The newly updated homestead tax exemption, a 2024 House priority, represents a major win for hardworking Georgians. These changes, which include capping property tax increases, will provide much-needed relief to taxpayers and double-down on our commitment to returning more back to you and your families.
As we mark the beginning of the academic year on August 1st, I want to highlight some key education legislation passed during the 2024 Legislative Session. These initiatives aim to support our students, teachers, schools, and families by enhancing education funding and providing parents with the flexibility to choose the best educational options for their children.
New laws lowering taxes, reforming health care and ensuring election security took effect July 1, 2024
On July 1, several major new laws reflection Georgia House of Representatives priorities became law. We are especially proud of the tireless work of the House Ways and Means Committee members and staff in crafting the historic tax cuts, which will simplify, streamline and lower taxes record numbers of Georgia workers and families in every corner of the state.
Today, State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, was named by Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) to serve as the chairman of the House Study Committee on Assessing the Semester and Quarter Systems at USG and TCSG Institutions. Rep. Shaw Blackmon's legislation led to creation of the study committee during the 2024 legislative session.
During the recent session, the House of Representatives identified major areas of concern that required additional legislative scrutiny. To better understand these important and sometimes controversial topics, special study committees are often formed to examine issues in-depth. Over the course of several months or even years, legislators meet to hear from experts, advocates, opponents and members of the public around the state. Based on this research and data-gathering, the committee produces recommendations that may be considered for future legislation or policy efforts.
In fact, many of our recent priority initiatives and landmark legislation is a result of study committee efforts. In recent years, this includes tax reform, health care modernization, Pre-K funding and other major issues facing our state. This session, the House of Representatives passed several legislative study committees to study priorities including workforce licensing, higher education, agriculture and health care.
Learn more about the committees, scheduled meetings and updates here.
Following the end of the 2024 legislative session, we shared a detailed analysis of the state budget, which is a constitutional requirement of the General Assembly. This week, we’ll look at other legislative highlights passed during Sine Die Week. These bills include historic tax cuts, safeguarding children online and prioritizing patient protection.
The Georgia General Assembly returned to the State Capitol for the final week of the 2024 legislative session on March 28, also known as Sine Die. It was a very busy week as we worked late into the nights carrying out the people’s business and making progress for Georgians statewide.
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The Georgia House of Representatives continued making progress on passing significant legislation, including the FY25 budget, public safety funding and improving workforce development initiatives. Our priorities underscore our commitment to advancing the well-being and prosperity of Georgia's citizens through comprehensive, often-bipartisan measures addressing a wide range of critical issues facing the state.
This past week, the General Assembly marked “Crossover Day,” the 28th day of the legislative session. This is the deadline for bills and resolutions to pass from their originating chamber to remain eligible for final consideration by Legislative Day 40, or "Sine Die." On Crossover Day alone, the House passed 72 bills, working long hours and late into the night to tackle a range of pressing issues important to Georgians and our state.
It was a short but packed week as we focused on key legislation ahead of "Crossover Day" on February 29. Crossover Day is the deadline for bills to pass out of the House or Senate in order to move forward this session. Bills that do not cross over are unlikely to become law this year. We continued to make significant progress this week to advance issues most important to Georgians, including enhancing public safety, investing in behavioral healthcare, prioritizing education, protecting minors and further ensuring election security.
The Georgia House of Representatives convened this week for four days and made significant progress as we passed 34 bills and resolutions by the end of the week to send to our Senate counterparts. By Tuesday, we reached Legislative Day 20, which means we are now more than halfway through our 40-day session. With “Crossover Day” looming on Legislative Day 28, we are focused on perfecting legislation for consideration and advancing notable measures on the House floor.
This week, the House reconvened at the State Capitol to focus on election security, prosecutorial oversight and our court system.
The House of Representatives remains hard at work on behalf of Georgia families as we recently closed out our fourth week of the 2024 legislative session. In addition to committee work and floor votes, we honored Members of Georgia’s National Guard on the floor of the House Chamber, recognizing their heroism and service while naming January 25 as National Guard Day at the State Capitol.
The House of Representatives has gotten off to a busy and productive start since convening January 8 for the 2024 legislative session.
As the start of the 2024 legislative session rapidly approaches on January 8, we wanted to take a moment to provide a preview of key priorities the Georgia General Assembly will take up over the next 40 days.
Rep. Shaw Blackmon reflects on the blessings of the Houston County community this Thanksgiving.
Rep. Shaw Blackmon reviews how the Georgia legislature is combating record high inflation by returning billions in taxes to hardworking Georgians, including:
Read more about these efforts here.
A detailed look at recent legislative investments in k-12 education, along with updates on Rep. Blackmon's Tax Credit Study Committee and more.
ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) today issued the following statement urging the Georgia congressional delegation to take bipartisan action to allow an open, value-based competition for a next-generation aerial refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force.
ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives’ Committee on Assignments named State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) as the Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee.
“I look forward to serving as Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee for another legislative term,” said Rep. Blackmon. “I am excited to assist Speaker Jon Burns and other leaders in the General Assembly to continue to build upon our focus on policies that keep Georgia moving forward.”
Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp's rural economic development strategy is yielding major results for hardworking Georgians in communities all across the Peach State.
In a recent ranking conducted by economic development and corporate real estate magazine, Site Selection, seven rural counties (Appling, Bacon, Dodge, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, and Union) in Georgia earned a spot in the top 50 performing non-metro communities across the nation with two Georgia counties placing in the top five.
ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, today announced that House Bill 1437, legislation to lower Georgia’s maximum income tax rate, was recently signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp. Chairman Blackmon estimates that this new law will save taxpayers approximately $1 billion per year when the cut goes into effect for calendar year 2024.
“There's more work to do!” Shaw Blackmon Launches Reelection Campaign Highlights strong track record of advocating for education, small business, new and existing industry, and facilitating support for and expansion of Robins Air Force Base.
ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives’ Committee on Assignments named State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) as the Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee.
ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding Speaker David Ralston’s (R-Blue Ridge) call for the House Governmental Affairs Committee to investigate irregularities in the primary election in Georgia:Add your news summary here.
ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, was recently appointed by Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) to serve as an ex-officio member of the House Rural Development Council for the 2019-2020 legislative term.
ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives’ Committee on Assignments named State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.
ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) recently received a 2018 Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Legislative Service Award.
ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today announced his appointees to the Georgia Joint Defense Commission.
ATLANTA – Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 749 during a bill signing ceremony on Monday, May 7, 2018. State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) sponsored HB 749 during the 2018 legislative session, and HB 749 specifies how military retirement income is excluded from Georgia income tax.
ATLANTA – State Representatives Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) and Heath Clark (R-Warner Robins), along with State Senators Tyler Harper (R-Ocilla) and Larry Walker (R-Perry), today announced that the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Council in coordination with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) will provide an expedited process for military personnel seeking employment as peace officers or criminal justice professionals in Georgia.
ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today announced the members of the House Study Committee on Distracted Driving:
ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) today announced that House Bill 340, House Bill 470 and Senate Bill 104 were signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal on Monday, May 8, 2017. These measures will amend Georgia motor vehicle tax law, establish a grant fund to assist military communities and update Georgia’s invasion of privacy law.
ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed House Bill 9 by a vote of 156-1. Authored by State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), the bill would change Georgia’s invasion of privacy laws to make filming under or through a person’s clothing a felony in Georgia.
ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) recently received a 2017 Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Legislative Service Award. ACCG, Georgia’s county association, recognized Rep. Blackmon for his work on House Bill 340 during the 2017 legislative session.
ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) was recently appointed to serve as a member of the House Majority Caucus Deputy Whip team. Rep. Blackmon was appointed to serve on the Whip Team by House Majority Whip Christian Coomer (R-Cartersville), and his appointment is for a two-year term concurrent with his service as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.
ATLANTA — State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) was selected for the State Legislative Leaders Foundation 2016 Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Virginia in partnership with the Darden School of Business. Rep. Blackmon was chosen from more than 200 applicants as one of 50 legislators from 47 states who attended the annual leadership program that was held July 11-14, 2016.
ATLANTA — State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) today commented on the first meeting of the House Military Affairs Study Committee. Rep. Blackmon served as the local site Chair of the study committee’s first meeting, which was held at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, and featured a keynote address from Senator Saxby Chambliss.
ATLANTA – Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 749 during a bill signing ceremony on Monday, May 7, 2018. State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) sponsored HB 749 during the 2018 legislative session, and HB 749 specifies how military retirement income is excluded from Georgia income tax.
ATLANTA — State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) today announced that House Bill 866 was signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal and became effective on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Sponsored by Rep. Blackmon, HB 866 will exempt multiple employer self-insured health plans from premium taxes in Georgia.
ATLANTA – House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) recently appointed State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) to the House Study Committee on Base Realignment and Closure.
ATLANTA –State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) today announced that the Big Indian Creek Waterway Trail in Houston County will receive $100,000 in grant funding from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources through the Federal Recreational Trails Program.
ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), along with Representatives Heath Clark (R-Warner Robins), Robert Dickey (R-Musella), Bubber Epps (R-Dry Branch) and Buddy Harden (R-Cordele), recently led the Georgia House of Representatives in recognizing Lieutenant General Lee K. Levy II, Commander of the United States Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, at the Georgia State Capitol on Wednesday, February 17, 2016.