The Capitol Express

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Week 5 of the 2024 Session

Monday, February 5th, was a recess day for the General Assembly. Many members traveled to Columbus to attend Chairman Richard Smith's service. We reconvened on Tuesday for Legislative Day 15 of the 2024 Session.

So, to avoid confusion, allow me to explain why there is a second newsletter, Week 5, within a few days of Week 4. The answer is that I am fighting hard to catch up and get the newsletter out over the weekend after the week.

The Georgia General Assembly returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday, February 6, for a busy fifth week of the 2024 legislative session. The House assembled for four days, and our days are getting longer and busier as we move further in the session. This week, we successfully passed several bills and continued our committee work each day. Some highlights of the week include the passage of the House’s version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2024 budget (AFY 2024- click here for a summary), among other bills, as well as the convening of a joint legislative session for the annual State of the Judiciary address.

Please be sure to look out for future updates regarding your government at work. My sincere thanks for your interaction. I hope you enjoy this volume of the Capitol Express and that you will continue to engage. I value your time and will do my best to respond.

We receive hundreds of emails daily while attending Floor Sessions and serving on multiple committees, so if you live in House District 49, please consider using our new communication tool at Contact Representative Chuck Martin for the best response.

You may also contact me at ChuckMartin@house.ga.gov or my office phone number at (404) 656-5164.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative for House District 49.

Yours in Service,

2024 Legislative Session Week 5

House Floor Week 5 - Bills

The House Floor is getting busier as we move into Week 5 for Legislative Days 12 - 14. Below is this weeks rundown of some of the measures that passed the House.

Tax Relief for Georgia Families

In addition to voting on the amended budget this week, the House also gave unanimous passage to a legislative package aimed at providing Georgians and their families with much-needed tax relief. On Thursday, the House took up House Bills 1015, 1019 and 1021.

First, HB 1015 would lower the individual income tax rate effective on January 1, 2024, from 5.49 percent to 5.39 percent, which would return another $1 billion to Georgia taxpayers.

Next, HB 1019 would increase the statewide homestead exemption from $2,000 to $4,000, provided the owner resides in the home as their primary residence.

Lastly, HB 1021 would increase the child tax deduction from $3,000 to $4,000. With rising childcare costs, this legislation would allow for an extra $1,000 deduction per child, which could help alleviate some of those costs for parents. Each of these measures would help foster Georgia’s economic success story by returning more dollars back into the pockets of our taxpayers.

Additional bills from Week 5 - click to download



Additional bills from Week 5 - click for PDF

Committee Schedules

House Committees are beginning to meet, and once again, I serve on nine committees in addition to leading House Higher Education. Full committee schedules are available online by clicking here.

State of the Judiciary

Chief Justice Michael Boggs Delivers State of the Judiciary

Chief Justice Boggs commended the efficacy of American Rescue Plan Act grants in managing caseloads, noting an average 11 percent decrease in pending serious violent felony cases across Georgia. However, he also underscored the pressing challenges faced by the judiciary, including shortages in court reporters, prosecutors, public defenders, court staff, and sheriff’s deputies, and he acknowledged Governor Kemp's focus on workforce development in addressing these critical issues affecting the judicial branch. Emphasizing the necessity of proper compensation for Georgia’s judges to attract and retain talent, Chief Justice Boggs highlighted the findings of a comprehensive compensation study led by a Judicial Council Committee. The recommendations of this committee, embodied in House Bill 947, were unanimously supported by the Judicial Council, and Justice Boggs urged our legislative consideration of this measure. Furthermore, Chief Justice Boggs drew our attention to the concerning rise in threats against judges nationwide. He applauded the efforts of Georgia’s law enforcement officers and highlighted a joint letter from the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators urging federal lawmakers to enhance judicial safety measures. Chief Justice Boggs also proposed legislation, modeled after similar laws in 31 other states, aimed at safeguarding judges' personal information to ensure their safety and security. He encouraged the House to work to expand that legislation to cover other elected officials as well.

Lastly, Chief Justice Boggs stressed the importance of locally based lawyers in rural communities to provide essential civil legal services, particularly to survivors of domestic violence. Efforts are underway within both the AFY 2024 and FY 2025 budgets and within the Supreme Court to address the shortage of lawyers in rural areas. In conclusion, Chief Justice Boggs expressed gratitude to the General Assembly for their dedicated service to the people of Georgia and remarked that the state of our judiciary is strong overall.

Guests from North Fulton

(left to right): Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, Chuck, Representative Scott Hilton.

Fellowship Christian School Senior at the Capitol

I have the pleasure of speaking to the Fellowship Christian Seniors on Tuesday, the 6th of February. Thanks to Rep. John Carson for inviting the group down and including me in the visit.

Fellowship Christian in the House Gallery

For the Georgia College Completion Grant featured in the Legislative Session Preview, click here...

No Higher Education meeting this week due to House Floor business lasting into the afternoon.

On February 6th, I introduced HB 1124 to modify the Georgia College Completion Grant Program to allow more students access. Thanks to my co-sponsors, Rep. Scott Hilton, Rep. Jan Jones, Rep. Deborah Silcox, and Rep. Houston Gaines.

To review bills in the Higher Education Committee, click here and then click Assigned Legislation.