ATHENS, Ga. — During a recent address to lawmakers, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his intention to prioritize relief initiatives related to Hurricane Helene and efforts to regulate lawsuit outcomes in the upcoming legislative session set to begin on January 13.
In his speech delivered at the University of Georgia, the Republican governor did not divulge specific details about his proposals; however, he indicated that his approach will encompass both new spending allocations and legal reforms aimed at addressing the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged eastern Georgia in September, resulting in the loss of 34 lives and extensive property damage valued in the billions.
“The impact of Hurricane Helene was vast, spanning hundreds of miles; therefore, our primary focus must be on responding to its effects and delivering support to those who were most severely impacted,” Kemp noted while speaking to the members of the General Assembly.
House Speaker Jon Burns, a Republican from Newington, anticipated that a considerable portion of the forthcoming relief package would resemble the response that legislators approved following Hurricane Michael’s impact in 2018, which saw Georgia allocate $470 million in relief measures. This package included $200 million in income tax credits for timber and pecan farmers to assist with replanting efforts, $69 million to support state and local agencies in covering emergency response expenditures, $55 million for aiding farmers who faced crop losses, and $20 million dedicated to cleanup operations on timberland.
Burns, who has a vested interest in timberland ownership, raised concerns about the potential risk of wildfires affecting the public by the next summer if landowners do not receive assistance to clean up disaster-affected areas.
In addition, state authorities have already initialized a program that provides $100 million in loans to farmers and timberland proprietors impacted by the hurricane.
Both Kemp and Burns called upon Congress to expedite federal assistance for the affected states. The governor has requested that Congress allocate $12.2 billion to Georgia, which the state government would primarily distribute. Members of Georgia’s congressional delegation have also voiced the urgent necessity for Congress to act promptly.
“We will persist in advocating for the federal government to fulfill its obligations to our fellow Georgians,” Kemp asserted. “I invite you all to assist in reinforcing this message in a bipartisan manner. However, we are not inclined to wait for Washington to organize itself before providing relief to Georgians.”
Additionally, the governor reiterated his commitment to pursuing limitations on lawsuit verdicts, a matter he had postponed for a year due to the need for further analysis. Kemp contends that such verdicts contribute to rising costs and pose challenges for businesses.
“We will take decisive action on an issue that has been at the forefront of our discussions for several years, which both chambers agree necessitates further measures—civil litigation reform,” Kemp stated, although he did not offer specifics regarding his proposal.
Most Republican legislators are prepared to endorse the initiative, expressing a desire to hear more clarity about Kemp’s plan.
Lawmakers convened at the university’s Biennial Institute from Sunday to Tuesday to examine issues and establish connections following the recent elections that resulted in a Republican majority of 100-80 in the state House and a 33-23 Republican majority in the state Senate.