Georgia Trend Daily – May 13, 2026
May 13, 2026 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Signs Legislation Strengthening Georgia’s Workforce
Staff reports, Gov. Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, Speaker Jon Burns, Department of Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes, University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Sonny Perdue, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Commissioner Greg Dozier, Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) President Chris Green, members of the Georgia General Assembly, and other higher education and talent pipeline officials, signed multiple bills into law Monday reinforcing Georgia’s placement as the Top State for Talent.
May 13, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Economic Development Around the State
Christy Simo reports, once again, Georgia is breaking records, this time hitting an all-time high in export dollars. The state surpassed $60.2 billion in exports in calendar year 2025, the fifth consecutive year of increases and part of a 68.9% increase in exports over the past decade.
May 13, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Power strikes deal that could slightly lower customers’ bills
Drew Kann reports that Georgia Power reached a tentative deal Tuesday in a pair of cases involving its storm damage and fuel costs that could bring monthly bill savings of roughly $4.04 to the average residential customer starting in June. The proposed monthly savings are more significant than the $1.32 bill decrease Georgia Power initially floated earlier this year, but financial impacts for customers will vary based on their billing plan and energy habits.
May 13, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
Georgia Firm Among 10 U.S. Exporters Honored by Export-Import Bank
Trevor Williams reports that GF Health Products Inc. is no stranger to export awards.
GF, short for Graham-Field, a purveyor of hospital beds, exam tables and some 50,000 catalog items in business since 1946, has taken home just about every honor in the book when it comes to international sales expansion.
May 13, 2026 The Brunswick News
Burn ban lifted as Brantley fire containment grows and relief effort begins
Michael Hall reports that the battle against the Highway 82 wildfire in Brantley County is winding down and hit a milestone of sorts on Monday when the informational Facebook page made its last post. “As of today, this Hwy 82 Fire Information Facebook page is no longer being updated or actively monitored,” the final post said.
May 13, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
Mableton to consider beautification, tourism, historic preservation
Megan Jackson reports, a new organization aimed at fighting litter and increasing beautification efforts is up for consideration during Wednesday’s Mableton City Council meeting. If approved, the Keep Mableton Beautiful Commission (KMB) would assist the City Council in establishing citywide policy for improving the city through environmental education and efforts in beautification, litter prevention, waste reduction and recycling.
May 13, 2026 WABE
Kemp signs controversial bill that turns some major metro Atlanta races nonpartisan
Rahul Bali reports that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday signed a bill that would make some elections nonpartisan in five major metro Atlanta counties. House Bill 369 shifts races for district attorneys, county commissioners, tax commissioners and other local offices in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton counties to nonpartisan elections beginning in 2028.
May 13, 2026 GPB
Gov. Brian Kemp signs income, property tax bills into law
Sarah Kallis reports that income and property tax bills passed during Georgia’s legislative session are now law. Gov. Brian Kemp signed a series of bills Monday at the state Capitol, including one that reduces the tax rate to just under 5%, and paves the way for other reductions in the future.
May 13, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Five things to know about the upcoming Senate election in Georgia
Ross Williams reports, this time next week, the GOP field to face off against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff should be at least narrowed down. Ossoff is up for re-election in November, and Republican voters will have their say Tuesday on who will compete against him.
May 13, 2026 State Affairs
Income tax cuts open $1.3B deficit in Georgia budget
Beau Evans reports, tax cuts have poked a $1.3 billion hole in Georgia’s next budget, forcing Gov. Brian Kemp to trim hundreds of millions in state spending during his final months in office. The “big budget” for the 2027 fiscal year was set to bump up funding for schools, healthcare, public safety and roadwork by about $738 million, making for an original $38.5 billion budget that the General Assembly passed in April.
May 13, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Kemp trims some proposed spending from budget
Ty Tagami reports that state lawmakers passed a budget that was about $1 billion larger than what Gov. Brian Kemp expects Georgia will collect in tax revenue next fiscal year, so he took a scalpel to their spending plan. The fiscal year 2027 budget he signed Tuesday trims $300 million from spending that the General Assembly had added.
May 13, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Democrats, Republicans have no idea who should be Georgia’s lieutenant governor
David Wickert reports, ask Georgia Democrats and Republicans who they want to be the next lieutenant governor, and they’ll give you a surprisingly common answer: They don’t know. Large majorities of likely voters from both major political parties said they have not decided who they’d vote for in Tuesday’s primary election, according to a new poll from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
