Battleground: Ballot Box

LISTEN: In this week’s Lawmakers Huddle, GPB’s Donna Lowry talks with a state senator who called for a study committee on improving family caregiver services — after navigating the struggles of caring for his ailing father. 

Five Georgia state lawmakers are traveling to Israel as part of a bipartisan delegation organized by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

LISTEN: Natural disasters like Hurricane Helene often remind elected officials of their most essential role: being there for their communities in times of crisis. In Lawmakers Huddle, GPB's Donna Lowry talks with state lawmakers about their Helene experience.

Federal grant cuts are leaving Georgia communities without vital resources. Representatives Marvin Lim and Karen Lupton join host Donna Lowry to explain the impact on schools, nonprofits, and public agencies.

Senator Blake Tillery joins Lawmakers’ Huddle to discuss his push to eliminate Georgia’s state income tax. He explains why he believes the change is key to keeping Georgia competitive while ensuring families keep more of their earnings.

Senator John F. Kennedy joins Lawmakers’ Huddle to discuss Georgia’s rising rates of chronic absenteeism and how Senate Bill 123 aims to address it. The conversation examines the origins of the problem, the role of local solutions, and what lies ahead for a statewide study committee.

As Georgia students prepare to head back to school, new safety measures are top of mind. This episode of Lawmakers Huddle examines SB 17, a law that requires mobile panic buttons and real-time mapping in schools to aid first responders. Host Donna Lowry speaks with Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte about the law’s origins, its impact, and the continued push to protect students and staff across the state.

A new Georgia law now allows trucks to carry up to 88,000 pounds on non-interstate roads, a move aimed at supporting the state's top industry, agriculture, while maintaining a carve-out for metro Atlanta. Representative Leesa Hagan explains the bipartisan effort behind the change and shares how a young hunter helped inspire a new law allowing neon pink safety gear in the field.

A new Georgia law gives the state’s Department of Transportation the power to regulate electric air taxis, positioning Georgia as a national leader in air mobility and autonomous transportation. In this episode of Lawmakers Huddle, Chairman Todd Jones explains how eVTOL aircraft, vertiports, and drone deliveries are quickly turning the Jetsons’ vision into Georgia’s reality.

Georgia Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II reflects on the rise in political violence following a deadly shooting targeting Minnesota lawmakers. He emphasizes the need for respectful discourse, better security coordination for elected officials, and a cultural shift away from demonizing political opponents.

Georgia lawmakers may only be in session for 40 days, but the work of governing continues year-round. In this episode, we look at how study committees, constituent meetings, and behind-the-scenes research shape the laws that get introduced each January.

This episode features a conversation with two Athens lawmakers who share opposing views on immigration policy and the sanctuary jurisdiction label. They discuss the impact of recent legislation, local law enforcement cooperation with federal authorities, and proposals for immigration reform in Georgia.

This week on Lawmakers Huddle: Immigration laws have come under increased scrutiny with the arrest and detention by ICE of a 19-year-old college student in Dalton. Donna Lowry spoke with Republican State Representative Kasey Carpenter to discuss his interest in immigration reform. 

This episode explores how delays in Georgia’s professional licensing system have kept qualified workers from entering the state’s workforce. New laws taking effect on July 1 aim to streamline the process, helping professionals such as nurses, therapists, and accountants get to work more efficiently.

This episode features two bipartisan bills aimed at protecting vulnerable Georgians. Lawmakers passed new legislation to support survivors of domestic violence during sentencing and to crack down on the unregulated roadside sale of pets.

More than 50 policymakers gathered in Atlanta for the New Deal Forum Idea Summit, focusing on effective governance and leadership development. Georgia lawmakers emphasized the importance of collaboration on key issues, such as healthcare, economic security, and housing, to enhance lives across the state.

Donna Lowry explores the history and legacy of Warm Springs, Georgia—a place of healing for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a catalyst for modern rehabilitative care. Lawmakers discuss recent efforts to restore its therapeutic pools and reflect on the state's role in the fight against polio.

This week on Lawmakers Huddle, host Donna Lowry recaps the end of Georgia’s 2025 legislative session and explores concerns over the state budget and potential federal funding cuts. The episode also features the swearing-in of Barbara Rivera-Holmes as Georgia’s first female labor commissioner.

As Sine Die arrives, legislators face a packed agenda—including the 2026 state budget—after late-night sessions and surprise protests. From a heated debate over gender-affirming care in prisons to election law changes and efforts to ban DEI programs in schools, tensions run high. Plus, the team celebrates a milestone for longtime GPB photojournalist Wesley Nichols.