Under the Gold Dome… A Message from Rep. Howard Maxwell

The 154th meeting of The Georgia General Assembly kicked off on Monday, January 9th, bringing us to the start of the 2017 legislative session! The first order of business was to get all members of the General Assembly sworn in. Soon after the ceremony, we hit the ground running to prepare for the long legislative days ahead. There is no shortage of issues as we look at bills dealing with everything from education to healthcare to casino gaming, medical cannabis and much more. It's up to us to ensure that all new bills introduced are thoroughly considered and discussed before final passage. I look forward to a productive session!
Governor Deal’s annual State of the State address was given on Wednesday, January 11th, where he covered progress over the last year, including a reduced unemployment rate, a banner year in trade, film production and tourism, and the ability to allocate funds for much deserved pay raises for certain state employees. Gov. Deal also unveiled plans for this year. He asked us to tackle the following: healthcare reform for our retired and active duty military; possible expansion of Medicaid and PeachCare coverage for our youth; additional funding for in depth law enforcement training and continued education reform. The Governor also introduced his proposal for a newly built cyber-crime technology training facility in Augusta. This center will make Georgia a worldwide leader in combatting cyber-attacks.  As legislation is introduced pertaining to the proposals above, I will let you know! 
At the end of a very busy first week, we also received our committee assignments for the 2017-2018 legislative terms. I will continue my work as Chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee.  In addition, I will also serve on the following Committees: Appropriations, Education, Insurance, Retirement. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our district citizens through my committee work. If you are interested in watching a committee meeting in progress, you can do so at the Georgia General Assembly website. 
The only thing the General Assembly is required to do by law is pass a balanced budget.Budget hearings began Tuesday, January 17th. In the coming days, we will anxiously await as the Appropriations Committee deliberates and makes suggestions as to where state funds should be allocated.  The budget is a living document that will change many times before final passage in the last days of session. I will keep you informed on budget news and as always, I will work hard to ensure that our district receives necessary funding and assistance from the state level for future capital investments.
As we make our way through the 2017 session, I encourage all of you to follow news from the General Assembly. I will continue to send updates through session and I hope you will contact me with your questions and concerns. It is a pleasure and an honor to serve and represent you.