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ThePublic Policy Project on Ballotpedia aims to illuminate major policy issues being discussed and implemented throughout the United States. Public policy can be complicated and controversial; deciding what works best and how to allocate resources to achieve a policy goal can involve multiple trade-offs. Much of the public policy that affects citizens economically, legally and socially, is made at the state level. Below you will find links and introductions to all theGeorgia public policy articles onBallotpedia. To see the policy overview of another state click on themap below.

For a list of all public policy articles onBallotpedia seehere.

Budget Policy

Budget and finances

InGeorgia, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicingstate debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as theAffordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.

Taxes

Georgia generates the bulk of its tax revenue by levying apersonal income tax and asales tax. The state derives its constitutional authority to tax fromArticle VII of the state constitution.^[2][3]

Tax policy can vary from state to state. States levy taxes to help fund the variety of services provided by state governments. Tax collections comprise approximately 40 percent of the states' total revenues. The rest comes from non-tax sources, such as intergovernmental aid (e.g., federal funds), lottery revenues and fees. The primary types of taxes levied by state governments include personal income tax, general sales tax, excise (or special sales) taxes and corporate income tax.^[4]

Civil Liberties Policy

Affirmative action

Affirmative action in Georgia refers to the steps taken by employers and universities inGeorgia to increase the proportions of historically disadvantaged minority groups at those institutions. Historically, affirmative action nationwide has taken many different forms, such asstrict quotas, extra outreach efforts, and racial and gender preferences. However, racial quotas in university admissions were banned in a 1978United States Supreme Court case,Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.^[5]

On June 29, 2023, theSupreme Court reversed lower court decisions inStudents for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College andStudents for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, effectively ending the use of affirmative action in college admissions.

As of March 2015, 109 out of 577 public four-year universities across the country reported that they considered race in admissions. This practice has been banned in eight states. Meanwhile, 28 states require affirmative action plans in either public employment or apprenticeships. Affirmative action programs that grant racial preferences have come under scrutiny in the courts for potentially violating the Equal Protection Clause of theFourteenth Amendment andTitle VII of the Civil Rights Act.^[6][7]

The following information details the use of affirmative action in universities and employment in Georgia, as well as notablecourt cases originating in the state.

The effects of affirmative action policies are contested. Proponents argue that affirmative action diversifies selective institutions and provides more opportunities to minorities. Opponents argue that implementing policies that favor some groups requires discrimination against others and that these policiesmay harm individuals they are meant to help.

Campaign finance

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates and campaigns may receive from individuals and organizations, how they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns. In addition to direct campaign contributions, campaign finance laws also apply to third-party organizations andnonprofit organizations that seek to influence elections throughindependent expenditures orissue advocacy.

This page providesbackground on campaign finance regulation, listscontribution limits to state candidates and ballot measures inGeorgia,compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in Georgia with those from other states, and details thecandidate reporting requirements in Georgia.

The information on this page pertains to candidates for state office and state ballot measures. Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign finance law. Candidates for local office are subject to all applicable state laws as well as any separate local campaign finance regulations.^[8]

Background

Seal of the United StatesFederal Election Commission

TheFederal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign election laws. The FEC is responsible for disclosing campaign finance information, enforcing limits and prohibitions on contributions and overseeing public funding of presidential elections.^[9] According to the FEC, an individual becomes a federal candidate and must begin reporting campaign finances once he or she has either raised or spent $5,000 in his or her campaign. Within fifteen days of this benchmark, the candidate must register with the FEC and designate an official campaign committee, which is responsible for the funds and expenditures of the campaign. This committee must have an official treasurer and cannot support any candidate but the one who registered it. Detailed financial reports are then made to the FEC every financial quarter after the individual is registered. Reports are also made before primaries and before the general election.^[10]

