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Data center bill stalls after last-minute change opposed by industry finds support • Georgia Recorder The Georgia Senate abruptly adjourned after an effort to restore original language to a data center bill seemed to gain support from a majority of the body.

The Senate session ended abruptly Thursday just as senators were nearing a vote on a bill aimed at ensuring data centers pay for the energy infrastructure built to accommodate them after it appeared a last-minute alternative measure had the votes to pass.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

Lawmakers consider hiking fines for insurers who flaunt Georgia’s mental health parity law • Georgia Recorder Following recent fines for violations of mental health parity, Georgia advocates and lawmakers are pushing for stricter insurance compliance.

Georgia officials on both sides of the aisle are proposing legislation aimed at holding insurance companies accountable when they fall short of the long-held promise of mental health parity.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

Georgia House passes stripped down 'Mandi Ballinger Act,' opting to instead study ‘raise the age’ • Georgia Recorder The Georgia House on Friday passed a bill to create a special committee to study raising the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to include 17-year-olds, but stopped short of taking action to prevent 1...

The Georgia House on Friday passed a bill to create a special committee to study raising the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to include 17-year-olds, but stopped short of taking action to prevent 17-year-olds from being tried as adults.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

Former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young: Photographs from the past a reminder that ‘freedom is not free’ • Georgia Recorder The 93-year-old former U.N. ambassador warned that freedom must be constantly protected to prevent the struggles of the past from becoming a reality.

Civil rights icon Andrew Young issued a blunt warning Tuesday that liberties won during the 20th Century are under threat, but he also said he believes people today have the necessary tools to protect them.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

Senate Republicans sign off on cuts to Georgia’s income tax rate while ending some corporate perks  • Georgia Recorder The proposal would cut a number of corporate tax credits and require that income tax credits without a sunset date be reauthorized in five years.

Senate Republicans passed a proposal Thursday to reduce the state’s income tax while cutting some of the state’s tax credits for corporations despite Democratic pushback in a hours-long debate.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

Senate Republicans unveil income tax cut proposal tied to broad cuts in ‘corporate welfare’ • Georgia Recorder The proposal would cut various corporate tax credits to fund a 4.99% income tax reduction and exempt individual income up to $50,000.

Georgia Senate Republicans unveiled a sweeping plan to cut hundreds of millions in corporate tax credits while completely eliminating income taxes for some Georgians and cutting it for others.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

A little known candidate shakes up GOP primary for Georgia governor • Georgia Recorder Rick Jackson’s late entry to the Republican gubernatorial primary rattled Georgia political leaders who assumed the field of candidates was largely set.

Rick Jackson, who is relatively unknown statewide, pitched himself as a “conservative business leader” capable of breaking up the political establishment “cartel.”

Story by @alander.bsky.social

Republican health care executive becomes surprise late entrant in Georgia's race for governor • Georgia Recorder It turns out the race to be Georgia’s next governor is not so set after all.  With the primary less than five months away, another prominent candidate has jumped into the contest for the Republican no...

It turns out the race to be Georgia’s next governor is not so set after all. With the primary less than five months away, another prominent candidate has jumped into the contest for the Republican nomination.

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Atlanta airport fuel spill draws criticism over lack of information • Georgia Recorder Authorities haven't released details on the size or duration of the leak that led to a state of emergency, even as cleanup continues.

State officials and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are facing criticism for a lack of information following a jet fuel spill that contaminated the Flint River, which provides drinking water to 400,000 people south of Atlanta and in central Georgia.

New from @alander.bsky.social.

South Georgia lawmaker charged with unemployment fraud • Georgia Recorder Valdosta Democrat Rep. Dexter Sharper allegedly made false statements to obtain thousands in unemployment assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

A third Georgia state lawmaker was charged Friday with unemployment fraud in a pandemic-era safety net program, @alander.bsky.social reports.

Fulton County DA will not prosecute advocate accused of stealing Georgia Power’s ‘trade secrets’ • Georgia Recorder Clean energy advocate Patty Durand will not be prosecuted for alleged stealing a Georgia Power' booklet containing trade secrets.

NEW from @alander.bsky.social: Clean energy advocate Patty Durand, who was accused of stealing a booklet labeled as containing “trade secrets” during an energy regulatory hearing, will not be indicted after the Fulton County District Attorney’s office formally declined to prosecute the case.

Outrage over surge of data centers in Georgia inspires wave of bipartisan bills • Georgia Recorder Georgia lawmakers are expected to consider data center legislation this session to address the industry's power demands and their impact on utility costs.

A surge in data center development has turned Georgia into a national hotspot while raising fresh concerns about the state’s energy landscape and natural resources.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

2026 Legislative session kicks off with discussions on affordability • Georgia Recorder The hallowed halls of Georgia’s state Capitol were abuzz Monday as lawmakers, lobbyists and everyday citizens flocked to the Gold Dome for the start of the 2026 legislative session.

Georgia’s Gold Dome is humming with talk of affordability, though ideas for tackling it vary.

