Georgia Senate Panel to Consider Abolishing State Income Tax
ATLANTA — A newly formed Georgia state Senate committee is preparing to launch a comprehensive review this summer, setting the stage for legislation aimed at fully eliminating the state’s personal income tax by early 2026.
Lt. Governor Burt Jones officially announced the creation of the Senate Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax on July 17, 2025. The group, mandated to dissolve by December 15, 2025, is a key initiative of Jones’s platform as he positions himself in the 2026 gubernatorial race.
Sen. Blake Tillery (R–Vidalia), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, leads the 11-member panel. Members include eight Republicans and three Democrats: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas), Sen. Greg Dolezal (R–Cumming), Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R–Rome), Sen. Steve Gooch (R–Dahlonega), Sen. John Kennedy (R–Macon), Sen. Larry Walker (R–Perry), Sen. Sam Watson (R–Moultrie), alongside Sen. Ed Harbison (D–Columbus), Sen. Nan Orrock (D–Atlanta), and Sen. Michael “Doc” Rhett (D–Marietta).
Tillery unveiled plans for a series of hearings designed to inform the committee’s work and prepare legislation for the 2026 General Assembly session. “This is about competitiveness, economic freedom, and letting hardworking Georgians keep more of their earnings,” Tillery said at the Capitol.
Georgia legislators previously enacted a modest reduction in early 2025—cutting the state income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%—as part of Governor Brian Kemp’s wider tax agenda.
With Georgia ranked eighth nationally in combined state and local tax burden, per the Tax Foundation, the stakes of full elimination are high. Committee proponents cite nine states that already follow the model, including both Republican and Democratic-led jurisdictions like Texas, Tennessee, Washington, and New Hampshire.
However, critics warn of potential economic trade-offs. Replacing an estimated $16 billion in annual revenue may require substantial increases in other taxes, such as sales or property taxes, which disproportionately affect low- and middle-income households . For example, Tennessee’s approach of hiking its sales tax—currently at 7%—has drawn criticism for affordability concerns and heavier burdens on working families.
Democratic panel member Sen. Ed Harbison emphasized balancing reform with safeguarding key public services: “There are ideas like allowing casinos or other new sources—so long as education and healthcare are not compromised,” he said.
The committee’s series of hearings is expected to take place over the summer and fall, concluding with formal recommendations by mid-December—prior to the start of the 2026 legislative session.