The rules governing federal election campaigns and contributions have evolved over the past generation as result of a number of Supreme Court decisions. In the 2010Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited. The court's decision also overturned the ban on for-profit and not-for-profit corporations and unions broadcasting electioneering communications in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before a general election.^[11] In theSpeechNOW.org v. Federal Election Commission decision, the first application of theCitizens United decision, the court held that contribution limits on what individuals could give to independent expenditure-only groups, and the amount these organizations could receive, were unconstitutional. Contribution limits on donations directly to candidates, however, remained unchanged.^[12][13] In 2014'sMcCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court overturned biennial aggregate campaign contribution limits, and held that individuals may contribute to as many federal candidates as they want, but may only contribute up to the federal limit in each case.^[14]

While the FEC governs federal election campaigns and contribution limits, individual states require their own level of regulation and reporting. The amount of regulation required differs by state, as do the limits on campaign contributions and third-party activities to influence elections. Candidates for local office must follow any applicable state and local campaign finance regulations.

Contribution limits

The table below details contribution limits as they applied to various types of individuals and groups in Georgia as of July 2025. The uppermost row of the table indicates the contributor, while the leftmost column indicates the recipient.^[15]

State comparisons in the 2024 elections

See also:State-by-state comparison of campaign finance requirements

Candidate reporting requirements

Seal of Georgia

See statutes:Title 21, Chapter 5 of the Georgia Code

A candidate seeking state office inGeorgia must file with the State Ethics Commission. The process of registering and reporting with the commission is outlined below. A candidate seeking federal office must file with theFederal Election Commission. Reporting details for federal candidates are not included in this section.

Getting started

InGeorgia, campaign finance reporting can be completed onlinehere.

To begin the campaign finance reporting process, a candidate must electronically file a Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions (Form DOI) with the commission. This form must be filed before any contributions may be accepted.^[17][18]

The candidate may choose to form a campaign committee to accept contributions and make expenditures on his or behalf. To do this, he or she must file a Registration Form for a Campaign Committee (Form RC) with the commission. The name and address of the committee, its chairperson, treasurer and candidate must be registered with the commission before the committee can accept any contributions. One person may serve as both treasurer and chairperson, but if there is a vacancy in either position, no contributions may be accepted until the vacancy is filled. A candidate may have only one committee at a time.^[17][18]

Reporting requirements

The candidate must use a bank account separate from his or her personal accounts for any campaign finance transaction. Reporting must begin when one of the following occurs:^[19]

• The candidate files a Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions.
• The candidate or candidate’s committee accepts a contribution.
• The candidate or candidate’s committee makes an expenditure.

Candidates are required to file the following reports:^[20]

• Personal Financial Disclosure Statement
  • All candidates and public officers running in an election must file a Personal Financial Disclosure Statement covering the previous calendar year. Only one of these forms is due per year. See the table below for information on when this form must be filed.

• Campaign Contribution Disclosure Statement (Form CCDR)
  • This form reports all expenditures and contributions. All contributions and expenditures greater than $100 must be itemized, as well as any aggregate totals of all contributions and expenditures of $100 or less.^[21]
  • During an election year, this form must be filed six times. During a non-election year it is required only twice. In the case of run-off elections or special elections, extra reports must be filed.^[19]
  • If a candidate has no opposition in a primary or general election and receives less than $100 in contributions, only the first and last reports need to be filed.^[19]
  • There is a five business day grace period for filing these reports before any late fees are charged.^[19]
  • If a candidate is unsuccessful in an election, he or she must still file reports for the remainder of an election cycle. If an unsuccessful candidate retains unpaid debts from the campaign, a supplemental Form CCDR must be filed by December 31 each year the debt remains unpaid.^[19]
• Two Business Day Report (TBD Form)
  • This form must be filed to disclose contributions (including loans) of $1,000 or more that are accepted between the last required report and the date of any election in which the candidate is running.^[19]
  • These contributions must be reported online within two business days of receiving the contribution. These contributions must be included on the next regularly scheduled report, as well.^[19]
• Termination Statement
  • A termination statement must be submitted with a final Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report. It must identify the person responsible for maintaining campaign records and must be filed within 10 days of the dissolution of a campaign.^[19]

Campaign finance legislation

The table below displays bills related to campaign finance introduced during or carried over to Georgia's current legislative session.^[22]

Election and campaign ballot measures

See also:Elections and campaigns on the ballot andList of Georgia ballot measures

Contact information

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also:State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Georgia can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Georgia County Election Offices

Click here for a list

Georgia Secretary of State Elections Division

2 MLK Jr. Drive

Suite 802 Floyd West Tower

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Phone: 404-656-2871

Fax: 404-463-5231

Email:https://sos.ga.gov/form/contact-us

Website:https://sos.ga.gov/elections-division-georgia-secretary-states-office

Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission

200 Piedmont Avenue SE

Suite 1416 West Tower

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Phone: 404-463-1980

Fax: 404-463-1988

Email:gaethics@ethics.ga.gov

Website:http://ethics.ga.gov/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email:clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website:https://www.eac.gov

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

1050 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20463

Telephone: (202)-694-1100

Toll-free: 1-800-424-9530

Email:info@fec.gov

Website:http://www.fec.gov/

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsGeorgia campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also

• Campaign finance regulation
• Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Georgia
• Georgia

Footnotes

	v • e State ofGeorgia Atlanta (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? |Elections in 2026 |How to vote |How to run for office |Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? |U.S. President |U.S. Congress |Federal courts |State executives |State legislature |State and local courts |Counties |Cities |School districts |Public policy

Nonprofit regulation

Nonprofit regulation in Georgia involves a complex set of rules that governnonprofit organizations and charitable giving throughout the state. Major issues surrounding nonprofit regulation nationwide include the following:

• contribution limits,
• donor disclosure, and
• the redefinition ofissue advocacy.

Georgia is one of39 states that require charitable organizations, and those intending to solicit on their behalf,to register with the state in order to solicit contributions, whether they are a Georgia organization or based out-of-state. In Georgia a number of groups and organizations are exempt from registration.^[1]

Georgia is one of32 states that allows registrants to use either theUnified Registration Statement (URS) or the state registration form.^[2] Only seven states requiring registration do not accept the URS.

Education Policy

K-12 Public education

TheGeorgia public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022, Georgia had 1,735,585 students enrolled in a total of 2,238 schools in 180 school districts. There were 115,647 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 15 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. In 2020, Georgia spent on average $11,707 per pupil.^[5] The state's graduation rate was 82 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.^[6]

Higher education

Georgia's higher education system is composed of 128 colleges and universities. Of these, 53 are public institutions, 36 are nonprofit private schools, and 39 are for-profit private institutions.^[7]

School choice

School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies,magnet schools, andcharter schools. Other options includeschool vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).^[8][9]

Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.

Charter schools

Charter schools in Georgia are public schools operated independently of public school systems. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

Election Policy

Ballot access requirements

In order to get on the ballot in Georgia, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines.These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Georgia. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates,click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contactstate election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

Redistricting

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Georgia's 14 United States Representatives and 236 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Georgia was apportioned 14 seats in theU.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information aboutredistricting in Georgia after the 2020 census.

Voting

Election Information
2026 election and voting dates
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which includevoter identification requirements,early voting provisions,online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Georgia:

• Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
• In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
• Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
• Details aboutVoting rules for people convicted of a felony.
• Contact information forelection agencies.

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year,click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Clickhere to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Energy Policy

Energy information

Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as availablenatural resources, geography, and consumer needs.

Fracking

According to theU.S. Energy Information Administration, Georgia had nooil ornatural gas reserves as of May 2017; thus, no fracking occurred in the state.^[14]

Environmental Policy

Environmental information

Environmental policy aims to conserve natural resources by balancing environmental protection with economic growth, property rights, public health, and energy production. Federal, state, and local government entities develop and implement environmental policies through laws and regulations. This page features information about environmental policy inGeorgia.

