By Jill Nolin | Editor
“We’re going to have to redefine what helping victims looks like right now until we see what the next Legislature is going to do.” - Michelle Girtman, executive director of the Haven, a domestic violence shelter and sexual assault center in Valdosta.
Gov. Brian Kemp cut about $13 million in new funding for domestic violence, sexual assault and child advocacy programs as part of sweeping budget reductions made after lawmakers passed an income tax package this year. Getty Images
STATE SPENDING
By Ellie Fivas
The two dozen beds at the Haven, a domestic violence shelter in Valdosta, are almost never enough, according to Executive Director Michelle Girtman.
Rising demand for services and years of declining government support have left the south Georgia shelter — along with more than 50 domestic violence and sexual assault programs across the state — stretched thin.
A saving grace for these organizations seemed to arrive in April, when state legislators passed next year’s budget with an added $13 million in funding for domestic violence, sexual assault and child advocacy programs. Organizations rejoiced to see $9.4 million dedicated to helping people experiencing domestic violence and $3.3 million allocated for sexual assault services.
House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley questioned the rush to pass dozens of local tax measures during the ongoing special session, arguing the proposals could wait for the regular session next January. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder
ECONOMY
By Jill Nolin
House Republicans are attempting to pass a wave of local property tax measures during an ongoing special session that would allow communities to vote on whether to raise their sales taxes to give homeowners a tax break.
But Democrats have so far successfully blocked the effort, stymying GOP lawmakers from putting the question before voters this November. They argue the change represents a new tax that shifts the burden of paying for local services from homeowners to lower income Georgians – and they question the rush to put it before voters this year.
An attempt to pass dozens of local property tax measures failed Saturday in both the House and Senate, but Republicans say they aren’t giving up. Lawmakers will be back Monday for a special session that has no set end date.
Sen. Max Burns, a Sylvania Republican who introduced a bill aimed at addressing ballot QR codes, speaks with reporters shortly after his bill passes the Senate on June 20, 2026. Maya Homan/Georgia Recorder
VOTING
By Maya Homan
A bill aimed at addressing a looming deadline to remove QR codes from Georgia’s ballots passed the Senate along party lines after a short but contentious debate Saturday.
The measure, which is sponsored by Sylvania Republican Sen. Max Burns, extends the state’s deadline to stop counting ballots by QR codes to 2028, establishes a special committee to help select the state’s next voting system, mandates additional post-election audits on certain statewide contests and requires hand recounts on the two top-ticket races in every election.
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ICYMI FROM THE RECORDER
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