Georgia lawmakers give final passage to legislation to accelerate income tax cuts

ATLANTA – The Georgia Senate gave final passage Wednesday to a bill that would accelerate income tax cuts, sending it on to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature.

The legislation, which was proposed by the governor, will accelerate a state income tax reduction that took effect this year, rolling back the income tax rate from 5.49% to 5.39%. The bill will save Georgia taxpayers about $1.1 billion this year, Sen. Bo Hatchett, Kemp’s Senate floor leader, said before Wednesday’s vote.

“We are continuing to conservatively manage our budget and put money back in the pockets of our taxpayers,” said Hatchett, R-Cornelia.

While the measure cleared the Georgia House of Representatives unanimously last month, 12 Democratic senators voted against the bill on Wednesday. Forty senators supported it.