About this event

Hosted by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation since 2010, the Georgia Legislative Policy Forum has brought state and national experts from the private sector and public policy arena to Atlanta to highlight policy innovations and transformation that Georgia's leaders can embrace.

You have two opportunities to join us: a virtual event on November 9, and an in-person forum and keynote on November 12! Your ticket to the in-person event includes virtual admission.

The registration fee for the in-person event on November 12 is $75 and includes the luncheon. Attendees who register for the in-person event on November 12 will automatically be registered for the Zoom online session on November 9.

The entire event is open to the public, but registration is required.

Don’t miss out on a fascinating morning of discussion, followed by a luncheon keynote featuring one of Georgia’s pre-eminent academics.

Details of each panel are below.

ONLINE

November 9

Zoom

12:00-1:00 p.m.

Neighbor’s Envy, Owner’s Pride

Tax Reforms that Surge Ahead of Surrounding States

Georgia remains highly economically competitive in many ways, yet risks falling behind our neighbors when it comes to taxation. Tennessee and Florida are zero-income-tax states, and North Carolina has been lowering its tax rates. The session explores how Georgia can keep its tax burden low and improve the structure of its tax code to keep up with the competition – and beat it.

• Moderator: Chris Denson, Director of Policy and Research, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
• Rep. Shaw Blackmon, Chairman, Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
• Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, Chairman, Georgia Senate Finance Committee
• William Burke, Director of Research, Beacon Hill Institute
• Katherine Loughead, Senior Fellow, Tax Foundation

Note: There is no charge for the November 9 Zoom session. For security purposes, attendees must register with a verified Zoom account in order to participate.

(To sign up for your own free account, visit zoom.us/signup and enter your email address. You will receive an email from Zoom :no-reply@zoom.us. In this email, click Activate Account.)

IN-PERSON

November 12

Renaissance Atlanta Waverly

2450 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339

8:30 AM – Registration Opens

9:00 AM – Welcome

12:00 PM – Luncheon

Open for Change:

K-12 Opportunities Across Georgia

In the wake of COVID-19, families are desperate for a consistent approach to education, one in which students’ needs come first. In 2020, as the state reeled from the pandemic, public charter schools saw enrollment climb even as it declined in traditional public schools. Still, too many students struggled and are still struggling. What can Georgia do for those left behind?

• Moderator: Kyle Wingfield, President and CEO, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
• Rep. Todd Jones, Chairman, Georgia House Education Appropriations Subcommittee
• Rep. Mesha Mainor, Member, Georgia House Education Committee
• Marc LeBlond, Senior Policy Analyst, Commonwealth Foundation

Could the Lights Go Out in Georgia?

Lessons from Texas’ Winter Energy Catastrophe

What would happen if Georgia was hit by a winter storm the likes of the massive storm that crippled Texas in February 2021? The Texas storm left more than 700 dead and millions struggling for days without power in bitterly cold weather. We’ll explore what steps Georgia can take – and has taken – to protect Georgians from an energy catastrophe of that magnitude.

• Moderator: Benita Dodd, Vice President, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
• Dr. David Gattie, Associate Professor, University of Georgia
• Fitz Johnson, Member, Georgia Public Service Commission
• Jason Isaac, Director of Life:Powered, Texas Public Policy Foundation

Lunch Keynote: Georgia Policy Past and Future with Dr. Charles Bullock

The Richard B. Russell Chair in Political Science, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor, and University Professor of Public and International Affairs at UGA, Bullock will review the past three decades of Georgia policy – and Georgia Policy, the Foundation – and look ahead to what election and demographic changes could mean for Georgia going forward.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kennedy Atkins at kennedy@georgiapolicy.org.