2023 Legislative Report Week 1
LEGISLATIVE REPORT WEEK 1
January 13, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
In this Issue:
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General Assembly Convenes
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Inauguration Day
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New House and Senate Leadership
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Governor Kemp Budget Proposal
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New Faces Join GFB Public Policy
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2023 Policies Established at the 104th AFBF Convention
General Assembly Convenes for 2023 Legislative Session
On January 9th, 2022, 佐治亚州议会于2023年立法会议的第一天召开会议. The chambers were buzzing with excitement, and it was hard to tell if it was for the start of a new legislative session or the national championship game to be played in Los Angeles later that night. With a Bulldog victory over the Horned Frogs on Monday, 联合国大会于1月11日星期三重新召开，开始为期40天会议的第二天.
On Monday the House and Senate passed an adjournment resolution setting the calendar for the remaining 40 days of the legislative session. Crossover Day, marking the point at which all bills must pass the chamber in which they originated to have a chance at final passage this year, has been set for Monday, March 6th. Sine Die, the last day of session, will be on Wednesday, March 29th. This session marks the first year of the two-year biennium, meaning there will be no legislation that carried over from last year.
At the beginning of this session, we welcomed 52 newly elected freshmen legislators to the General Assembly - 10 new state senators and 42 new state representatives. Following a special election on January 31st, 另外三名大会新成员将填补众议院第七区的空缺席位, House District 172, and Senate District 11. 众议院的席位由已故的议长大卫·拉尔斯顿(HD 7)和众议员戴维·罗斯顿(David Ralston)占据. 山姆·沃森(HD 172)放弃了自己的职位，竞选空缺的参议院第11区席位, formerly held by Sen. Dean Burke (SD 11).
立法会议员本周共开会4天，周五休会. They will return on Monday January 23rd, for Legislative Day 5. Next week will largely consist of appropriations hearings as the General Assembly looks to set funding levels for 2024 and amend the FY2023 budget.
(Photo Credits: House Media Services)
Inauguration Day - Georgia's Constitutional Officers
As we enter a new year and legislative session, 我们欢迎新当选的和再次当选的宪法官员. 州参众两院的联席会议在乔治亚州会议中心召开, 布瑞恩·肯普州长和其他宪法官员宣誓就职的地方. In Governor Kemp's inaugural address, he highlighted his accomplishments over the past four years and outlined his plan to build on that success during his second term. 在去年11月赢得连任后，州长布莱恩·肯普将继续其四年任期, earning over 53% of the statewide vote.
Former State Senator Burt Jones from Jackson, Georgia will be serving as our state's next Lieutenant Governor. 泰勒·哈珀(Tyler Harper)接任了自1969年以来佐治亚州第三任农业专员的职务. 哈珀此前曾担任乔治亚州第七选区的州参议员. 国务卿布拉德·拉芬斯伯格(Brad Raffensperger)将再次当选, Attorney General Chris Carr, Commissioner of Insurance John King, and State School Superintendent Richard Woods. 新当选的乔治亚州劳工专员是前州参议员布鲁斯·汤普森.
乔治亚州农场局祝贺我们所有当选的宪法官员, and we look forward to working with them throughout the 2023 legislative session and for the years to come.
New House and Senate Leadership
(Photo Credits: Senate Press Office)
With quite a few new faces in the Georgia General Assembly also comes changes to key leadership positions in both the State House and Senate. This week, Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) was named Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee for the upcoming legislative session. Sen. Goodman is a 7th generation farmer in South Georgia and is a great friend to agriculture and Farm Bureau.
乔治亚州众议院长期议长去世, David Ralston, late last year came as sad news to all those who knew him. Speaker Ralston's work as a member of the General Assembly and Speaker of the House for the past 12 years will have a positive effect on our state for a long time to come. Taking over the role as Speaker this year is Rep. Jon Burns from Newington, Georgia. 伯恩斯曾担任众议院多数党领袖，代表众议院159区. We are excited to have such a strong supporter of agriculture and Farm Bureau in this distinguished position.
Continuing in her role as House Speaker Pro-Tempore is Rep. Jan Jones of District 47. Rep. Chuck Efstration of District 104 will assume the role of House Majority Leader and James Beverley of District 143 will continue to serve as the House Minority Leader. For a comprehensive list of the leadership posts in the House please click here.
Serving as the new Senate President Pro-Tempore is Sen. John F. Kennedy of District 18. Sen. 来自51区的史蒂夫·古奇(Steve Gooch)将成为新的参议院多数党领袖. 来自55区的格洛丽亚·巴特勒将担任参议院少数党领袖. 请看看其他在新一届立法会议中担任领导职务的参议员 click here.
Governor Kemp Budget Proposal Unveiled
周五，州长肯普发布了他的2023财年和2024财年预算报告. With state revenues continuing to remain strong, Georgia is on solid footing with a Revenue Shortfall Reserve in excess of $5 billion and additional funds marked as Undesignated Shortfall Reserve. Governor Kemp plans to again use $1 billion of state reserves for a one-time taxpayer refund and another $1 billion for a one-time Homeowner Tax Relief Grants (HTRG) program. The Governor's proposed budget for FY2024 also includes a $2,所有州雇员的生活费用将增加1000万美元，总计约2.43亿美元. 其他项目包括对经济发展、K-12教育和执法的投资.
Public Policy Staff will be reviewing the Governor's proposed budget and will be providing a detailed look at all items related to agriculture in next week's legislative report.