Environmental governance in Georgia

• TheGeorgia House has twostanding committees onGame, Fish and Parks andNatural Resources and Environment. TheGeorgia Senate also has a standing committee onNatural Resources and the Environment.
• TheGeorgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for managing the state's natural resources and environment. The department's stated mission is to "to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve Georgia's natural, historic and cultural resources for present and future generations, while recognizing the importance of promoting the development of commerce and industry that utilize sound environmental practices."^[15]
• TheGeorgia Environmental Protection Division (EDP) is responsible for the state's environmental quality and protection programs. The EDP's mission states that the division "protects and restores Georgia’s environment. We take the lead in ensuring clean air, water and land. With our partners, we pursue a sustainable environment that provides a foundation for a vibrant economy and healthy communities."^[16]

Environmental budget

See also:Environmental spending in the 50 states

The table below features annual budget information for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources from 2011 to 2023:

Air

Clean Air Act

See also:Implementation of the Clean Air Act

TheClean Air Act is a federal law aimed at maintaining air quality and reducing air pollution. The law requires states and private industries to meet national air pollution standards. Each state must implement an EPA-approved plan to reduceair pollutants from industrial facilities such as chemical plants and utilities. Over 47,000 facilities nationwide were regulated under the Clean Air Act as of February 2023.^{[17][18][19][20]}

The table below features information about the number of regulated facilities under the Clean Air Act in Georgia from 2014 to 2023:

Mercury and air toxics standards

See also:Mercury and air toxics standards

Citing its authority under theClean Air Act, theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2011 issued a rule (commonly known as the MATS rule) limiting the amount of mercury and other toxic air pollutants emitted by power plants. Mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) target mercury and other hazardous pollutants from over 580coal andoil-fired power plants nationwide. The MATS rule was issued by theObama administration as part of its larger policy limiting emissions fromcoal-fired power plants.^[21]

The EPA later reconsidered the MATS rule and, in 2020, determined "that it is not 'appropriate and necessary' to regulate electric utility steam generating units under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA)."^[22]

A 2021 proposed rulemaking from the EPA seeks to revoke the 2020 action and reinstate the MATS rule.^[23]

During the period that the MATS rule was in effect, Georgia had ## power plants subject to the mercury standards.^[24]

Ozone standards

See also:Ground-level ozone standards

Federalozone standards establish the acceptable amount of ground levelozone, commonly known as smog, which is formed when nitrogen oxide combines with other organic chemicals in the atmosphere. Automobiles, power plants, factories and manufacturing centers emit the nitrogen oxide necessary for ozone formation. In high concentrations, ozone is harmful to human health.^[25][26]

EPA in 2015 lowered the acceptable amount of ground-level ozone (smog) in the air. The standards went into effect in 2025. States would have between the years 2020 and 2037 to create and establish a plan to meet the standards, depending how much ozone forms in certain areas of a state.^[27][28]

Clean Power Plan

See also:Clean Power Plan andclimate change

The EPA in 2015 finalized a regulatory action known as theClean Power Plan aimed at mitigating what the agency views as potentially human-causedclimate change. The plan aims to reducecarbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions fromcoal- andoil-fired power plants (fossil fuel-fired) andnatural gas-fired power plants by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Each state would have to meet goals based on the number of fossil fuel- and natural gas-fired plants in the state.^[29][30][31]

After several states challenged the plan in court, arguing in part that the plan exceeded the EPA's statutory authority, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit delayed the rule's implementation in June 2016. The Trump administration later moved to replace the Clean Power Plan with the Affordable Clean Energy rule. The D.C. Circuit vacated the Trump-era rule in January 2021, "giving the incoming Biden administration a clean slate for" drafting a new rule, according toBloomberg.^[32][33]

Carbon dioxide emissions

The following table provides information about annual carbon dioxide emissions in Georgia from 2010 to 2020:^[34]

Land

Federal land policy

See also:Federal land policy

Federal land policy involves theconservation and management ofnatural resources on land owned by the federal government. Most federal land policies focus on conservation, recreation, oil and natural gas extraction, wildlife and forest management, and grazing.

The federal government as of 2018 owned around 640 million total acres of land (about 28 percent) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Four federal agencies (the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Park Service (NPS), the Forest Service (FS) oversee public lands for conservation, recreation, wildlife protection,grazing,energy production, and other purposes. The Department of Defense also oversees federal lands used for military, training, and related purposes. The majority of federal land is located in Alaska and 11 coterminous Western states^[35]

Federal land ownership

See also:Federal land ownership by state

The table below features information about changes in federal land ownership in Georgia from 1990 to 2018:^[35]

Federal land management by agency

The following table features information about federal land management in Georgia by federal agency in 2018:^[35]

