WILLIAMS: Weeks 2 and 3 Under the Gold Dome

Published 11:00 am Wednesday, February 5, 2025

The third week of the 2025 legislative session has wrapped up, and we’re staying focused on passing commonsense legislation that puts Georgia families, businesses and communities first.

Last week’s snowstorm may have delayed budget hearings for a few days, but it didn’t slow us down. The General Assembly has been hard at work in joint sessions, carefully reviewing budget requests to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. Passing a balanced budget is not only our constitutional duty — it’s the foundation of a responsible government that serves its people.

One of the most crucial budget proposals this session is Gov. Brian P. Kemp’s plan to return $1 billion in surplus funds directly to taxpayers. Thanks to years of conservative budgeting and fiscal responsibility, we’re in a position to give back to the hardworking Georgians who keep our state running. This is just part of the $2.2 billion in statewide allocations designed to benefit families, businesses and communities across Georgia. I’m proud to support Gov. Kemp’s efforts to strengthen our economy by putting more money back in your pockets.

Another key priority is ensuring communities hit hardest by Hurricane Helene have the resources they need to rebuild. Gov. Kemp has proposed $614.72 million in recovery funding, including $150 million for the Governor’s Emergency Fund to help with debris removal and housing assistance. Another $300 million will go to the Georgia Department of Transportation to restore roads and infrastructure. Many rural counties are still reeling from this storm, and we’re committed to making sure they get the support they need to recover and move forward.

Back at the Capitol, we hit the ground running this week, advancing legislation that reflects our values and priorities. I’m proud to sponsor two bills that will help improve public safety in our state. Senate Bill 29 requires the collection of DNA samples of people arrested for felonies at booking. This will help keep innocent people out of jail, and the guilty in. Senate Bill 32 will provide a mandatory minimum sentence to people who use violence to obstruct law enforcement officers. Disrupting police officers from their job to protect the public is dangerous, and must be penalized. Both of these pieces of legislation are vital in ensuring the safety of our citizens and I look forward to giving you more updates as they move through the legislative process.

As committee meetings pick up, we’re working hard on issues that matter most to our communities, from protecting our schools to strengthening local infrastructure. One of the most bills that will impact Senate District 25 the most is Senate Bill 52, or the Timberlands Recovery, Exemption and Earnings Stability (TREES) Act. This would grant local governments to provide tax relief for the timber industry. The agriculture industry, especially timber, was devastated by Hurricane Helene. The TREES Act will provide much-needed relief to these farmers and help them rebuild after the storm.

Finally, I encourage students ages 12 to 18 to apply for the Senate Page Program. This is an excellent way for young people to see firsthand how the General Assembly works. If you know a student who might be interested, they can find more information at https://www.legis.ga.gov/news/senate/page-program-2024 .

As always, I’m here to listen. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas about our work at the Capitol, please don’t hesitate to reach out. It’s an honor to serve you, and I appreciate your trust as we work together throughout the remainder of the 2025 legislative session.

—State Sen. Rick Williams serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Retirement. He represents the 25th Senate District, which includes Baldwin, Butts, Jasper, Jones and Putnam County, as well as portions of Henry County and a small portion of Bibb County. He may be reached by phone at 404-656-0052 or by email at Rick.Williams@senate.ga.gov.