Capitol Beat

1 week ago | capitol-beat.org | Dave Williams

ATLANTA – Three cities and two local economic development authorities will receive more than $11 million in grants to help finance infrastructure improvements needed to service new housing. The latest grant recipients through the state’s Rural Workforce Housing Initiative include the cities of Cairo, Hagan, and Swainsboro, the Douglas Coffee County Industrial Authority, and the Augusta Economic Development Authority. Gov. Brian Kemp launched the program early in 2023.

4 weeks ago | capitol-beat.org | Ty Tagami

ATLANTA – Joe Salome built up his intoxicating hemp products business from one small store to six, and he got licensed by the state last year after new rules gave the industry a path into the sunlight.

1 month ago | capitol-beat.org | Ty Tagami

ATLANTA – Legislation that would enhance criminal penalties for students who threaten their school passed the Georgia Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 61 was pushed by Republicans and passed 33-22 in a party-line vote. It would allow children aged 13 to 17 to be tried as adults for terroristic threatening. They could also land in superior court for attempting to commit, or for conspiracy to commit, terroristic threatening.

1 month ago | capitol-beat.org | Dave Williams

ATLANTA – The justices on the Georgia Supreme Court have unanimously elected Presiding Justice Nels S.D. Peterson to be the state’s next chief justice. Peterson will assume his new role after March 31, when the resignation of current Chief Justice Michael Boggs takes effect. Boggs announced earlier this week that he was leaving the bench to resume private practice in his hometown of Waycross. Peterson was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 2016 by then-Gov.

2 months ago | capitol-beat.org | Dave Williams

ATLANTA – The state House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday that would put the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) in the gas business. House Bill 51, which cleared the House 120-55, would allow municipal natural gas providers to borrow money from GEFA to expand gas supplies. The legislation is needed particularly in rural Georgia, Rep. Leesa Hagan, R-Lyons, said on the House floor before Thursday’s vote. Hagan’s district includes all or parts of six rural counties.