On July 1, laws that Georgia Legislators passed in the 2021 Georgia General Assembly went into effect. Getting the most attention is most the controversial election bill but there are many more lesser covered bills about which Georgians need to know.

Of course, money and taxes are always a big concern, and in that area, there is some good news. House Bill 593 is a follow—up to legislations from legislation adopted in 2019 that lowers Georgia’s income tax rate from 6 percent to 5.75 percent. In addition, the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly will increase by $1,100, and single taxpayers will get an extra $800 deduction. Georgians ages 65 and older can deduct another $1,300. Married couples filing separately will be able to deduct another $550.

Other tax breaks are included in the massive tax reform package including tax credits to entice business investors to Georgia to create jobs. On the other side of the coin, Senate Bill 6 reins in tax breaks that fail to meet the plan and requires independent audits each year to determine if the business’s economic impact justifies the loss of the state tax revenue.

House Bill 286 will prohibit cities and counties from reducing their law enforcement budges by more than 5 percent in one year or cumulatively in five years. This move is to prevent defunding the police and redirecting money to mental health treatment or education services.

Another law focuses on teen driving. As July 1, 17-year-olds are no longer exempt from 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of one-the-road training that younger drivers have been required to follow. Under the new law, anyone under age 18 must complete the training before a Class D license can be issued.