SUMMARY: Governor Henry McMaster shared his budget recommendations as the South Carolina legislative session begins. Key focuses include education, disaster relief, and infrastructure repair. McMaster proposes $50 million for the Department of Transportation to address Hurricane Helene damage. He also recommends studying underground power lines to prevent power outages from storm damage. For education, he advocates for a $50,000 starting salary for teachers and better resources for students. McMaster emphasized maintaining South Carolina’s competitive edge in attracting jobs and investments. His budget is a recommendation, with lawmakers making the final decisions.

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SUMMARY: Governor Brian Kemp is proposing an additional $50 million for school safety grants, increasing the total to $159 million, equating to $68,760 per school. He also introduced $872,000 to enhance the student-to-school-psychologist ratio. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones supports the initiative, emphasizing the priority of passing “Alyssa’s Law,” which mandates silent panic alarms in schools, following a tragic shooting at Apalachee High School. The proposal includes $120.8 million for fiscal year 2025 and $402.2 million for fiscal year 2026, aiming to fully fund education. Additionally, $10.3 million would be allocated for transportation, amid growing school district needs.

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SUMMARY: The Georgia Senate’s first bill of the 2025 session, filed by Sen. Greg Dolezal, aims to ban men from competing in women’s sports at middle and high schools and colleges. This proposal, supported by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, aligns with similar laws passed in 26 other states, many of which face legal challenges. Additionally, the Senate resolved to continue investigating Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, following a ruling that she must respond to a subpoena. Sen. Harold Jones II criticized the committee’s focus, claiming it prioritized procurement issues over essential healthcare matters for the state’s residents.

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