CARDEN SUMMERS: Continuing ‘full-time job’ in state Senate

We are officially more than halfway through the 2024 Legislative Session. I am proud to share that we are delivering for Georgians by cutting red tape, maintaining our stellar budget, protecting law enforcement officers and pushing back against hate.

While we have enjoyed a robust first half of legislative work, plenty of meaningful work lies ahead before the conclusion of the legislative session. The job doesn’t end upon adjournment, however. Serving the 13th Senate District is a full-time job; and the job remains my greatest honor.

I’m delighted to share that Senate Bill 339 is currently awaiting selection by the Senate Rules Committee for placement on the Senate floor. This crucial bill seeks to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Crisp County, with clear delineation of its authorized uses.

Additionally, I’m pleased to note the progress of Senate Bill 488, which was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance earlier this week. This legislation proposes a statewide exemption from all ad valorem taxes for aircraft exclusively utilized for the aerial application of agricultural products.

As always, I take great pride in standing behind and supporting Georgia’s hard-working farmers. Moreover, Senate Bill 349, would provide for a statewide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes in an amount equal to that which the current year assessed value of a homestead is more than 3% from the adjusted base year value. In short, I’m proud to support this legislation, which will roll back burdensome taxes and further drive Georgia’s economy.

My colleagues and I proudly joined Gov. Brian Kemp on the North Steps of the State Capitol to officially announce that the Georgia National Guard would be sending additional troops to help fortify our country’s southern border. Many who come across our border illegally are small children, which directly affects Georgia’s foster care system. 

This week, I was proud to support a few pieces of bipartisan Senate legislation, such as Senate Bill 426. This measure addresses an aspect of tort reform by limiting the ability of plaintiffs to sue motor carriers and their insurers simultaneously. As we continue to prioritize work force development, it’s essential that we prioritize tort reform. Too many current laws make it easy to file frivolous lawsuits that increase costs for insurance companies and, in turn, needlessly limit economic opportunity across our state.

Every week at the Gold Dome, constituents, associations, and organizations converge at the Capitol to engage with legislators and hold events with public officials. I also had the distinct privilege of honoring Georgia’s realtors on Feb. 8 for Georgia Realtor Day. Realtors play a pivotal role in creating a welcoming first impression for newcomers to our great state.

As always, I want to invite students between the ages of 12 and 18 to serve as a Capitol Page. This program encourages Georgia’s next generation of great leaders to participate in the legislative process by providing a front-row seat to a day’s work in the Georgia Senate. Many of our current legislators participated in this program and first became interested in serving Georgia citizens because of their time spent as a Capitol Page.

I encourage any students interested in the legislative process who want to spend a day at our Capitol to apply for our program using the link https://www.legis.ga.gov/senate/staffing.

Please never hesitate to contact my office if I can assist with legislative matters. I hope to see you under the Gold Dome soon as the 2024 Legislative Session continues.