National parks

TheU.S. National Park Service (NPS) as of February 2023 oversaw what the agency describes as 424 units (often referred to as parks) and more than 150 related areas within the National Park System. The agency assists in managing national historic areas, wild and scenic rivers, historic landmarks, and national trails. The National Park System contained more than 85 million acres as of February 2023, including national parks, historical parks and sites, national monuments, battlefields and military parks, recreation areas, seashores, and parkways. More than 297 million visitors attended sites in the National Park System in 2021. NPS employed around 20,000 permanent, temporary, and seasonal employees as of February 2023.^[36][37][38]

NPS operated 11 national parks in Georgia as of February 2023.^[39]

The following table features visitation statistics for national parks in Georgia from 2017 to 2021.^[40]

Payments in lieu of taxes

See also:Payments in lieu of taxes

TheU.S. Department of the Interior pays local governments each year to offset what they lose in property taxes due to non-taxable federal land within their borders, commonly known aspayments in lieu of taxes (PILT). PILT payments go toward fire and police departments, public schools, road construction, and other local services. PILT amounts are based on population and the amount of federal land in a county. From 1977 (when PILT payments began) to 2022, the Interior Department paid out around $10.8 billion to states, territories, andWashington, D.C. PILT payments can be used for any governmental purpose.^[41][42]

The following table features information about payments in lieu of taxes received by local governments in Georgia from 2017 to 2021.^[43]

Oil and natural gas activity

See also:Oil and natural gas extraction on federal land andBLM oil and gas leases by state

The federal government leases its land to private individuals and companies for energy development, including drilling forcrude oil andnatural gas,solar energy, andgeothermal energy. Oil and natural gas drilling on federal lands in the United States is primarily overseen by theU.S. Bureau of Land Management. Private oil and natural gas companies apply for leases from the BLM to produce energy on federal land. About 26 million acres of federal land—12.8 million of which produced oil and gas in economic quantities—were leased to about 24,000 oil and gas developers operating 96,000 wells at the end of fiscal year 2018.^[44]

The following table features information about oil and natural gas activity on federal land in Georgia from 2017 to 2021:^[45][46]

Water

Clean Water Act

See also:Implementation of the Clean Water Act

TheClean Water Act is a federal law regulating pollutants discharged into allwaters of the United States, including lakes, rivers, streams, andwetlands. The federal government approves water quality and technology standards for major sources of water pollution, such as chemical plants, steel manufacturers, municipal facilities, and others. Each state must establish water quality standards for all bodies of water within its boundaries.^[47]

Under the Clean Water Act, it is unlawful to discharge any pollutant from any source into navigable waters without a federal permit. The permit specifies what limitations or conditions apply to a facility before the facility may discharge any pollutants. Federal permits may contain facility-specific requirements and limitations depending on the water source.^[48]

The following table provides information about the number of Georgia facilities subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act from 2014 to 2023:^[49]

Waste

Superfund sites and hazardous waste facilities

See also:Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

Superfund is a federal program that addresses contaminated waste sites and their return to practical use. Superfund sites include oil refineries, smelting facilities, mines and other industrial areas. The federal government can compel the private entities responsible for a waste site to clean the site or face penalties. If the federal government cleans a waste site, it can compel the responsible company to reimburse the government for cleanup costs. Because Superfund sites are added and removed from a prioritized list on a regular basis, the total number of Superfund sites since the program's inception in 1980 is unknown.^[50][51][52]

The federalResource Conservation and Recovery Act covers hazardous wastes, including their generation, treatment, storage and disposal. States may regulate hazardous wastes rather than the federal government. The EPA is responsible for all hazardous waste requirements if no state program exists. Hazardous waste regulations cover waste generators, transporters, treatment centers, storage and disposal facilities.^[53]

Georgia had 17 Superfund sites and 4,893 regulated hazardous waste facilities as of February 2023.^[54][55]

Endangered species

Endangered Species Act

See also:Endangered species in Georgia

TheEndangered Species Act is a federal law that mandates the listing and conservation ofendangered and threatened species. The legislation aims to prevent the extinction of vulnerable species throughout the United States and to recover a species' population to the point where listing the species as endangered or threatened is no longer necessary. TheU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for the law's implementation.^[26][56]

Georgia had 75 federally listed endangered or threatened plant or animal species as of February 2023. To view the full list,click here.^[57]

Environmental ballot measures in Georgia

The following list features historical information aboutballot measures relating to environmental issues in Georgia.

