2022 Legislative Priorities
- Transportation
- Continued support for transportation infrastructure improvements within Bryan County, as well as support for other funding options for necessary road improvements (SPLOST, TSPLOST, GDOT funds (TAP, Safety LMIG)).
- Rural Healthcare and Affordable Housing
- Continued support for affordable housing programs through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (CHIP, HOME, etc.)
- Continued support of healthcare solutions for low income, seniors, and veterans (Curtis V. Cooper)
- Support of COVID funding /for testing and recovery to spur economic recovery.
- Environmental and Natural Resources
- Provide assistance or solutions for finding additional water sources
- Solutions for an expedited Environmental Division (EPD) permitting process
- Continued support for meaningful municipal government involvement in statewide and regional water management planning efforts
- Support of cities' current authority to create and manage storm water utilities in order to offset the increased permit responsibitlities and costs associated with Federal and State mandates for management storm water.
- Education
- Protect the interest of the majority of Georgia’s children by limiting the diversion of public funds to private institutions through vouchers, tuition credits or tax exemptions.
- Provide pandemic funding by holding school districts harmless for temporary drops in enrollment when reporting student counts (FTE) during the 2020-2021 school year for the purposes of determining future QBE allotments. In addition, allocate funds and/or supplies and equipment for the purpose of continued enhanced cleaning measures and deployment of remote learning when necessary.
- Support K-12 districts in attracting and retaining high-quality teachers by safeguarding the teacher retirement system, offering quality and affordable health coverage, and increasing salaries for teachers.
- Build safe and positive learning environments by expanding mental health services, crisis interventions, and behavioral support.
- Stand for local governance by community boards of education by ensuring legislation is aligned with constitutional provisions regarding school governance.
- Increase funding for technology infrastructure and hardware to meet the mandated online student testing requirements and allocate the state provided bandwidth equitably based on student enrollment rather than a per school allocation.
- Support the maximum funding level for capital outlay programs to assist high growth K-12 school districts with their facility needs as a result of increased student populations.
- Economic Growth
- Support consistent pro-business policies that allow Georgia to be consistently ranked as having the best business climate in the U.S.
- Support legislative initiatives that enhance the growth and efficiency of Georgia’s ports
- Support legislation to strengthen Georgia’s competitiveness for military facilities and specifically work to protect troop levels at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield
