Kemp Signs Major Tax Relief

Gov. Brian Kemp signed two major tax relief bills into law, including one that will keep lowering the state income tax rate for years to come.

The Georgia Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2026 cuts the state income tax rate from 5.19% to 4.99% starting this year. The rate will keep going down 0.125% a year until dropping to 3.99%.

A second measure caps annual property tax assessment increases for homeowners, limiting how much local governments can raise them year over year. The property tax provisions will phase in over the coming years.

Democrats argued the Republican-led bills were passed illegally on the final day of the legislative session and signaled possible legal challenges.

Lawmakers Subpoena Abrams

A state Senate committee subpoenaed former governor candidate Stacey Abrams to testify over alleged campaign finance violations tied to a voter registration group she founded.

A hearing is set for Friday in the case, which stems from findings by the State Ethics Commission that the Abrams-founded New Georgia Project and an affiliated fund violated campaign finance laws during the 2018 election cycle.

Abrams criticized the Senate panel’s actions. Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cowsert said the panel is focused on restoring public confidence in Georgia’s election and campaign finance systems.

First Liberty Founder Pleads Guilty

The founder of Newnan-based First Liberty Building & Loan pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud in connection with what prosecutors describe as a $140 million Ponzi scheme.

Edwin Brant Frost IV pleaded guilty in federal court. According to prosecutors, he raised at least $140 million from more than 300 investors in a scheme targeting conservative and faith-based investors.

Frost faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for August. Federal prosecutors recommend a prison term of 14 years.

The guilty plea marks the first criminal conviction tied to First Liberty’s collapse. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has sued the politically connected firm, and state regulators continue to pursue enforcement action.

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➤ Statewide: The first year of the state’s new K-12 school voucher program drew more than 20,000 applicants, with only about a third qualifying under current eligibility rules. (More)

➤ Macon: Visit Macon is searching for a Director of Paranormal Affairs to lead ghost tours through the reportedly haunted city. The cleverly written job posting went viral. (More)

➤ Athens: The latest University of Georgia farm report showed broiler chickens remain the state’s top agricultural product, followed by eggs, beef, cotton, and peanuts. Georgia leads the nation in broiler production. (More)

➤ Statewide: Georgia will launch its new DREAMS scholarships starting in the fall, offering $3,000 per year to low-income students who attend public colleges. (More)

➤ Harris County: Sheriff’s deputies found credit card skimmers inside Dollar General stores in Waverly Hall and Pine Mountain Valley. Shoppers are urged to check their statements for unauthorized charges. (More)

➤ Atlanta Braves shortstop Jim Jarvis won the MLB Play of the Week for a diving catch in shallow left field during Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. (See Catch)

➤ For the first time in school history, Coastal Georgia will send all five of its spring sports teams to their respective national NAIA tournaments this year: softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s golf. (More)

➤ CBS Sports named Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson the best running back in the NFL heading into the 2026 season. Robinson led the league with 2,298 scrimmage yards last year. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | WNBA | NCAAB | Soccer

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➤ A package of workforce bills passed by the state Legislature will expand apprenticeship programs and broaden job training access. (More)

➤ Georgia’s push for easier workforce development includes clearer licensing pathways for electricians, plumbers, and other construction trades, streamlining a process that workforce advocates say has long bottlenecked hiring. (More)

➤ Farm worker safeguards, rural road infrastructure funding, and expanded tax relief for forestry operations were among the agricultural bills that Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law last week. (More)

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Lithium prices are up 2X+ since last summer, and Morgan Stanley forecasts an 80,000-ton shortage in 2026. In other words, those with a reliable supply are sitting pretty.

So it’s a big deal that EnergyX just commissioned the single biggest lithium production facility of its kind in the United States.

EnergyX’s patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods at 500X the speed of evaporation ponds. With this facility, they’re preparing to produce it at scale.

They’ve got nearly 150,000 acres of lithium-rich land spread across the Americas, including the rights to up to 9.8M tons in Chile alone.

➤ State parks and historic sites plan a growing list of free Fourth of July events to mark America’s 250th birthday. (List)

➤ The Historic Savannah Foundation named its 2026 Preservation Award honorees, celebrating individuals and projects in historic building stewardship and restoration. (More)

➤ Mark your calendars: A total solar eclipse visible throughout the Peach State will come 52 years from this week, on May 11, 2078. (More)

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Yesterday’s Results:

Were you aware that the state’s gas tax suspension ends next week?

1. Yes: 70%
2. No: 30%

What city is known as the Kaolin Capital of the World for the area’s massive production of the clay used in paper, ceramics, and paint?

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