GA General Assembly completes special session, approves hurricane relief & jet fuel tax credit

The Georgia General Assembly completed their special legislative session on Saturday with the Senate approving the $470 million of emergency and tax incentives for the victims of Hurricane Michael. The $40 million in tax breaks for jet fuel for the airlines also was approved.

The Georgia Senate unanimously voted to approve two hurricane relief bills, which previously made it through the House earlier in the week. The Senate also included $69 million to help state and local agencies cover emergency response costs, $55 million to assist farmers suffering crop losses and $20 million for cleanup efforts on commercial timberland.

The House did not meet on Saturday but instead paid respects for their deceased colleague Rep. John Meadows from Calhoun, GA who died on the eve of the special session. Meadows was chairman of the House Rules committee.

Timber growers in 28 Georgia counties that were declared disaster areas by Gov. Nathan Deal can claim $200 million in tax credits intended at helping them to replant acreage of uprooted trees. The tax credits will also be available to area pecan farmers whose groves were heavily impacted by the storm.

Read more: https://www.allongeorgia.com/georgia-state-politics/ga-general-assembly-completes-special-session-approves-hurricane-relief-jet-fuel-tax-credit/