Augusta’s Morning News with John Patrick & Mary Liz Nolan
Augusta’s Morning News with John Patrick & Mary Liz Nolan
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Gold dome of Georgia Capitol in Atlanta
New laws that go into effect July 1 in Georgia include one that will bring the largest state income tax cut in state history. Others crack down on those involved in drag racing, as well as those who provide contraband to inmates in jail.
Governor Brian Kemp had already signed the Laken Riley Act, after Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley was murdered on the UGA campus while jogging in February. Police arrested Jose Ibarra, who entered the country illegally, and charged him with her murder. He is being held without bond in Athens.
Kemp also signed the Squatter Reform Act, which gives property owners more rights when dealing with squatters.
New Laws Taking Effect Monday, July 1
Healthcare:
- All Georgia schools will be required to have automated external defibrillators outside buildings instead of inside
- Service cancelable loans to be available to dental students and other healthcare professionals who agree to practice in rural areas
- A student loan repayment program would be created for mental health and substance use professionals
Education:
- Overdose-reversal drugs like Narcan would be provided for each school.
- The use of puberty blockers would be banned for Georgia youth
- Victims of human trafficking would be eligible for a higher education scholarship
- Addy’s Law would allow school systems to consider routes that don’t have stops that require motorists to stop for students getting on the bus. The new law is named after an 8-year-old child in Henry County who was hit by a car while trying to board her bus.
Tax Cuts:
- Many Georgians will save money with what Kemp says is the largest state income tax cut in its history. The tax rate is currently 5.49%. Kemp is proposing to reduce it by 0.1% each year, which would bring it down to 4.99%.
- The state’s income tax dependent exemption would increase by 33%. That means taxpayers would be able to deduct $4,000 per dependent rather than $3,000.
- Tax cuts would even be extended to businesses. The corporate income tax rate will be lowered by 5.75% to 5.39%.
Public Safety:
- A new law makes knowingly attending and facilitating drag racing a misdemeanor and increases the fines for illegal street racing
- Penalties will be increased for those providing contraband to inmates in jail or in person. Stiffer penalties will apply to those who work at the facility and provide the contraband
- Certain vehicles, including tow trucks and other emergency vehicles, will be required to have flashing or revolving amber lights to standardize the use of lights
- There will be stiffer penalties for false reports of shootings and bomb threats at homes, known as swatting
Miscellaneous:
- The Safe Homes Act restricts the amount landlords can ask for in a security deposit. The amount can’t exceed two months’ rent
- There will be new rules for challenging voter qualifications, possibly allow more candidates to qualify for the state’s presidential ballot, and ban the use of QR coes to count ballots after 2026.
- The number of voting machines can be reduced. Election supervisors would also have some leeway in changing the number of voting booths in precincts. Current law requires there be one booth for every 250 voters therein.
Mary Liz is the News Director and Co-Host of Augusta’s Morning News on WGAC. She spent 11 years as a News Director at an Indiana Radio Station. She has also worked as a former Police and Courts Reporter for The Republic Newspaper and Assistant Marketing Director of Merchants National Bank in Indianapolis. Mary Liz focuses most on local breaking news stories, feature stories on upcoming events, or community-service related organizations and the people who serve them. She has been with WGAC since 1995.
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