New from @mayahoman.bsky.social + @alander.bsky.social + @journalistross.bsky.social.

Legislative leaders float different visions for tax relief for the 2026 session • Georgia Recorder Georgia Republican leaders are pushing for tax cuts in the upcoming 2026 session despite the House and Senate disagreeing on which taxes to tackle.

Georgia GOP Senate leaders unveiled a plan Wednesday that would entirely eliminate the personal state income tax by 2032, shortly before House Speaker Jon Burns said the House would focus on cutting property taxes.

New from @alander.bsky.social.

“Somebody needs to be watching to see what the impact is going to be overall. How many of these things can Georgia safely support? And if nobody’s looking at that, then we could end up being in a lot of trouble,” said Twiggs County resident Nancy Lubeck.

Georgia legislative panel recommends mobile units, student loan aid for rural cancer care • Georgia Recorder To address rural Georgia's shortage of cancer care providers, a committee recommends expanding doctor loan forgiveness and funding mobile screening units.

A state legislative committee is recommending expanded loan forgiveness for doctors and increased funding for mobile screening units to combat a severe shortage of cancer care providers in rural Georgia.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

Georgia regulators approve massive power grid expansion to serve data centers • Georgia Recorder Opponents of the power expansion criticized commissioners for potentially failing to protect customers from the cost of building power for data centers.

Georgia regulators unanimously approved a massive expansion of the state’s power grid Friday, approving Georgia Power’s request for nearly 10,000 megawatts of new energy capacity despite concerns over transparency and the potential financial risk to ratepayers.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

The Georgia Public Service Commission hearing room is packed ahead of the vote on Georgia Power's request to add 10 gigawatts of power to the power grid.

Georgia Power’s plan for powering data centers is up for a final vote Friday • Georgia Recorder The Public Service Commission staff and Georgia Power recently struck a deal greenlighting the utility full request under specific conditions.

State regulators are set to vote Friday on a massive energy capacity request from Georgia Power that proponents say protects ratepayers but environmental and consumer groups warn relies on uncertain data center demand, which critics say could cost customers billions.

Protest erupted this morning as Georgia Public Service Commission hearings began with opposition to Georgia Power's huge energy buildout request. Several people protesting the upcoming commission vote, were kicked out before the hearing officially started. #gapolitics

It's Giving Tuesday! We're grateful for the support you've shown the Recorder this year. Help us continue to deliver independent, nonpartisan, ad-free journalism in 2026.

The Recorder staff: @alander.bsky.social + @mayahoman.bsky.social + @journalistross.bsky.social + @jillnolin.bsky.social

Massive Burt Jones-backed project among wave of data centers proposed for Georgia • Georgia Recorder A massive data center project backed by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and his family could be coming to Butts County, but many of the project’s details are still unknown.

A massive data center project backed by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and his family could be coming to Butts County, but many of the project’s details are still unknown.

Story by @alander.bsky.social + @journalistross.bsky.social.

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene says she will resign in January • Georgia Recorder U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, a Rome Republican, announced her plans to resign from Congress Friday evening in an unexpected video message. Greene, who was first elected in Georgia’s ...

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, a Rome Republican, announced her plans to resign from Congress Friday evening in an unexpected video message.

Emboldened by statewide wins, Democrats see chance to compete in northeast Georgia House district • Georgia Recorder A Democratic challenger focused on health care and housing and a local Republican business owner have officially qualified to compete in a special election to fill a vacant House seat in northeast Geo...

New from @alander.bsky.social: Emboldened by statewide wins, Democrats see chance to compete in northeast Georgia House district

Democrats flip two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission • Georgia Recorder Democrats have flipped two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission, which is currently an all-GOP panel. The PSC regulates Georgia utilities.

The double victory marks the first time the Democratic Party has won a statewide constitutional office in Georgia since 2006 and reshapes the political landscape ahead of the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.

Democrats flip two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission | Alabama Reflector Democrats have flipped two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission, which is currently an all-GOP panel. The PSC regulates Georgia utilities.

Via @alander.bsky.social and @georgiarecorder.com: The double victory marks the first time the Democratic Party has won a statewide constitutional office in Georgia since 2006 and reshapes the political landscape ahead of the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.

Voter snapshot: Residents of Cherokee County have their say on Georgia PSC races  • Georgia Recorder It’s election day in Georgia for two Public Service Commission seats, and voters are making their voices heard over who should sit on a board that helps determine Georgia’s energy policy and the rates...

“It’s really just to make my voice heard,” said one Cherokee County voter Tuesday. “It’s been a disappointing year so far with how the nation’s been going, so I wanted to get my voice out there.”

Story by @journalistross.bsky.social.

A defiant Trump vows no SNAP payments until Democrats cave on shutdown • Georgia Recorder President Donald Trump backtracked Tuesday on a pledge by his administration in court filings to partially fund November food assistance during the government shutdown, posting on social media that be...

President Trump has backtracked on a pledge by his administration in court filings to partially fund November food assistance during the shutdown, posting on social media that benefits “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”