James Nov-Dec 2023 web - Flipbook - Page 53
t’s hard to believe the 2024
legislative session is almost
upon us. But for my office, the
work has been ongoing since
the 2023 session came to an end. In
May, we announced seven Senate
study committees and two joint study
committees on a number of topics
ranging from workforce development
to foster care to truck driver shortage
issues. Since that time, the Senate
has held over 20 study committee
hearings. My agenda for the 2024
session will be largely comprised of
the diligent work these committees
completed over the past few months
and their recommendations.
We will work to ensure that Georgia remains the number one state in
which to do business. I will prioritize
regulatory reform through my “Red
Tape Rollback” initiative which will
seek to reduce permitting and licensing processes to get small, medium
and large businesses, along with entrepreneurs, up and running efficiently
and quickly. Additionally, improving
budget transparency and creating a
plan for ongoing analysis of Georgia’s
tax incentive programs will remain
priorities as we look at ways to gradually eliminate the state income tax and
put more money back into the pockets
of hardworking Georgians.
Expanding Georgia’s workforce,
across all industries, will continue to
be a priority. Senate Bill 157— which
passed the Senate with unanimous,
bi-partisan support— will increase
Georgia’s robust workforce by limiting
the current authority to deny licensure
based on non-violent criminal convictions. (Unless granting a license would
present a substantial risk to public
safety.) I will continue to prioritize this
also committed to seeing through bills
from the 2023 session that did not make
it all the way across the finish line. Senate Bill 233, “The Promise Scholarship
innovative approach to grow Georgia’s Act,” would enable families to use a
workforce. Additionally, I will prioritize $6,500 scholarship fund for a variety of
increased funding and grants for tech- expenses related to their child’s edunical education, trades and our college cation, including textbooks, tutoring,
and career academies.
therapy and transportation. In Georgia,
The newly created Senate Children it is time for policymakers to prioritize
and Families Committee will continue
real solutions for parents. And in the
to focus on Georgia’s most vulnerable
Senate, we are committed to leading
population— our children. We will push the way. This bill passed the Senate
forward on the great work from the
and is currently pending in the House. I
2023 session, like Senate Bill 133. As a
look forward to celebrating with Speakresult of SB 133, DFCS reported having er Jon Burns when SB 233 becomes
zero children in the foster care system
law and Georgia’s families have school
staying in hotels for the month of Sepchoice and the ability to make the best
tember. This is a historic achievement, decision for their child’s education.
bringing the number down to zero from
Lastly, I have not been shy about
around 60 in the several months before. my feelings about the critical need
We will prioritize recommendations
to provide access to quality healthfrom the Senate Study Committee on
care to all Georgians, especially in
Foster Care and Adoption to ensure our rural parts of our state. In the Senate,
focus and commitment to our children
Chairman Greg Dolezal has led a Sendoesn’t waiver.
ate study committee to look at this
Additionally, we will focus on our
issue. The committee has held three
children’s mental health. Social media hearings so far. The members have
touches every part of our daily lives,
heard from local community memand while it certainly has its benefits,
bers, providers and applicants who
the potential negative impacts it has
are hoping to expand access to health
on our children cannot be dismissed.
care services. I look forward to the
I will prioritize legislation that will remembers’ recommendations on how
quire age verification, allow for paren- we can reform and update the current
tal consent, provide for new education- Certificate of Need process.
al resources on social media use and
Hardworking Georgians, our busiaddictive content, and crack down on ness communities and our children
cyberbullying in and out of school. Our need our attention and unwavering
goal is to ensure we’re safeguarding
support if we want to remain the numstudents against the harmful aspects
ber one state in the nation to live, work
of social media while maintaining their and raise a family.
ability to learn, grow and connect with
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a one-time state senator, was
the world around them.
elected in November 2022.
While a new legislative session
means new legislative priorities, I am
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