Pictured: Students of SSCS, Faculty and Staff. Photo Credit: Unknown SSCS Proud Parent. Hi-Res copy click-here.

Students of Saint Simons Christian School, visiting Atlanta and touring the Georgia State Capitol, meet with Representative Jeff Jones, to learn about the legislative process. "Our son, now in college, attended SSCS from kindergarten through 5th grade," explained Rep. Jones. "It's an excellent school providing a high-quality education through a Biblical world-view. For years after our son moved on, I served on their Board and, as a volunteer, took care of their computer network. It was great to spend time with these students this week."

Learn more about Saint Simons Christian School, Click here!

By Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge)

From the world’s busiest airport to the fastest growing container port in America, Georgia leads the nation in moving people and goods. That didn’t happen by accident.

On the contrary, for generations, Georgians have invested in the infrastructure necessary to facilitate our forward momentum. 

Recently, we have invested in deepening the Port of Savannah with a quarter of a billion dollars in state funding. We have also modernized our funding for roads and bridges through the Transportation Funding Act of 2015 (HB 170).

We have planned prudently and invested wisely, but we still have more work to do. And, for the first time in many decades, we have an ally in Washington, D.C.

Pictured: Representative Jeff Jones and "Hairy Dawg" of the Georgia Bulldogs.

On Thursday, February 15, we completed the 22^nd day of the 40-day 2018 session. “Crossover Day”, which this year is on February 28^th, is also the 28^th of the 2018 session. This date, which can vary from session to session, is the cut-off date for legislation that has any chance of being signed into law by Governor Deal.  For bills to move ahead in the legislative process, they must have passed out of each respective legislative body – the House of Representatives, in my case, or the Senate - by the end of the session day on “Crossover Day.”

For several challenging bills I am sponsoring (HB-66-Cash Wire Transfers; HB-484-Changing Driver’s License for Certain Persons; HB-879-Coal Ash Dewatering Public Notice; HB-880-Coal Ash Landfill Storage Public Notice) it means I have seven legislative days left to: 1) get the bills voted out of sub-committee, then 2) voted out of full committee. Next, 3) I have to work on the surviving bills to get them added to what we call the “Rules Calendar” by the Rules Committee; the Rules Calendar is the calendar of bills that have a chance of being voted on by the full House of Representatives. Whew! Makes me tired thinking of all the work still to be done. But I do not give up easily on legislative matters that I, and many others in our state, believe are important.

Georgia driver’s license issued to illegal immigrants with “deferred action on deportation” and to legal immigrants and guest workers. Photo: GA DDS.

Georgia issues same drivers license to illegal aliens with deferred deportation as legal immigrants: DDS policy should be changed in 2018 Georgia legislative session.  #SupportHB484

Thousands of veterans can receive free dental care on Saturday, June 24^th, when doctors and their teams from nearly 450 Aspen Dental-branded practices in 36 states open their doors for Aspen Dental’s National Day of Service – an event that is expected to be the largest single-day oral health initiative for veterans in 2017.

Like millions of other Americans, veterans can struggle to find dental care when they need it. That’s why Aspen Dental’s Healthy Mouth Movement, a community-giving initiative launched in 2014, focuses on helping veterans get that care.

Here is how you can help:

• Please spread the word in your community! Interested veterans should call 1-844-AspenHMM (1-844-277-3646) to find a local participating practice and schedule an appointment. Space is limited and appointments are filling up fast!

• Be sure to use #HealthyMouthMovement and tag Aspen Dental when posting on social media.

Thank you!

Rep. Jeff Jones

GA State Rep Jeff Jones, D167, in Athens attending the 30th annual Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, by UGA's Carl Vinson Institute of Government, signing up for Georgia's PeachPass to help him get around Atlanta's crazy traffic while "in session" at our State Capital.

Representative Jeff Jones serves as The Marshal Team Captain for hole #9 at The 7th Annual RSM Classic at Sea Island. (Tim Brown - Tim Brown Photography)

Proceeds from The RSM Classic benefit children and family charities including Special Olympics and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2016

Georgia’s Underground or Shadow Economy

Out-of-State Money Wire Transfer Fee bill

By State Representative Jeff Jones (R-Brunswick)

The United States has a massive underground economy – reportedly over $1 trillion. This economy, referred to as our cash economy, includes cash transactions by drug dealers, prostitution rings and workers paid in cash for their labor. Georgia is not immune to this issue. Our state loses millions of dollars of legitimate tax revenue as do other states and the federal government as a result of this problem.

The Out-of-State Money Wire Transfer Fee bill, which I will introduce during the 2017 legislative session, proposes that wire transfer companies shall collect a fully refundable fee on out-of-state wire transfers. To be clear, this fee is 100 percent reimbursable as a tax credit when an individual files their annual Georgia Income Tax, or when the individual provides the proper paperwork. The bill also proposes that the wire transfer companies will receive compensation, similar to the “vendor compensation” paid by the Department of Revenue to vendors for their sales tax collection and reporting efforts.

Businesses, such as banks, wire transfer companies and realtors, are explicitly and specifically exempted from the fee.

According to conservative, unofficial estimates, money wire transfer fee legislation could generate between $30 and $40 million in net revenue annually in the State of Georgia after eligible individuals receive their 100 percent fee reimbursement.

READ A COPY OF THE PROPOSED WIRE TRANSFER FEE BILL [PDF]

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Representative Jeff Jones represents the citizens of District 167, which includes a portion of Glynn, and all of Long, and McIntosh counties. He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2014, and currently serves on the Interstate Cooperation, Motor Vehicles, and Natural Resources & Environment committees.