(The Center Square) – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp confirmed Tuesday that tort reform is his No. 1 legislative priority.
Speaking at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs and Issues breakfast, the governor asked for input.
“Every local or regional chamber in this room has a critical role to play this session to make sure we finally get tort reform done,” Kemp said. “I’m asking you to engage earlier and harder than you ever have. Talk to your members, get them involved, and give them the tools necessary to be influential with their House and Senate delegation.”
Georgia ranked fourth in the American Tort Reform Association’s “Judicial Hellholes” report, dropping from the top spot only because other states had a larger volume of “abuses,” the organization said. Nuclear verdicts cost Georgians a “tort tax” of $1,372.94 each year, according to the association, which quoted numbers from a Perryman Group study. The study also said 137,658 jobs were lost annually because of the high verdicts.
Kemp hosted three roundtable discussions on tort reform last year. The issue is not partisan, he said Tuesday.
“No matter your party, your district, your ZIP code, or your background, this issue impacts us all,” the governor said.
The governor is asking for $530 million for the state’s freight and logistic transportation infrastructure and another infusion of $250 million for the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for the development of water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure projects, according to his office.
The governor also unveiled plans to introduce the “Top State for Talent Act.” The proposed legislation would match ninth graders with proposed higher education institutions. If approved, a “return on investment analysis measuring the effectiveness of our secondary and postsecondary programs that are aligned with the high demand career list” would be required.
Kemp said Monday he would ask the General Assembly for $50 million in school safety grants. He will discuss his health care legislative priorities on Wednesday, according to his office.