On Friday, December 12th, MAX hosted its annual MAX Minutes with Public Policy Experts to preview the incoming Georgia Legislative Session. Joining MAX was Tim Cairl, vice president of talent development with the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Cosby Johnson, vice president of government relations with the Georgia Chamber. Cairl and Johnson shared their insights on what to expect in 2026.
Special thanks to MAX executive committee member and board lead for MAX Minutes, Daniela Perry, executive director of the Georgia Chamber Foundation, for hosting and moderating the conversation with Cairl and Cosby.
Here are some highlights:
- Elections for Georgia’s next governor, other statewide offices, state legislature roles, and a U.S. Senate seat means the next year will be a year of campaigns as Georgians decide the state’s new leaders.
- As 2026 is year two of a biennial session, bills in progress in 2025 are still alive for consideration.
- Georgia’s income tax rate has become a hot topic for future deliberation.
- Potential property tax-related measures are also developments to watch, given the importance of property taxes in supporting local school systems.
- A study committee has been meeting to discuss the affordability of higher education in Georgia.
- The state has seen a significant loss in forestry jobs resulting in displaced foresters.
- Literacy and occupational licensing reform remain top-of-mind issues for House and Senate leaders.
- Chronic absenteeism in K-12 has surfaced as a major concern.
- While legislation was passed last year to address childcare affordability, more discussion on this issue is anticipated.
Click here for the recording.
ABOUT MAX MINUTES
Launched in 2014, the mission of MAX is to advance economic resilience in the Atlanta region by strengthening connections, collaborations, and practices among workforce developers and organizations engaged in workforce development.
Through our webinar series, MAX Minutes, MAX seeks to bring timely insights to providers, intermediaries, and other partners in workforce. MAX Minutes features talks by key experts in the Atlanta region and beyond on important workforce matters.