Natural resources

• Georgia Amendment 3, Forest Land Conservation and Timberland Properties Amendment (2018)

Environment

• Georgia Amendment 1, Portion of Revenue from Outdoor Recreation Equipment Sales Tax Dedicated to Land Conservation Fund Amendment (2018)

Water

• Georgia Amendment 2, Fulton County Sewer and Water Systems Measure (1930)
• Georgia Amendment 12, City of Cornelis Waterworks Bonds Measure (1930)

Recent environmental legislation in Georgia

The following list features information about environmental bills that have been introduced in or passed by theGeorgia State Legislature in the last five years. To learn more about these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided byBillTrack50 andLegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

See also

• Endangered species in Georgia
• Energy policy in Georgia
• Federal land policy
• Federal land ownership by state
• U.S. Bureau of Land Management
• U.S. Department of the Interior
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. National Park Service

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Georgia Department of Natural Resources
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Footnotes

[[Category:Environmental policy information by state

v • e Environmental Policy Background Environmental policy in the United States •Clean Air Act •Clean Water Act •Conservation •Endangered Species Act •U.S. Environmental Protection Agency •Enforcement at the EPA •Glossary of environmental terms •Energy and environmental news Energy and environmental news January 2015 •February 2015 •March 2015 •April 2015 •May 2015 •June 2015 •July 2015 •August 2015 •September 2015 •October 2015 •November 2015 •December 2015 Environmental terms Air pollutants •Air Quality Index •BLM grazing permit •Carbon dioxide •Carbon footprint •Clean Air Act •Clean Water Act •Climate change • ConservAmerica •Cross State Air Pollution Rule •Deep ecology •Ecology •Endangered species •Implementation of the Endangered Species Act •Environmental chemistry •Environmental engineering •Environmental health •Environmental restoration •Environmental science •Federal land •Fracking •Greenhouse effect •Greenhouse gas •Ground-level ozone standards •Ground water •Hazardous air pollutant •Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change •Keystone XL •Mercury and air toxics standards •Municipal solid waste •National Ambient Air Quality Standards •National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System •National Priorities List of Superfund sites • National Wildlife Federation •Natural resources •Nonpoint source of water pollution •Oil •Ozone •Pesticide •Petroleum •Point source of water pollution •Public water system •Radioactive waste •Renewable energy resources •Renewable Portfolio Standards •Solar energy •State park •Superfund •Traditional energy resources •U.S. Bureau of Land Management •U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • •U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service •U.S. Forest Service •U.S. Geological Survey •Wastewater treatment •Water quality criteria •Wetland •Wilderness Act •Wilderness Society •Wind energy Endangered species terms Candidate species •Critical habitat •Delisting •Distinct population segment •Endangered species •Listed species •Listing a species •Listing petition •Species recovery •Taking a species Environmental policy by state Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Endangered species policy Costs of listing a species •Delisting a species •Endangered Species Act litigation •Endangered species policy in the United States •Endangered Species Act litigation •History of the Endangered Species Act •Private property and the Endangered Species Act •Science and the Endangered Species Act •Success rate of the Endangered Species Act •Transparency and the Endangered Species Act Endangered species policy by state Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Environmental statistics Payments in lieu of taxes •Land ownership by state •Grazing permits on BLM lands •Federal land ownership by state •BLM oil and gas permits by state •Environmental spending in the 50 states •Greenhouse gas emissions by state •Superfund sites in the United States •National Park Visitor Spending Effects Report Endangered species statistics Endangered species by state •Endangered animals by state •Endangered plants by state •Delisted species •Top 20 federally funded species •Land acquisition funding for endangered species •Federal endangered species grants by state

Endangered species

Endangered species policy in Georgia involves the identification and protection ofendangered and threatened animal and plant species. Policies are implemented and enforced by both the state and federal governments.

