After an unprecedented year of business development with over $21 billion of investment from 348 projects in 2022, Governor Kemp, Lt Governor Jones, Speaker Burns, and the Georgia General Assembly have proven they are dedicated to continuing that trend in 2023.
During the 40-day legislative session, the Georgia Chamber worked on over 350 bills. Ultimately, our Government Affairs Council, the largest business advocacy organization in the country, chose to support bills that would positively impact Georgia’s economy and growing workforce. Highlights of those bills include personal income and property tax relief; heightened public safety measures for our communities and healthcare facilities; increased penalties for damages to our critical infrastructure; expanded access to education and literacy resources for our future workforce; and the initial policy framework to build out Georgia’s growing electric vehicle support systems.
But with growing global economic uncertainty, a rising and disruptive China, increased competition from other states, and a federal tax system that punishes business, we know there is still much work to be done to ensure we can sustain high-quality growth that ensures Georgians in every corner of the state have access to high paying jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities. Several important issues including workforce housing, freight and logistics, and lawsuit abuse relief fell short this session.
Why are these issues vital for a New Georgia Economy? To start, 67% of Georgia small business owners and corporate CEOs report a lack of affordable workforce housing as the top issue affecting our ability to attract and maintain a competitive workforce. For Georgia to remain the best place to live, work, and raise a family, we must first ensure that our children can live in the communities where they are employed. Current regulatory fees, restrictive local zoning mandates, and skyrocketing interest rates are keeping nearly 1.4 million Georgia…
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