Hurricane relief for farmers and timber owners will be one of the priorities for the Pierce County delegation at this year's session of the General Assembly.
The Assembly convened Monday, January 13, for its 40-day session under the Gold Dome in Atlanta.
Pierce County is represented by State Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) and State Representative Steven Meeks (R-Screven).
“Our number one priority is to get our farmers and timber owners the resources they need to recover from this historic storm,” said both Goodman and Meeks.
Goodman pointed out that agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry and noted that just in timber alone about a third of the state's forest related economy was damaged or destroyed in a matter of hours Sept. 26 and 27.
Hurricane Helene swept in from the Gulf of Mexico ravaging Georgia, killing 34 people and causing major damage including here in Pierce County.
Governor Brian Kemp announced in December he would introduce a Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Package during this year's session.
Both legislators say they are still waiting for the package to be introduced, but both said they think the relief bill will address the needs of the local farming and forestry community, including Pierce County.
Kemp already repurposed $100 million from the state’s development authority funds to provide direct relief for farmers and timber producers who suffered massive losses form the storm.
That money has been exhausted and Kemp reportedly has plans to include a significant hurricane relief aid package in this year’s budget.
The state has a bulging economic surplus, which includes money put back in to the economy from COVID relief and a related increase in the economy and tax revenues. Some of it was given back to state taxpayers in a tax cut last year. Some of those funds will be used for disaster relief in the coming year.
“We will both be in there fighting for our people in South Georgia,” said Goodman.
Goodman also said he expects the truck weight limit to be made permanent at 88,000 pounds during this year’s session.
The seemingly belowthe- radar issue was a major controversy two years ago when it was raised and Meeks and Goodman carried the bill in the legislature.
Essentially, the bill allows truckers to haul 4,000 more pounds than the 84,000 pounds Georgia law previously allowed. Georgia's lower limit put the state’s truckers at a competitive disadvantage since Alabama, Florida and Tennessee allows 88,000 pounds and North Carolina and South Carolina allowed 90,000 pounds.
Highway safety advocates and railroad interests opposed the increase in weights for hauling.
Other farm related issues include efforts to address the recent outbreak of the avian flu and what that will mean for area poultry farmers and the economy.
Meeks said he would be meeting with Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper to get a briefing on the issue. Harper, a resident of Ocilla, formerly represented Pierce County in the State Senate prior to his election as Ag commissioner. Harper’s district went away during redistricting after the 2020 census leading to Goodman becoming Pierce County’s State Senator.
Both men agreed school safety and tort reform will be on the agenda at this year's session.
“We will be looking at ways to improve school safety and security,” said Meeks. “I think there will be some ways the state can help with funding to ensure our children are safe at school.”
Meeks specifically referred to the badges that were in use during a recent school shooting at Apalachee High School that allowed staff members to immediately summon help. Pierce County Schools recently purchase the badges for schools in the local system.
Governor Kemp has said he plans to include another $159 million for school safety grants in this year’s budget.
Goodman said the key on tort reform is to strike a good balance on the issue.
“We need to protect the rights of those who have been injured and need help and the others that are just frivolous lawsuits tying up the courts seeking big money damages,” said Goodman.
The legislature has debated tort reform in the last couple of sessions, but no new laws have been passed addressing tort reform.
Business leaders have complained liability insurance rates due to high damage lawsuits make it difficult for companies to stay in business in Georgia.
Goodman and Meeks also noted that sports betting will also come up in this year’s session, though neither believe it is a burning issue to most south Georgians. The betting issue has been discussed during the last several sessions, but has never passed.
Meeks said prison reform would also be an issue, with efforts to improve correctional officer pay and retention and to crack down on corruption and contraband inside the prisons.
Meeks said he would also be looking for ways to assist independent pharmacies by reimbursing them at the same rate as chain pharmacies. Currently, independent pharmacies are at a competitive disadvantage because they don’t qualify for the reimbursements.
Meeks is currently beginning his fourth term representing District 178, which includes all of Pierce and Brantley Counties and portions of Appling and Wayne Counties. Goodman is currently starting his third term. Goodman represents the eighth district which includes Pierce, Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes and a large portion of Ware County.
Both men say they are ready to help Pierce County governments and their constituents with any needs they have.
Meeks is currently serving on the appropriations committee including the economic development sub committee) and the agriculture, arts and entertainment, budget and fiscal affairs, consumer affairs, energy utility and telecommunications and fish and parks committees. Goodman is now serving as chairman of the Agriculture and consumer affairs committee and serves on the natural resources and environment, public safety, retirement and appropriations.
Goodman can be reached by calling (912) 218-0447 or by e-mail at russ.goodman@ senate. ga.gov. Meeks can be reached by calling (912) 207- 0813 or by email at steven. [email protected].
Dave Williams, Bureau Chief of Capitol Beat News Service, contributed to this report.
