The Georgia General Assembly returned to the State Capitol on January 10 to start the 2022 legislative session. The General Assembly was in recess this week as the Joint Appropriations Committee reviewed the Governor’s Amended Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 budgets. Both chambers will reconvene on Monday, January 24 for legislative day 5.
Last Thursday, Governor Brian Kemp delivered his State of the State Address before the joint session, highlighting his priorities on education, healthcare, and public safety. Regarding our growing economy, Governor Kemp pointed to keeping our state open for business and record level of jobs and investments as key reasons. Among his education priorities include the final $2,000 installment pay raise for k-12 public school teachers, a one-time $1,000 supplement for school bus drivers, nurses, nutrition workers, and part-time employees, and $425 million dollars to fully restore education funding in our state that were made during the pandemic. In healthcare, Governor Kemp announced $1 million for the University System of Georgia to expand nursing programs, funding for the Technical College System, and expansion of Medicaid coverage for new mothers to six months. Lastly, to boost public safety, Governor Kemp proposed funding for a new anti-gang unit, upgrades to GBI headquarters and equipment to address backlog, and $5000 raise for state law enforcement and other state employees. To read his full speech, click here.
On Wednesday, January 19, Speaker David Ralston addressed Gwinnett’s business and community leaders at an On Topic luncheon, highlighting Georgia’s best-in-class business climate for nearly a decade, its recently reported 2.8% unemployment rate, and its triple-A bond rating, which is something Gwinnett County also boasts. Read full recap here.
Speaking of Gwinnett County, the board of commissioners adopted the 2022 budget at the beginning of the year that includes $117,000 for the Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center and $2 million for a multi-year expansion of the county’s transit system.
The Georgia Transit Association awarded Gwinnett County Transit with the Performance Award for excellence and Gwinnett DOT Assistant Director Tom Sever was named Georgia Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ 2021 Transportation Professional of the Year, an award earned for his 26 years of experience in the state’s transportation sector.
At Thursday’s GCPS School Board meeting, the Gwinnett County Board of Education elected Dr. Tarece Johnson as Chair and Steve Knudsen as Vice Chair.
Redistricting Bills in Gwinnett
- HB 872 – Gwinnett County; Board of Education; revise district boundaries
Gwinnett County Public Schools 2022 Board of Education Districts Map 1
- HB 873 – Gwinnett County; Board of Commissioners; revise district boundaries
Gwinnett County Redistricting Map
During the Joint House and Senate Delegation Committee’s public input hearing on Wednesday, January 19, the delegation approved two motions to send both HB 872 and HB 873 for passage by the Georgia State Legislature. HB 872 passed unanimously while HB 873 passed by 12-4 vote. Per delegation by-laws, the Gwinnett House and Senate delegations need 10 and 4 co-sponsors respectively to move forward.