Georgia NOW!

Georgia lawmakers are weighing major policy shifts after Gov. Brian Kemp used his final State of the State address to propose a historic $325 million investment in needs-based college aid. The DREAM scholarship would help students who do not qualify for HOPE afford public colleges and technical schools, while Kemp also called for a new round of tax rebates, a state employee bonus and an income tax cut. At the same time, many Georgians are facing sharply higher health insurance costs after enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expired, hitting early retirees and small business owners especially hard.
At the Capitol, Democrats are pushing legislation that would require ICE agents to display identification during arrests, as debates over immigration enforcement continue. Conservation advocates and lawmakers gathered for Keeping Georgia Wild Day, spotlighting efforts to expand outdoor and environmental learning in Georgia schools and amplify student voices through statewide art initiatives. In coastal Georgia, nonprofits will receive nearly $1 million to expand preventive health care services funded by the sale of Savannah’s former nonprofit hospital. Looking ahead to the 2026 session, Atlanta leaders outlined legislative priorities ranging from airport governance to AI-related crimes, while a second Democrat has entered the race for lieutenant governor.
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Georgia lawmakers are weighing major education and budget proposals after Gov. Brian Kemp used his final State of the State address to call for a historic $325 million investment in needs-based college aid. The proposed Dream Scholarship would help students who do not qualify for HOPE afford public colleges and technical schools, alongside a new round of tax rebates, a state employee bonus and an income tax cut. Kemp also outlined infrastructure priorities for the 2026 legislative session, including major highway upgrades, funding to address homelessness and new investments in workforce development.
At the Capitol, advocates and lawmakers gathered for Keeping Georgia Wild Day, highlighting the connection between conservation, outdoor recreation and education. Legislators showcased efforts to expand outdoor learning in schools, while students from across Georgia shared artwork inspired by state parks and historic sites. The event also underscored how preserving natural and historic spaces helps shape Georgia’s identity for future generations.
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Georgia voters and communities are navigating a wave of policy changes and local fallout across the state. Voting advocates are raising concerns about a new U.S. Postal Service postmark policy that could affect absentee ballots in Georgia, where ballots must arrive by Election Day to count. In northwest Georgia, the town of Dalton is still reeling after ICE raids at the end of 2025 led to dozens of arrests, sparking fear among immigrant families and sharply divided reactions from political candidates.
At the same time, many early retirees are facing sticker shock as enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expire, with some seeing health insurance premiums double overnight. Under the Gold Dome, lawmakers have sent their first bill of the 2026 session to Gov. Brian Kemp, banning cities from requiring guns left in vehicles to be locked. In middle Georgia, Dublin City Schools is grappling with a deep financial crisis now under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. And at the Capitol, a major restoration of the Georgia House chamber is complete, revealing historic craftsmanship while adding modern upgrades and accessibility.
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Georgia’s political landscape is shifting as a second Democrat enters the race for lieutenant governor. Former Macon mayor pro tempore Seth Clark has launched his campaign, joining state Sen. Josh McLaurin in a Democratic primary to succeed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is running for governor. Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, Atlanta leaders have also outlined priorities under the Gold Dome, opposing changes to control of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the city detention center while backing measures to boost small-business tax credits, expand in-state tuition for DACA students and penalize crimes involving artificial intelligence.
Immigration enforcement and public safety are also driving debate. Georgia Democrats are pushing legislation that would require ICE agents to display identification and allow civil lawsuits, while local officials in DeKalb County are calling for the withdrawal of tactical ICE operations following the killing of Renee Good. Gun safety advocates are pressing lawmakers to adopt a statewide public awareness program promoting safe firearm storage, even as Republican leaders push back on proposed limits on ICE operations. Elsewhere, a Democrat has entered the race for House District 142, and a deadly fight at Washington State Prison left three incarcerated people dead and more than a dozen others injured, renewing scrutiny of safety inside Georgia’s prisons.
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Georgia lawmakers are back at the Capitol as the 2026 legislative session gets underway, with health care, federal funding and core services emerging as early priorities. Henry County Rep. Elma D. Hawley says the state’s strong credit rating masks a deep reliance on federal dollars, arguing Georgia must be prepared to care for residents amid uncertainty around congressional action. Across the state, events honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. are continuing this week, with faith leaders and advocates emphasizing his message of love, justice and collective responsibility.
Policy debates are also colliding with community concerns. A small town east of Atlanta is pushing back against plans for a massive federal immigration detention center, warning it could strain limited water, sewer and tax resources. Advocates with the Interfaith Children’s Movement are urging lawmakers to view SNAP as an economic stabilizer and preventative tool, not just emergency aid. Meanwhile, Georgia health officials report a sharp surge in flu cases this season, with thousands hospitalized and dozens of deaths, prompting renewed calls for vaccination and prevention.
