Public Safety: A Family Tradition
A Family Passion for Public Safety & Service
On September 14, Governor Brian Kemp announced the retirement of Colonel Chris Wright, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety effective October 1st. Colonel Wright has served this state with distinction and led that critical department always exemplifying professionalism worthy of his post.
He will be succeeded by current-Lt. Colonel Billy Hitchens. Lt. Colonel Hitchens is currently Deputy Commissioner and Director of Field Operations, overseeing the Georgia State Patrol, the Motor Carrier Compliance Division, the Capitol Police Division, the Headquarters Adjutant, and the Special Operations Adjutant.
Prior to this appointment, Lt. Colonel Hitchens served as Major and South Adjutant. He began his career with the Georgia State Patrol as a Cadet Trooper in Sylvania and graduated from the 69th Trooper School in 1995. During the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Lt. Colonel Hitchens was assigned to Centennial Park and received a Meritorious Service Award for his actions prior to and immediately after the bombing. Lt. Colonel Hitchens was also selected to serve on the committee which developed the department’s mission statement and core beliefs.
Lt. Colonel Hitchens earned an undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University and an MPA from Columbus State University. He is a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and the FBI National Academy.
Lt. Colonel Hitchens and his wife, Angie, have two children and reside in Statesboro.
The Hitchens Family has a proud legacy of public service. Lt. Colonel Hitchens is the son of State Representative Bill Hitchens of Rincon, himself a former state trooper and Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety.
Representative Hitchens serves as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Public Safety Appropriations and Chairman of the House’s Working Group on Public Safety.
The House Working Group on Public Safety is charged with exploring how to best recruit, retain and reward state law enforcement officers with a particular emphasis on expanding the ranks of the Georgia State Patrol. That bipartisan group of legislators will make recommendations for the House to consider in the 2024 legislative session.
Now more than ever, it is imperative that we back the blue and support the men and women who serve our state in law enforcement. I’m thankful to the Hitchens Family for their decades of service to our state, and I congratulate Lt. Colonel Hitchens on his well-deserved promotion.
Relief at the Pumps
Sadly, liberals in Washington, D.C., continue to do nothing while Americans are having to work harder to make ends meet, faced with rising inflation and fuel prices. While we cannot compel the Biden administration to act, Georgia is working to keep our people and our economy moving.
In consultation with the leadership of the General Assembly, Governor Brian Kemp suspended the state’s collection of motor fuel taxes on gasoline and on-road diesel fuel from mid-September through mid-October. He has indicated he will likely renew this suspension through the end of the calendar year as allowed by law. If retailers pass the savings on as they should, drivers will see a savings of up-to 35 cents a gallon.
Thanks to Georgia’s conservative budget policies and a robust reserve fund, we are well positioned to help drivers facing rising fuel prices in the short-term without jeopardizing the road projects which fuel taxes normally fund.
Despite this temporary relief, it is imperative that Washington acts to protect Americans at the pumps and reinforces the importance of sending conservative leaders to the halls of Congress and the White House.
Hurricane Idalia Assistance from the Georgia Department of Revenue
Following direction from Governor Brian Kemp, the Georgia Department of Revenue has announced tax relief for 28 Georgia counties (including Bulloch and Screven counties) impacted by Hurricane Idalia. Certain filing and payment deadlines have been extended for residents and businesses. For more information, contact the Department of Revenue at http://DOR.Georgia.gov or 404-417-2100.
Speaker’s Conference in Salt Lake City
Earlier this month, I was honored to travel to Salt Lake City to represent the State of Georgia at the National Speakers Conference. This conference brings together speakers from state houses across the nation to discuss issues facing their states and the legislators they serve.
Georgia is fortunate to be the envy of the nation in many regards. With a robust reserve fund, highest-available credit rating and near record-low unemployment, we are well positioned to weather any financial storms that may come on the horizon. We continue to be a prime destination for businesses – large and small alike – looking to expand or relocate.
As always, I am honored and feel blessed to serve not only as your state representative but as Georgia’s 75th Speaker of the House.