Wrapping up the 2019 Georgia Georgia General Assembly

For much of the legislative session, state lawmakers worked to craft and pass a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2020. This budget fully funds public school education, provides a well-deserved raise for Georgia teachers, and increases pay 2% for state employees.

The 2020 budget reflects our values as a state and priorities for the future.

Under Governor Kemp’s leadership, we are crafting a Georgia-centric healthcare system that meets the needs and desires of our citizens. Through SB106, we will expand access to quality, affordable healthcare in every part of the state.

Through HB316, the legislature empowered Georgia’s Secretary of State to replace our aging voting machines with Ballot Marking Devices that produce a verifiable paper trail. This legislation also modernized the state’s elections code to ensure integrity and confidence at the ballot box.

Led by First Lady Marty Kemp, the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation to combat human trafficking – a growing problem in the Peach State. In addition to addressing the supply and demand of this evil industry, HB234 also provides resources to victims – and their families. This legislative initiative is one more step towards ending modern slavery in our state and country.

From day of this session, lawmakers have made expanding rural broadband a priority. SB17 expands rural broadband access by allowing existing utility companies to run broadband lines and offer services to areas that lack a major provider. While we work to solve this problem completely, this step ensures an immediate expanse to broadband services.

In the final days of the legislative session, we crafted compromise legislation to expand access to CBD oil for Georgia patients with chronic, debilitating diseases. Through a narrow in-state cultivation program, we can ensure that the most vulnerable among us can meet their medical needs efficiently and within the law.