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Georgia is seeing a shift in weather and policy as unseasonably warm conditions give way to freezing temperatures across southeast Georgia and the Lowcountry, with wind chills dropping into the 20s. At the same time, many Georgians are feeling financial strain as higher Affordable Care Act premiums take effect following the expiration of enhanced tax credits. In coastal Georgia, nonprofits are receiving nearly $1 million to expand preventive health care services, while the 2026 legislative session gets underway with several new lawmakers taking office.
Education and public health issues are also in focus. A teachers group is suing DeKalb County schools over contract requirements, while state leaders are expanding access to opioid overdose kits in public schools. In Pine Mountain, history was made as the town swore in its first female mayor. And in Atlanta, kava bars offering alcohol-free social spaces are drawing attention, even as experts urge moderation and scrutiny around kratom products.
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Georgia leaders are weighing in on a fast-moving international and domestic news cycle after the U.S. launched military strikes in Venezuela, an operation the Trump administration says resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Georgia’s congressional delegation is split, with Sen. Raphael Warnock and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticizing the action, while Rep. Mike Collins praised the strikes. Back home, concerns are growing weeks after a bio lab fire in Conyers, where ash samples showed traces of chromium that experts warn could pose serious health risks.
In northwest Georgia, opposition is mounting to a revived PFAS liability bill that critics say would shield carpet companies from lawsuits tied to forever chemicals. An Atlanta journalist deported to El Salvador says he continues reporting remotely as community members keep sending tips. As the 2026 legislative session approaches, lawmakers are expected to revisit major education policies, while a sweeping reparations report in Fulton County estimates billions in harm to Black residents and prompts similar efforts in other cities. Federal student loan wage garnishment is also resuming for borrowers in default, even as protests continue in Atlanta over the death of Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
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Georgia is reacting to national unrest after a deadly confrontation involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis sparked protests across the country, including in Georgia. Federal officials say the shooting of Renee Nicole Good was an act of self-defense, while activists and local leaders are demanding accountability and an end to ICE raids, calling the incident an example of unchecked enforcement power. As demonstrations continue, Georgia political leaders are weighing in amid growing scrutiny of federal immigration policy.
Back in Georgia, Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett has entered the race for secretary of state, joining a crowded Democratic primary as the current officeholder prepares a run for governor. Doctors across the state are also raising concerns after changes to the CDC’s childhood vaccine schedule, warning the updates may confuse parents. A sweeping new report estimates billions in restitution tied to harms suffered by Black residents in Fulton County, as other cities launch similar reparations studies. Farmers facing losses from the 2025 crop year say one-time federal payments fall short, even as parts of South Georgia see economic gains that buck national trends.
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Georgia politics and policy debates are heating up as President Donald Trump seeks to recover more than $6.2 million in legal fees following the dismissal of Georgia’s election interference case, a move that could shift costs to Fulton County taxpayers under a new state law. At the Capitol, lawmakers are signaling a potential tax showdown, with Senate Republicans pushing to phase out the state income tax while House leaders focus on cutting property taxes. At the same time, proposed federal cuts to public media funding are raising alarms, with educators and broadcasters warning the loss could hit children and communities in news deserts the hardest.
Across metro Atlanta, Wellroot Family Services is opening new rent-free housing for young adults aging out of foster care, offering stability as they transition into adulthood. DeKalb County leaders are creating a new Women’s Commission to ensure policies better account for the needs of women and children. In Paulding County, a Hiram city councilwoman is being credited with saving her neighbors’ lives after alerting them to a house fire. And as deer season winds down across Georgia, wildlife officials are reminding hunters to follow regulations and consider donating venison to help families in need.
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Georgia voters in northwest Georgia are preparing for a special election after former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stepped down from Congress, with Gov. Brian Kemp setting a March 10 election date and a possible runoff in April if no candidate secures a majority. At the same time, the governor has appointed several new judges to courts across the state, and a new law is expanding access to dental care by allowing licensed dentists to treat some patients virtually, a change supporters say could benefit rural communities. Concerns are also growing in northwest Georgia over a proposed PFAS bill that critics say would shield carpet companies from lawsuits tied to “forever chemicals.”
Elsewhere, Valdosta City Schools packed tens of thousands of meals over winter break to help keep students fed, while coastal leaders work to plan Georgia’s long-term water future amid shifting demand and supply. Looking ahead to the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers are expected to revisit major education proposals, including cell phone bans, absenteeism penalties and limits on diversity programs. Federal prosecutors have also charged a former Georgia state lawmaker in connection with alleged pandemic unemployment fraud.
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