Georgia political leaders lay out priorities for 2025 session at the Biennial Institute in Athens

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Gov. Brian Kemp spoke to new and returning lawmakers at the Biennial Institute Luncheon in Athens on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.

Credit: Sarah Kallis/GPB News

New and returning state lawmakers gathered in Athens this week to learn more about the legislative process and state policy.

The Biennial Institute, at the University of Georgia, is a three-day event. It ended Tuesday with an address to lawmakers by Gov. Brian Kemp who spoke about his top legislative priorities, including Hurricane Helene relief.

He said relief will include budgetary and legislative solutions.

“For weeks, my team has been speaking with leadership from both chambers and crafting a state relief package that I will present the first week of the new session," Kemp said.

Speaker of the House Jon Burns agreed that Helene relief should be passed early in the session, and said some of the legislation can follow the "blueprint" set by the Hurricane Michael relief package passed in 2017. 

"If we don't do something about helping those landowners clean up some of those those those disaster areas, then it will be a public disaster," Burns said. 

Kemp also said tort reform will also be a priority, citing a challenging legal environment for small business owners.

Meanwhile, Burns said that mental health continues to be a top legislative priority in the House.

The 2025 legislative session starts Jan. 13.