An undated photo of a Georgia courtroom.
Caption

An undated photo of a Georgia courtroom.

Credit: GPB / File

Gov. Brian Kemp signed a series of bills on Friday.

One of the bills is the state budget, which takes effect July 1. The $32.4 billion spending plan promises $2,000 raises for state employees and public school teachers as well as much as $6,000 raises to state troopers and many other law enforcement officers.

Kemp signed the bill at the site of the future Hyundai Motor Group plant in Bryan County.

The budget will pay full college tuition for all HOPE Scholarship recipients. It also cuts $66 million in teaching funds from Georgia's 26 public universities.

Kemp signed another bill at the Bryan County Hyundai plant to extend the tax break for "competitive projects of regional significance" to 2026. The Hyundai project and other electric vehicle projects are included. 

Also on Friday, Kemp also signed a bill into law creating a new commission empowered to discipline and remove prosecutors.

Republicans said the bill was needed to discipline bad district attorneys while Democrats argued it was aimed at Democratic district attorneys and undermines democracy.

The commission, called the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission, will start accepting complaints Oct. 1.

The eight-member panel can remove district attorneys and solicitor generals for a variety of issues, including refusal to prosecute certain crimes or physical or mental incapacity. 

The governor, lieutenant governor, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Committee on Assignments will appoint members of the commission.

Kemp also vetoed nearly two dozen bills and budget items.