The first week of the legislative session is underway, and the Capitol is already full of energy and purpose. These opening days have been fast-paced as we begin the work of representing House District 170 and setting priorities for the weeks ahead. I am thankful for the support of my family and constituents as we get down to the important work of serving our district and the state. In 2026, I have the privilege to continue important work on the agriculture & consumer affairs, natural resources, and rural development committees. 

Matt Bennett to serve as Superior Court Judge for the Alapaha Judicial Circuit

I am excited to share that, as a result of House Bill 55, which I was proud to sponsor last year, Governor Brian P. Kemp has appointed Matt Bennett to serve as Superior Court Judge for the Alapaha Judicial Circuit. HB 55 created an additional judgeship to help address the growing needs of the circuit, and Judge Bennett brings more than a decade of experience. I am confident his knowledge, leadership, and commitment to public service will be a tremendous asset to our judicial system and to the communities of the Alapaha Circuit.

Governor Brian Kemp’s final State of the State Address and Priorities

The Capitol was filled with reflection and forward momentum as Governor Brian Kemp delivered his final State of the State Address to the General Assembly. He spoke about Georgia’s continued economic strength, crediting years of careful budgeting and conservative leadership for the state’s solid financial footing. The Governor shared plans to return money to hardworking Georgians through an additional $1 billion in tax rebates and outlined a proposal to speed up income tax cuts, moving the state to a 4.99% flat tax sooner than originally planned, all while keeping Georgia’s savings strong.

Governor Kemp also highlighted investments aimed at strengthening the workforce and supporting those who serve our state every day. This includes pay supplements for state employees and public safety officers, improvements to public safety retirement benefits, and ongoing efforts to attract jobs and grow businesses across Georgia. 

Education was a key theme throughout the address, with commitments to fully fund our schools, enhance campus safety, continue raising teacher pay, expand medical and workforce training opportunities, and launch the new need-based DREAM scholarship. 

Additionally, building on these efforts to support and protect those who serve, the Governor also highlighted the importance of safeguarding the most vulnerable in our communities, including children and victims of exploitation. As one of the Kemp Administration’s top priorities and building on the work of the GRACE Commission—led by First Lady Marty Kemp—the Georgia General Assembly has passed ten pieces of legislation targeting human trafficking. In his remarks, Gov. Kemp announced that his team will soon introduce an eleventh bill designed to further protect Georgia’s children and hold abusers accountable. He concluded by reaffirming his dedication to public safety and law enforcement to ensure continued support for all Georgia families, reflecting on his years of service and expressing gratitude to the General Assembly, his family, and the people of Georgia.

A video archive of the address is available here.

Prior to his final State of the State address, during the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs & Issues breakfast on Wednesday, January 14, Governor Kemp gave a preview of some of his priorities for the year. One of which is road improvements to Interstate 75 and other transportation projects. 

Gov. Kemp’s proposals in his State of the State and Eggs and Issues addresses will certainly impact our work this legislative session.

House Priorities in 2026 – Affordability Agenda

In 2026, the House is not taking our eyes off of what Georgians have told us matters most, and we’re laser-focused on making life more affordable for each of our neighbors across the state.

Make Homeownership Affordable 

• Homeownership is one of the bedrocks of the American Dream. 
• Government regulations and local permitting fees inflate the cost of building a new home anywhere from 25-30%. 
• Plan = to cut through overly burdensome government red tape and regulations to make the dream of homeownership affordable and attainable for families throughout the state.

Increase Access to Quality, Affordable Healthcare 

• Increasing access to quality, affordable healthcare has been, and will continue to be a top priority, but we can’t address healthcare access and affordability without ensuring we address our state’s healthcare workforce shortage.
• Plan = pursue opportunities to further expand residency opportunities to ensure doctors train here, stay here, and serve communities in every corner of the state. 

Strengthen Literacy Rates 

• Only 1 in 3 children in Georgia can read proficiently by the third grade. 
• This year, the House will propose funding to place a literacy coach in every elementary school in Georgia, giving our students further hands-on support when and where they need it most. 
• Learning doesn’t begin when children step into the classroom for the first time—it begins even before birth. 
• Ensuring that new parents have the knowledge and resources they need to give their children a strong foundation for learning before they start school will be a top priority for the House this year.

House Chamber Updates

In addition to the special performance on Legislative Day 1, we also took time to recognize the work completed during the 2025 interim to restore and renovate the House Chamber. Over the past several months, the Georgia Building Authority (GBA) and other key personnel worked diligently to complete a comprehensive restoration of the Chamber, designed to preserve the Capitol’s original character, while also ushering in modern updates. From locally produced carpet manufactured in Dalton to gold leaf accents sourced from Dahlonega, the renovation reflected a deep commitment to honoring the legacy and historical integrity of the Georgia State Capitol. The renovations to our beautiful Chamber were completed in a remarkable timeframe, and GBA’s chief of staff shared a timelapse video capturing the restoration process from start to finish, which may be viewed here. I hope you all can take a moment this session to visit the “People’s House” to see the beauty of the House Chamber in person.

Thank you for your support. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments during this legislative session. Week 2 is “budget week” at the Capitol, and my colleagues and I will begin work on one of the most important responsibilities of this session: the state budget. 

Remember, our newsletter is bi-weekly unless we have a special alert. So, the next update you will receive from me about our work for HD 170 in Atlanta will be by February 3.

As we go throughout the session, be sure to check out jaclynforgeorgia.com for more updates.

– Jaclyn Ford

Friends and Constituents at the Capitol

I was glad to welcome familiar friends and constituents to the Capitol this week. A special thank you to Ronnie Gaskins from Berrien County for stopping by. Spending time with folks from House District 170 and hearing your thoughts and ideas is truly an honor, and it’s a constant reminder of why I am here, to serve you at the state level.

These Berrien County friends, educators, and curriculum directors were in Atlanta for a meeting and took a few moments to walk over and visit. While we were together, we had the opportunity to run into House Education Chairman Erwin, who shared an encouraging update on the House’s plans and resources aimed at strengthening literacy across our state. It’s moments like these that remind me, you never know who you’ll run into or what you’ll learn at the Capitol.