In a decisive response to agricultural and forestry sectors battered by Hurricane Helene, Georgia's Governor Brian P. Kemp has put his signature on legislation earmarked for relief. Joining hands with key figures such as First Lady Marty Kemp, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, and Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo, Kemp has formalized support for the backbone of the state's economy.
"Our farmers and foresters are tough people," Kemp stated, signaling a definitive stance towards recovery. These words, echoed on gov.georgia.gov, were tightly followed by an acknowledgment, of further efforts required to rebuild from the storm's devastation. HB 223, a particular focus of Kemp, spearheaded by a fierce consortium of lawmakers, seeks to exempt federal crop and disaster payments from state tax, establish a reforestation tax credit, and allows local governments to waive the harvest tax temporarily, as part of the recovery measures.
Additionally, Kemp gave his nod to SB 201 and HB 143, two bills reinforcing consumer protection in disaster-related contracting and transferring agricultural water metering responsibilities from farmers to the state, respectively. Senator Larry Walker and Representative Leesa Hagan sponsored the former, while the latter enjoyed the advocacy of Representative Robert Dickey and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. As reflected on the official website, Kemp's appreciation goes out to every individual involved in passing these measures.
