Pre-legislative coffee draws crowd
Local leaders received a preview of the forthcoming state legislative session on Thursday.
50th District State Senator John Wilkinson and Newly elected District 28 State Representative Chris Erwin appeared before local leaders at the Pre-Legislative Coffee event at the Mitchell Allen Meeting Room at the Historic Train Deport in Toccoa.
Both Wilkinson and Erwin addressed a number of topics they plan to focus on during the forthcoming Legislative Session some of which included: Education, Agriculture, and Rural Broadband just to name a few.
Wilson said he looks forward to another productive session.
Erwin said he looks forward to representing the residents of District 28, stating his father instilled in him the importance of community.
The Georgia General Assembly session opens January 14.
In addition to adopting a new budget for Fiscal Year 2020, law makers will hear from new Governor Brian Kemp who is expected to address them in the first week to outline his agenda.
Other issues expected to be brought up this session include how to keep students safer in schools.
Kemp is reportedly planning to push for more mental health counselors in schools and increase funding for mental health.
And lawmakers could decide this session whether to allow medical marijuana to be grown in Georgia.
Thursday’s Pre-Legislative Coffee was put on by the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and was sponsored by AT&T.