With just days remaining in the 2026 Legislative Session before Sine Die on April 2, Republicans under the Gold Dome are in a full sprint to deliver on the promises we made to you. Every vote, every bill, and every late night is focused on defending your hard-earned money and preserving the conservative values that make Georgia the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
From day one, we have made it clear that Georgia’s economic success should reach every community. That’s why we passed House Bill 376 to expand tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic properties, with a strong focus on rural counties often left behind. This measure will help to revitalize our main streets, support small businesses and make sure that no part of Georgia is overlooked in our state’s growth. Downtown Statesboro, along with several other cities, has been revitalized thanks to these important tax credits, so I expect this expansion to bring the same economic growth to even more cities.
I was also proud to support another piece of legislation that helps rural communities in Georgia. House Bill 998 will improve our telecommunications capacity by ensuring equal, consistent access in rural and urban areas of our state. In metro counties, there are several thousand cellular access points within a certain distance, compared to only a handful in rural counties covering the same distance. Rural areas also rely on several smaller regional telecommunications providers to stay connected, and those same companies have to pay larger metro-area providers to ensure they remain fully connected. This bill brings parity across the board by providing more financial support to these regional companies, allowing them to keep up with their larger metro counterparts. This will improve access to communication for businesses and everyday Georgians alike, bridging yet another gap between rural and metro Georgia.
Through our diligent financial stewardship of your tax dollars, we are once again in a position to give money back to you and your family. The Senate passed House Bill 1000, paving the way for a fourth round of income tax rebates. That means up to $250 for individuals, $375 for heads of household and $500 for married couples filing jointly.
With the continued rise in gas prices, we are taking meaningful steps to ease the burden many Georgians are feeling at the pump. The Senate has unanimously passed House Bill 1199, legislation that will suspend the state gas tax for the next 60 days. At a time when families and communities are already facing significant financial pressures, this is a practical way to help lower costs and provide some immediate relief over the coming months.
When it comes to public safety, we’re sending a clear message to criminals: if you bring deadly drugs into our communities, there will be consequences. With the passage of House Bill 535, we are cracking down on fentanyl traffickers by imposing tough, mandatory penalties on those who poison our streets. This measure is a step in the right direction in the fight to stop a crisis that has devastated too many lives across our state and nation.
The final days of session are always the most critical, and Republicans are not letting up. We will continue fighting to lower costs and defend the principles that have kept Georgia strong.
As always, it is an honor to serve you. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, I encourage you to reach out. Your voice drives the work we do every day under the Gold Dome.
Sen. Billy Hickman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Youth. He represents the 4th Senate District, which includes Bulloch, Candler, Effingham and Evans counties, as well as a portion of Chatham County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 463-1371 or by email at Billy.Hickman@senate.ga.gov