Finance Policy

Financial regulation information

The United States financial system is a network that facilitates exchanges between lenders and borrowers. The system, which includes banks and investment firms, is the base for all economic activity in the nation. According to theFederal Reserve, financial regulation has two main intended purposes: to ensure the safety and soundness of the financial system and to provide and enforce rules that aim to protect consumers. The regulatory framework varies across industries, with different regulations applying to different financial services.^[1]

Individual federal and state entities have different and sometimes overlapping responsibilities within the regulatory system. For example, individual states and three federal agencies—the Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and theFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)—regulate commercial banks. Other sectors of the financial market are regulated by specific entities.^[2][3]

Some, such as theBrookings Institution, argue that expanded governmental regulation of banks and financial products (e.g., mortgages) can prevent large-scale financial crises, protect consumers from abusive practices, and stabilize financial markets. Others, such as theCato Institute, argue that over-regulation of banks of banks and financial products burdens business, stalls economic growth, and does little, if anything, to stabilize financial markets. Beyond this basic debate about the role of the government in regulating the private financial sector, there are varying opinions about the proper extent of governmental regulation.^[4][5]

Healthcare Policy

Healthcare information

Healthcare policy in Georgia involves thecreation and implementation of laws, rules, and regulations for managing the state's healthcare system. The healthcare system consists of services provided by medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental and physical illness and injury. The system also encompasses a wide range of related sectors, such asinsurance,pharmaceuticals andhealth information technology.

According to theNational Conference of State Legislatures, the 50 state legislatures collectively "make thousands of health policy decisions each year," not including the decisions made by local governments, which often oversee hospitals, and private bodies, such as insurers. These decisions can include budget appropriations, requirements for doctors obtaining their licenses, which services are covered by insurance, how personal health information is managed, and which immunizations children must receive, among many others.^[6]

Healthcare policy affects not only the cost citizens must pay for care, but also their access to care and the quality of care received, which can influence their overall health. A top concern for policymakers is therising cost of healthcare, which has placed an increasing strain on the disposable income of consumers as well as onstate budgets.

Other issues in healthcare policy include

• stateMedicaid expansion,
• health information technology and privacy,
• uninsured and underinsured portions of the population,
• a shortage of primary care physicians, and
• mental healthcare access and coverage.

Medicaid spending

Georgia'sMedicaid program provides medical insurance to groups of low-income people and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a nationwide program jointly funded by the federal government and the states. Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and administration are managed by the states within federal guidelines. A program related to Medicaid is theChildren's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers low-income children above the poverty line and is sometimes operated in conjunction with a state's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a separate program fromMedicare, which provides health coverage for the elderly.

Effect of the Affordable Care Act

Theimpact of theAffordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has been debated among politicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The ACA was signed into law in 2010 by PresidentBarack Obama (D). The law facilitated the purchase of health insurance through a system ofhealth insurance exchanges, tax credits, and subsidies. Initially, states were required to expand eligibility for Medicaid under the law; a 2012 ruling by the United States Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion voluntary for states. The law also required insurers to cover healthcare services within a standard set of benefits and prohibited coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. Under the law, all individuals were required to obtain healthinsurance.

Immigration Policy

Immigration information

Immigration policy determines who may become a new citizen of the United States or enter the country as a temporary worker, student, refugee, or permanent resident. The federal government is responsible for setting and enforcing most immigration policy.

Meanwhile, states assume a largely supportive role, enacting their own supplementary laws and setting policies that may, for example, determine which public services immigrants can access, establish employee screening requirements, or guide the interaction between related state agencies and their federal counterparts.

Some jurisdictions, including some states, cities, and counties, have adopted policies of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement; these jurisdictions have become known assanctuary jurisdictions.

Pension Policy

Public pensions

Georgiapublic pensions are the state mechanism by which state and many local government employees in Georgia receive retirement benefits.

There were 67 public pension systems in Georgia as of 2020. Of these, 11 were state-level programs while the remaining 56 were administered at the local level. Membership in Georgia's various pension systems totaled 1,004,238, as of fiscal year 2020. Of these, 455,507 were active members.^[7]

Public policy in other states

Footnotes

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