Week Six update from the Capitol
the Fiscal Year 2017 amended budget, House Bill 43 into law on Thursday. The House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2018 general budget, House Bill 44, and the Senate Appropriations Committee will review it next week. I am confident that with Chairman Jack Hill’s leadership, our committee will ensure that the FY18 general budget promotes conservative fiscal spending and keeps Georgia on the track to excellence.
The Senate is doing equally important work and passing new legislation every day. Senate Bill 15 is a piece of legislation I was very happy to co-sponsor. SB 15 would let retired disabled law enforcement officers to obtain a free license carry license. The bipartisan bill passed unanimously and I am proud that the Senate came together in unison to honor our law enforcement veterans. Georgia’s law enforcement officers play a vital role in keeping every Georgian safe each and every day.
We also passed President Pro Tempore David Shafer’s Senate Bill 89, or the “Georgia Right Track Act.” Georgia’s roads are cluttered with freight trucks; and this bill would alleviate that issue by expanding Georgia’s freight train infrastructure. It will also bring more business to Savannah’s freight port and add more business to Georgia’s already growing economy.
On Friday, the Senate passed Senate Bill 2, “The FAST Act – Fairness, Accountability, Simplification, and Transparency – Empowering Our Small Businesses to Succeed.” SB 2 supports businesses, big and small and will reduce the regulatory burdens placed on Georgia’s small businesses. It aims to simplify the licensing processes and to eliminate nuisance taxes. I’m proud of the work we have done on the FAST Act. Job creation continues to be a top priority for me and I believe SB 2 is a step in the right direction.
I am honored that you have put your trust in me and I will always put your best interests at the forefront of my decision making while here at the Capitol. Please feel free to contact my office at any time to talk about pending legislation or address other concerns in our district – my door and phone lines are always open!
Sen. Jeff Mullis serves as chairman of the Rules Committee. He represents the 53rd Senate District which includes Catoosa, Dade, and Walker counties and portions of Chattooga County. He can be reached at his office in Atlanta at 404-656-0057 or by email at jeff.mullis@senate. ga.gov.