Brian Kemp in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


On Drugs: Signed Hope Act: allows for medicinal oils with up to 5% THC

In 2015, Gov. Nathan Deal legalized medicinal marijuana, and Gov. Brian Kemp expanded on the legalization in 2019 when he signed the Georgia's Hope Act. It allows for the manufacturing and dispensing of oils with a THC content up to 5%. While there's a statewide commission over licensing, it's up to local governments to dictate zoning restrictions.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2022 Georgia Governor race Oct 14, 2021

On Education: Broadened prohibition on sex between teachers, students

Legislative Summary: SB9: A BILL relating to invasion of privacy, so as to prohibit sexual extortion.

Analysis by Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Georgia General Assembly broadened a prohibition on sex between teachers and high school students. Current law, which prosecutors find difficult to enforce, prohibits sexual relations only when the teacher has "supervisory or disciplinary" authority over the student.

Govenror's Signing Statement : SB9 addresses the power differential between teachers and students who may technically be old enough to consent to sex but are to be considered incapable of consent under the circumstances.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 149-2-29, Vote #414 on Apr/02/19; Passed Senate 51-0-5, Vote #410 on Apr/02/19; Signed by Governor Brian Kemp on May/7/19.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Const.:Georgia legislative voting record SB9 May 7, 2019

On Government Reform: Stricter voter ID laws against threat of illegal voters

The wide-open race for Georgia governor seems likely to resurface a long-running feud between Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams over voter rights. Kemp, who as secretary of state is Georgia's top elections official, and Abrams, the House minority leader and head of a voter registration group, have long sparred over election policy.

The two have long been on opposite sides of the debate over elections issues, with Kemp advocating for stricter voter ID laws to prevent what he called the threat of illegal voters casting ballots and Abrams contending those new rules could disenfranchise minorities, the disabled and the elderly.

But they clashed the sharpest during the 2014 after Abrams new voter registration group, the New Georgia Project, which said it submitted 86,000 voter registration forms during the 2014 cycle, but Kemp's office argued that tens of thousands of applications were either missing or had not been properly submitted.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2018 Georgia governor race Apr 11, 2017

On Immigration: Crack down on illegal immigration

Secretary of State Brian Kemp opened his campaign for governor Saturday by borrowing themes from Donald Trump, pledging a "Georgia first" strategy that would crack down on illegal immigration as he took aim at establishment forces and the media.

The Athens Republican took broadsides against "fake news" and the well-connected political status quo. And he talked in tough terms about Georgia's efforts to block those in the country illegally from voting or receiving state benefits. "This is Georgia," he said. "We will be putting Georgia first."

Kemp said he did not plan to step down from his role as Georgia's top elections officer through the campaign. That would give him a statewide platform through November 2018, but also would deny him about three months of fundraising during next year's legislative session.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2018 Georgia governor race Apr 1, 2017

The above quotations are from Media coverage of GA political races in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Page last updated: Dec 18, 2021