New Faces Join GFB Public Policy
我们很高兴地欢迎两位新面孔加入乔治亚州农场局(GFB)公共政策部. 早在10月，GFB欢迎基顿·沃克成为新的倡导和政策发展专家. She is married to Dr. 克莱·沃克有一个儿子迦南，目前住在乔治亚州的霍金斯维尔. 沃克在科尔奎特县的一个家庭农场长大，养牛和鹌鹑. She is a graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the University of Georgia with a degree in Agricultural Communications. 在她之前的职业生涯中，她曾在Circle F Farms和Georgia National Fairgrounds任职 & Agricenter. At GFB, Walker will oversee GFB's annual policy development process, operations of the newly formed PAC, and coordinate members' grassroots advocacy initiatives.
Keaton Walker
Adam Belflower
1月，Adam Belflower作为政府事务专家加入团队. He is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences where he studied Agribusiness. 贝尔弗劳尔来自乔治亚州的科克伦，在那里他就读于布莱克利县高中. 在年轻的时候，他在布莱克利县的各个农场工作时意识到他对农业的热爱. In hopes of pursuing a career in agriculture, he attended UGA and became an active member of UGA's Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) chapter. Through his time at UGA, involvement with YF&R，以及各种农业实习，Belflower来到GFB开始他的职业生涯. In this role he will be responsible for representing Georgia agriculture in the legislative arena and working to advance GFB policy before the Georgia General Assembly.
We are excited to have these two join our team and excited to see the great work they will do on behalf of Georgia agriculture.
Right to Repair
On January 8th, 2023, 在波多黎各举行的美国农场局联合会(AFBF)大会上, AFBF and John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding that ensures farmers' and ranchers' right to repair their own farm equipment. 这是AFBF和约翰迪尔多年讨论的结果.
该协议使农民和独立维修设施能够使用工具, information, and resources needed to repair John Deere equipment while also protecting the intellectual property rights of John Deere products. "A piece of equipment is a major investment. Farmers must have the freedom to choose where equipment is repaired, or to repair it themselves, to help control costs. The MOU commits John Deere to ensuring farmers and independent repair facilities have access to many of the tools and software needed to grow the food, fuel and fiber America's families rely on," said AFBF president Zippy Duvall.
The MOU sets parameters and creates a mechanism to address concerns. 它要求AFBF和约翰迪尔每年至少举行两次会议，以评估谅解备忘录的有效性. It is the hope of Farm Bureau that this original agreement with John Deere will be a model for other manufactures across the agricultural sector. To read the official MOU click below.
2023 Policies Established at the 104th AFBF Convention
Approximately 120 Georgia Farm Bureau leaders traveled to San Juan, 波多黎各参加1月6日的美国农业局年会. Attendees were able to participate in a full agenda of speakers and informative breakout sessions covering topics including leadership development, policy updates, and farm tours, 以及就2023年AFBF政策手册的政策决议进行投票的业务会议.
我们成员的出色工作也在整个星期的多个项目中得到了认可. GFB自豪地获得了AFBF四个不同类别的卓越奖-倡导, engagement & outreach, leadership & business development, and coalitions & partnerships. Additionally, the MycoLogic team, from Kennesaw State University, won the People's Choice Award in the Agriculture Innovation Challenge for their impressive culinary mushroom cultivation process and design. We are also very proud of the success and strong showing by Georgia's representatives in the Young Farmers & 牧场主讨论会、农业优秀奖和成就奖竞赛.
Register for GFB Day at The Capitol
今年的十大靠谱网赌官方平台日定于2月14日星期二在国会大厦举行. We hope you will take this opportunity to join us at the State Capitol to advocate for Georgia agriculture and meet with your legislators as well as other Farm Bureau members from across the state.
活动将于上午9:30在乔治亚货运仓库的蓝厅开始. The Depot is located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive just northwest of the Capitol, at Underground Atlanta. Following orientation, we encourage everyone to visit with your legislators at the Capitol and invite them to come back with you to the Depot to enjoy lunch at noon. Invitations will be sent out to all legislators, but a personal invitation from you would be especially helpful.
免费保安停车场位于亚特兰大喜来登酒店停车场, located at 165 Courtland Street NE, and a shuttle bus service will run from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
You can access event and registration information by clicking the button below - please complete the registration by January 20th.
Dates to Remember
请参见以下与格鲁吉亚农业相关的即将发生的事件列表:
- February 6-7: Forestry Day at the Capitol
- February 14: Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol
- February 21: Georgia FFA Day at the Capitol
- March 6: Georgia Cattleman's Steak Biscuit Day
Not a Member Georgia Farm Bureau? Join Today!
The Georgia Farm Bureau Federation has a membership of almost 250,000 and serves as state's the largest general farm organization. 我们的目标是为农业部门提供领导和援助, to promote farm products, to aid in ag-related procurement, to be a spokesman for the farmer in the legislative arena, to be a leader in the development and expansion of farm markets, 并争取更多的农业研究和教育资金和设施.
With members in all 159 Georgia counties, 乔治亚州农场局致力于促进和改善我们县的农业, state and nation and in continually improving and expanding our service-to-member programs which serve to enhance the quality of life for all Georgians.
Membership in Georgia Farm Bureau is open to everyone. 加入农业局，你不需要是农民，也不需要有十大靠谱网赌官方平台!
If you would like to become a member of Georgia Farm Bureau, you can start your membership online right now! 我们有一个简单的申请程序，你可以在几分钟内成为我们的新十大靠谱网赌官方平台. Click the button below or use our County Office Locator to find the office nearest you.
Sign up for Legislative Alerts to receive this information by email. Legislative Alerts go out every Friday during session and occasionally for special alerts when necessary.
Public Policy Department Staff
Alex Bradford, Director
Adam Belflower, Governmental Affairs Specialist
Raynor Churchwell, Agricultural Programs Manager
Renee Jones, Operations Coordinator
Jake Matthews, Governmental Affairs Specialist
Jeremy Taylor, Agricultural Programs Specialist
Keaton Walker, Advocacy and Policy Development Specialist