Atlanta, Georgia – Georgia Governor Brian Kemp faces a series of crucial decisions as he approaches the May 7 deadline for signing or rejecting bills. Since taking office in 2019, Kemp has proven himself willing to veto measures, having already vetoed 14 bills in 2023 alone. Additionally, he has flexed his power by freezing over $200 million in state budget spending in the past year. Now, as the deadline looms, Kemp must carefully consider a number of pending measures that have landed on his desk.
Among the measures awaiting Kemp’s decision is a budget that includes salary raises of $2,500 to $6,000 for around 300,000 teachers, education workers, and state employees. The governor is expected to support this proposal, along with other initiatives such as a measure to speed up an income tax cut and a proposal to cap home assessment increases at the rate of inflation.
Given Kemp’s background as a former secretary of state, he closely monitors election-related measures. One significant change this year is Senate Bill 368, which seeks to prohibit foreigners from making political donations to Georgia candidates and requires lobbyists and political consultants to disclose any ties to foreign entities. Senate Bill 189 is another measure on Kemp’s desk that aims to establish new rules for challenging voters’ eligibility and potentially expand third-party presidential candidates’ presence on Georgia’s ballot. The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia has threatened legal action if Kemp signs Senate Bill 189.
In the realm of criminal justice, Georgia may be reverting to a tougher approach after years of policies seeking to avoid jail time for minor offenses. Senate Bill 63, for example, would mandate cash bail for 30 additional crimes, potentially inviting legal challenges from civil rights groups. On the other hand, efforts targeting human trafficking have generated less controversy, garnering overwhelming or unanimous support.
Governor Kemp may also enact significant changes to Georgia’s certificate of need rules governing hospital and medical facility construction. House Bill 1339 proposes loosening regulations for new hospital projects and expanding a rural hospital tax credit program. Kemp remained neutral on this matter while opposing a proposal to fully expand Medicaid. Instead, he advocated for a limited program that includes work requirements.
The governor has pushed for the passage of a school voucher program, resulting in the adoption of Senate Bill 233, which would provide state subsidies to private schools for students in underperforming districts. In a last-minute decision, state lawmakers passed a measure mandating social media education in schools and requiring parental consent for children under 16 to create social media accounts.
Lastly, Kemp’s stance on illegal immigration has evolved after the murder of Laken Riley, a nursing student allegedly killed by a Venezuelan national residing in the U.S. illegally. As a result, House Bill 1105, which would require sheriffs to cooperate with federal authorities to enforce immigration laws, could become law.
Governor Kemp’s decisions on these pending measures will shape various aspects of Georgia’s governance, from education and healthcare to criminal justice and immigration. With the May 7 deadline looming, all eyes are on Kemp as he weighs the potential impacts of each bill and determines their compatibility with his vision for the state.