Rep. Alan Powell 2026 Legislative Newsletter – Week Two

By State Representative Alan Powell, HD 33

Members of the House and Senate gathered in the House Chamber for Governor Brian Kemp’s final State of the State Address as Georgia’s 83rd Governor.

He centered on lowering the cost of living for Georgians, prioritizing education, workforce training, school safety, strengthening retirement security for law enforcement and intensifying efforts to combat human trafficking and gang-related crime across Georgia.

He highlighted his continued investment in Georgia’s state employees and the state’s broader economic development efforts, reflecting his view that state government should serve all Georgians.

He touted the work of state employees and also pointed to his Administration’s sustained focus on economic development and job creation, noting over the past seven years, Georgia has seen more than 219,700 new jobs and over $118 billion in investment through projects supported by the state’s economic development team, with many of those jobs and investment dollars directed to communities outside the metro Atlanta region.

Key Highlights:

Surplus Tax Rebates: Proposed a fourth one-time tax rebate totaling $1.17 billion, providing $250 for individual filers and $500 for married couples.
Income Tax Reduction: Called to accelerate state income tax cuts to reach a rate of 4.99% ahead of schedule.
Budget Growth: Outlined an amended budget that brings state spending to $42.3 billion for the current year.
DREAMS Scholarship: Introduced Georgia’s first-ever need-based college scholarship program with an initial $326 million investment.
Pay Supplements: Proposed a one-time $2,000 supplement for all state employees, including K-12 educators and law enforcement officers.
School Funding: Committed to full funding of the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula and additional funds for school safety.  An additional $368 million added for programs and initiatives to prepare Georgians for the workforce.

An additional $2 billion toward higher education in Georgia, including $40.7 million in his budget proposals for healthcare education facilities and medical workforce training programs. An additional $2.1 million for medical residency slots, to bolster this critical workforce need in our state.
Local & Rural Infrastructure: Pledged $250 million for local road projects and $100 million specifically to repair or replace failing rural bridges. Allocated $35 million for natural gas infrastructure upgrades in rural communities.
Law Enforcement Retirement: Proposed enhanced retirement benefits, including increasing the state match for law enforcement 401(k) contributions to 15%.
Homelessness Initiative: Announced $50 million for a new program providing social services and housing to reduce homelessness in urban areas like Atlanta.
Human Trafficking: Safeguarding the most vulnerable in our communities, including children and victims of exploitation, building on the work of the GRACE Commission, legislation targeting human trafficking a bill designed to further protect Georgia’s children and hold abusers accountable will be introduced.
Election Integrity: Proposed $5 million to fund a full hand recount for the upcoming 2026 election.
Transportation Investment: Allocated $1.8 billion for new express lanes on I-75 in Henry County and $200 million for interchanges on GA-316.

I must remind readers that there are two major legislative tax issues being proposed this year:

1) abolish income taxes by 2032; 2) abolish homestead property tax by 2032.

Both proposals will result in a major tax realignment. State and local funding comes from these sources and a realignment means these funds will have to come from other areas. Please stay tuned as the session moves forward, and I will keep you informed.

To end last week, members of the General Assembly joined Gov. Kemp for a Celebration of Service event to honor the life and legacy of  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His legacy challenges all elected officials to lead with compassion and unity to ensure that our work at the Capitol continues to serve every Georgian.

I will spend much of the next three months at the Georgia State Capitol, working on behalf of my constituents and the needs of our community. You can find full details of each bill on the House of Representatives webpage: www.legis.ga.gov/house.

Meanwhile, feel free to call my Capitol office at 404-463-3793 or email me at [email protected] or [email protected].

I also have a Facebook page, if you want to check it out. When writing, please include your address and a phone number, should I need to contact you directly. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.