www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-14 13:49:00
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 266 into law, exempting military retirees from paying income taxes on their retirement benefits starting in 2026. The bill is expected to return \$40 million to veterans, with estimates ranging from \$22 million to \$68 million. Previously, veterans under 62 received up to \$17,500 in exemptions, and those with earned income could claim another \$17,500. Georgia is one of 12 states that taxes military income. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones stated the change will benefit veterans and position Georgia as a prime destination for transitioning service members.
(The Center Square) – Military retirees living in Georgia will no longer have to pay income taxes on their retirement income.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 266 into law, which exempts the taxes beginning with the 2026 tax year.
The fiscal note on the bill said the average amount returned to veterans will be $40 million. The low end is $22 million to $23 million and the high end is $53 million to $68 million, Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, said in a committee hearing during the session.
Under the current law, retired veterans under the age of 62 received up to a $17,500 exemption on their income tax and an additional $17,500 exemption if they have at least $17,500 of earned income.
More than 102,500 retired veterans live in Georgia, and more than 92,000 receive military retirement benefits, according to 2022 statistics from the Department of Defense, which were included in the bill’s fiscal note.
Georgia is one of just 12 states that taxes military income.
“Eliminating the income tax on military retirement benefits is a common-sense approach to providing tax relief to heroes who have risked their lives to keep our communities, state and nation safe,” said Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a statement supporting the bill. “Allowing these benefits to be earned tax-free will also help make Georgia a leading destination for service men and women as they transition from the military into civilian life and bring their talents and experience to workplaces across our state.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the passage of a tax exemption law for military retirees in Georgia without promoting a particular political ideology or viewpoint. It includes factual details such as the bill number, the fiscal impact, supporting statistics, and statements from government officials. The language is neutral and factual, simply conveying the benefits of the legislation and quoting supportive remarks, without editorializing or using loaded language. The content focuses on describing the legislative action and its implications, maintaining objective reporting rather than endorsing or criticizing the policy from a partisan angle.
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King has suspended his U.S. Senate bid after Gov. Brian Kemp privately informed candidates he wouldn’t back their campaigns, instead supporting Derek Dooley, a former Tennessee football coach. King, appointed by Kemp and the state’s first elected Hispanic official, cited lack of a clear path to the nomination and will seek reelection as insurance commissioner. Kemp’s backing of Dooley, who lacks political experience but has assembled a Kemp-aligned team, has frustrated some party members. Other candidates, including MAGA-aligned U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, expected to enter soon, and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, remain undeterred. The GOP primary race promises to be divisive before facing Democrat Jon Ossoff in the general election.
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King on Thursday suspended his bid to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff after a private phone call with Gov. Brian Kemp, who told King and other candidates he would not support their campaigns as he works behind the scenes to anoint a preferred candidate.
“I got into the U.S. Senate race to beat Jon Ossoff, not distract from the mission,” King said in a statement shared on X. “Right now it’s clear there’s little path forward to the nomination, so today I’m suspending my campaign.”
King, a Spanish-fluent native of Mexico, was appointed to his post by Kemp in 2019 and became the state’s first elected Hispanic statewide official when he secured a full term in 2022. He was previously a street cop before working his way up to police chief in Doraville, a majority-Hispanic suburb of Atlanta.
He also came into the race with an extensive military background, having spent a combined four decades in the U.S. Army and the National Guard. His missions included deployments to the Middle East, building pop-up hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic and cracking down on illegal immigration at the U.S. border with Mexico, according to his campaign website.
Despite his impressive resume, his campaign left a lot to be desired. He lacked the financial resources of his rivals and wasn’t able to unite the party’s competing factions: MAGA diehards who prioritize loyalty to President Donald Trump and establishment-minded conservatives who would much rather talk about things like tax cuts.
His exit comes as the governor is said to be working the phones in support of Derek Dooley, a former coach at Tennessee and the son of the late Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. It’s not clear when or if the younger Dooley will join the contest, but he is lining up a political team full of staunch Kemp allies and has been sounding a lot more political in interviews despite having never run for office before.
Kemp might have nudged King out of the race, but his involvement doesn’t seem to be deterring other candidates — at least not yet. U.S. Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter, a wealthy pharmacist, was the first to enter the contest in an effort to try and lock up the MAGA lane, even switching a lot of his social media photos to pictures of himself sharing a thumbs-up with the president.
The St. Simons Island Republican’s campaign did not hold back when asked about Kemp’s involvement: “Politicians don’t elect our Senators,” his campaign said. “The people of Georgia do.”
After announcing that he wouldn’t run himself, Kemp had committed to working with the White House toward a consensus candidate. But his moves behind the scenes to elevate the former Volunteers coach have “frustrated and p—d off” those close to the president, as one advisor said to Fox News.
And U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who has been hinting at a Senate run for months, seems likely to enter the race within days. A trucking company owner from Butts County, Collins’ father Mac spent most of the 1990s representing the same northeast Georgia district his son now holds.
“When Mike Collins enters the race, he will likely become the frontrunner,” says Martha Zoller, a radio host who is close with the governor. “His work on the Laken Riley Act cannot be underestimated regarding how that resonates with Republican primary voters.”
Zoller added that the candidates are only speaking to primary voters right now and suggested that whoever wins the primary will need to recalibrate before going toe-to-toe with the well-funded Ossoff.
“The general election is a whole different ball game.”
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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jill Nolin for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
This article presents a mostly factual account of Republican primary dynamics in Georgia, focusing on internal party conflicts and Gov. Brian Kemp’s influence in the Senate race. It discusses MAGA-aligned candidates, establishment conservatives, and GOP power struggles without overt editorializing. The language is generally neutral but leans slightly toward a center-right perspective by emphasizing traditional Republican factions and conservative issues like immigration crackdowns and tax cuts. The article reports on the GOP’s internal divisions while providing context on candidate backgrounds and endorsements, maintaining a balanced tone with no strong partisan framing favoring either side.
SUMMARY: The CSRA is experiencing intense heat due to a strong high-pressure system, with temperatures not dropping below the upper 70s overnight. A Heat Advisory is in effect Sunday into Monday morning, with highs reaching the low 100s and heat index near 112°, posing risks of heat-related illnesses. An Extreme Heat Watch continues Monday, with heat index values approaching 113°, though isolated storms may occur. Residents are urged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activities, and watch for heat exhaustion symptoms. Relief is expected midweek with increased rain and storms, lowering temperatures to the 90s, and cooler air arriving next weekend with highs in the mid-80s.
SUMMARY: A Southwest Airlines flight from Southern California to Las Vegas plunged about 300 feet shortly after takeoff Friday due to an onboard alert of a nearby plane, injuring two flight attendants and causing panic among passengers. The plane abruptly jolted and dropped in response to collision warnings, with the pilot reportedly maneuvering to avoid another aircraft, a British fighter plane called a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58. The flight departed Hollywood Burbank Airport and landed safely in Las Vegas. The FAA is investigating, and Southwest is cooperating. This incident adds to recent concerns about aviation safety following a deadly midair collision in January.
