By Representative James Burchett (176th District)
Before sunrise on Monday, I began making the drive north to Atlanta for the start of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Family, work, and community keep me grounded in south Georgia year round – but I am honored to have the opportunity to work for you as your Representative and the House Majority Whip at the Gold Dome every Spring.
This session, our leadership team—with the support of the Governor and our colleagues in the Senate—is focused on a clear objective: keeping Georgia the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family.
One of our biggest statewide priorities is our focus on affordability this session. As Speaker Jon Burns has highlighted, we are looking at ways for you to keep more of your money at home:
- Reduce Property Taxes: For many Georgians their property tax bill is one of the biggest tax burdens we’ll face. We must ensure that rising tax bills don’t price hard working Georigans out of their homes.
- Income Tax Relief: Income tax reductions passed in past sessions continue to help Georgians – we remain committed to continuing on the path to lower income tax rates, keeping more of your hard-earned money in your pocket.
- Insurance Rates: Building on our work from 2025, we will work to implement findings from our Blue Ribbon Study Committee on Insurance Rates. Our tort reform legislation from last session was designed in part to reduce the upward pressure on insurance premiums. This year, we’ll work to ensure Georgians are seeing those reductions.
Protecting the Backbone of South Georgia In South Georgia the timber and agriculture industries aren’t just sectors of the economy – they are a way of life for many of us. Following the challenges of the past year, I will continue to look at ways to keep this industry strong. Forestry and agriculture provide thousands of jobs across our region; if we don’t protect these industries, rural Georgia will struggle for years.
The House Page Program One of my favorite parts of being at the Capitol is seeing the bright faces of the students who participate in the House Page Program. This program offers students (ages 12-18) a front-row seat to democracy, actively participating in our work on the floor of the House. If you know a young person in the 176th District, please have them reach out to my office to learn more about paging in Atlanta.
My Door is Always Open Whether in Waycross or under the Gold Dome, I am here to serve you. This session moves fast, and your input is the most important tool I have.
If you or a group from our district are planning a trip to Atlanta, please let us know.
My office can help coordinate visits to the Capitol, and I always make time to meet with folks from home. Whether it’s a concern about a specific bill, a business issue, or just to say hello, please don’t hesitate to email me at james.burchett@house.ga.gov or call my office at (404) 656-5024.
It is the privilege of a lifetime to represent District 176. Let’s get to work.
Representative James Burchett represents the citizens of District 176, which includes Atkinson and Lanier Counties, as well as portions of Coffee, Lowndes and Ware counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2019 and currently serves as the House Majority Whip.
