proposal $530 million for freight and logistics transportation infrastructure and $250 million for water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure projects through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority Fund. Kemp also identified tort reform as a top priority for the 2025 legislative session.

On January 13, 2025, Gov. Kemp announced a legislative package to enhance K-12 education and school safety in Georgia, allocating $120.8 million in amended fiscal year 2025 funding and $402.2 million for fiscal year 2026 to fully fund K-12 education formula earnings. The proposal includes $50 million for school safety grants, funding for crisis counseling and mental health support in schools, $10.3 million for pupil transportation, and $1.25 million in equipment grants for technical education labs. Kemp stated the package also aims to improve teacher and staff benefits through increased indemnification benefits and enhanced contributions to the Teachers' State Health Benefit Plan, along with funding for capital projects to modernize school facilities.

Kemp requested assistance from Georgia business leaders in advancing tort reform legislation during the 2025 General Assembly session, which he identified as his top legislative priority. Kemp asked chambers of commerce and business organizations to engage their members and influence their local House and Senate delegations to support the reform effort. Tort reform has been pursued by Georgia Republicans and business groups for decades, with the most recent significant legislation passing twenty years ago before being struck down by the Georgia Supreme Court in 2010.

Governor Kemp vetoed legislation passed by the General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session that would have temporarily suspended a state sales tax exemption for data centers in Georgia. The veto occurred at the urging of business groups including the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. In response to concerns about increasing electricity demand from data centers and questions about their economic value, the Georgia House announced plans to form a special committee in 2025 to examine industrial energy usage in the state.

Kemp signed House Bill 1292, legislation designed to prevent title theft and property fraud by creating identity validation processes for individuals filing title deeds and real estate records in Georgia. The bill, which took effect in May 2024 with additional provisions beginning in 2025, requires sellers making unsolicited property purchase offers to disclose price differences and fair market value information, particularly targeting transactions involving older residents. The legislation also established enforcement authority for the Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division to monitor and take action against fraudulent property transactions.

Governor Kemp proposed increased spending on Georgia's correctional system totaling $458 million before the end of June and an additional $145 million in the following fiscal year, with most expenditures drawn from the state's surplus funds and distributed over multiple years. The proposal includes hiring hundreds of new correctional officers, renovating existing prisons, furnishing a new 3,000-bed facility under construction near Davisboro, and planning an additional correctional facility. The spending plan addresses documented issues within Georgia's prisons including elevated prisoner death rates, high employee turnover and criminal arrests among staff, and persistent contraband problems.

Kemp included more than $600 million in proposed prison system improvements in his budget for the current fiscal year and the next. The allocation directs over $100 million toward adding 950 prison beds, approximately $50 million to officer pay and hiring 440 new officers, over $34 million to replace locks, and more than $34 million to expand anti-cellphone technology across additional facilities. The proposal was presented during a joint hearing before the State Senate Public Safety Subcommittee and State House Special Subcommittee of Appropriations on state prisons in January 2025.

Governor Kemp and the Georgia Department of Corrections requested $372 million from state lawmakers on January 7, 2025, to improve the prison system following a Justice Department report that criticized the state for failing to protect inmates from widespread violence. The funding request, based on recommendations from consultant Guidehouse Inc., included $4 million for correctional officer pay raises, hiring 330 additional correctional officers, $40 million for designing a new prison, and $93 million for construction of modular correctional units. Kemp stated that public safety was the state government's top priority and credited the Guidehouse analysis and Department of Corrections personnel for their work on the comprehensive improvement plan.

Kemp announced preparedness measures across Georgia in advance of an approaching winter storm expected to impact the state later in the week. The governor instructed state agencies including the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, the Georgia Department of Public Safety, and the Georgia Department of Transportation to coordinate with local officials on storm preparation and safety measures. State preparations included positioning road treatment crews and equipment, with the Department of Transportation planning to begin brining operations on Thursday, particularly in areas north of Interstate 20 and along major routes.

Kemp signed House Bill 880, legislation that allows spouses of military service members to use professional licenses and certifications obtained in other states to work in Georgia. The law took effect on January 1, 2025, and permits affected spouses to practice their professions through expedited license endorsement while meeting specified conditions including maintaining good standing in their original state of licensure and filing appropriate applications. Georgia licensing boards retain authority to investigate licensees and revoke credentials for violations or misrepresentations in the licensure process.