Hello and Happy New Year, Camo Coalition. I’m writing this as the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes in Atlanta. It is a gorgeous winter day, and we are once again celebrating an NCAA National Football Championship. GO DAWGS! Georgia closed its deer season Sunday, and therefore many small game hunters are preparing to get into the field. Squirrel, rabbits, wingshooting are going strong, and of course, there is always an opportunity to wet a hook somewhere in Georgia. It is truly difficult to think of a better place than Georgia this time of year.
Hello and Happy New Year, Camo Coalition. I’m writing this as the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes in Atlanta. It is a gorgeous winter day, and we are once again celebrating an NCAA National Football Championship. GO DAWGS! Georgia closed its deer season Sunday, and therefore many small game hunters are preparing to get into the field. Squirrel, rabbits, wingshooting are going strong, and of course, there is always an opportunity to wet a hook somewhere in Georgia. It is truly difficult to think of a better place than Georgia this time of year.
The political leadership of Georgia has seen a bit of upheaval this year. Our constant is the reelection of Governor Brian Kemp, a sportsman that has been supportive of conservation initiatives in his first four years. The Georgia General Assembly has new leadership in each chamber.
Representative Jon Burns from Effingham County has been elected Speaker of the Georgia House today following the untimely death of 13-year Speaker David Ralston. Burns is a former chair of the Game, Fish, and Parks committee and thus is pretty familiar with our issues.
Senator Burt Jones is sworn in today as Lieutenant Governor. He is the 13th Lieutenant Governor. Though Georgia is obviously one of the original 13 colonies and is among the oldest states, we did not have the office of Lt. Governor until a 1945 Georgia Constitution revision, and the first did not take office until 1947 when Melvin E. Thompson was sworn in. Jones has moved quickly to consolidate his authority in the aftermath of the 2020 election cycle and a hard-fought campaign in 2022.
With the new legislative leadership, there could be changes in committee assignments and the all-important committee chairs. We will see what develops in the coming days.
With that backdrop, obviously, there is no carry-over legislation from last year. Everything starts fresh and new.
We expect to see new General Assembly legislation urging Congress to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act – which failed to gain passage in the waning hours of the last Congress. Recovering is critical to address the extinction crisis facing our nation’s wildlife. I also am certain we will see legislation to prevent future mining on Trail Ridge, a geologic formation just to the southeast of the Okefenokee Swamp that likely provides stability for swamp water levels. The legislation is part of an effort to provide long-term protection for the very existence of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Other rumored areas of legislative or regulatory interest that might impact Camo Coalition are: fishing access on Georgia rivers and streams; coastal marshlands; utility-scale solar siting; concerns over securing our access to public lands for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities; and securing support for the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative. Though we’ve seen no specific proposals on these issues, we’ve heard legislators talking about all of them.
At the federal level, we will certainly be working on the upcoming reauthorizing of the Farm Bill and its critical conservation titles. As previously mentioned, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will be at the top of Georgia Wildlife Federation’s “To Do” list for the new year. We also will likely work on the Endangered Species Act. A Chronic Wasting Disease research and management initiative passed last Congress in the final days – implementation and funding will be a focus.
We also expect to see a reprisal of the RETURN Act, sponsored by Georgia’s Congressman Andrew Clyde. This is bad legislation for conservation and for hunters. It went nowhere last Congress, and we will work to oppose this type of legislation.
This gets you up to speed on the legislative or regulatory issues we either expect or of which are rumored. As you know, however, we will be vigilant in watching out for unexpected initiatives or opportunities.
Thank you for being part of the Camo Coalition network! Your participation, your voice, is critical to protecting hunting, fishing, our natural heritage, and our rights to enjoy those things. Working together, we will continue “Keeping Georgia Wild”.
Sincerely,
Mike Worley
President & CEO
Georgia Wildlife Federation
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