ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - State political and business leaders met in Atlanta for the annual “Eggs and Issues” breakfast to look ahead to this legislative session.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens addressed the room of 2,500 people, calling the morning more than just a meal.

“Conversations have started here that have led to initiatives that have helped Georgia secure its place as the best state to do business,” he said.

Gov. Brian Kemp says tort reform is at the top of his list in a continued push to curb civil lawsuits, saying he will soon unveil a legislative package to do just that.

“We must address the need for a legal environment that is balanced with our neighbors,” he said.

He also announced that his budget proposal will have $530 million to invest in freight and logistic transportation infrastructure and $250 million to support the development of water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure projects.

Kemp said one of his other top priorities is continuing to strengthen the workforce by expanding Georgia MATCH into the individual graduation plans of students beginning in the 9th grade, calling it the Top State for Talent Act. Adding it will align the existing, career-tech and academic credentials with the high-demand list they’ve unveiled and increase opportunities for articulation from high school to postsecondary programs in those high-demand fields.

“Ensuring that Georgia not only remains the top state in the nation for business but also the top state for talent,” said Kemp.

House Speaker Jon Burns named improving literacy rates and school safety among his top priorities. He said they will work to bolster school security, communication between school districts and law enforcement agencies and access to mental healthcare following the Apalachee High School shooting.

“We will consider every measure that respects citizens’ rights and ensures this never happens again,” he said.

Burns said he will also push for improvements for correctional facilities in the state.

“The inmates in those facilities are there because they broke the law, but they deserve to be safe while they serve their sentences and our corrections officers certainly deserve to be safe while they do their jobs,” said Burns.

He also said they plan to have the state conduct the first comprehensive water and energy resource study since 2006.

“Twenty years later, we are experiencing record-breaking growth and development in every corner of our state and the demand for our water and energy resources has grown significantly,” said Burns.

Burns also said he wants to codify protections for IVF, saying in 2021, over 2,900 children were conceived using IVF in Georgia.

“Access to fertility treatments should never be a question,” he said.

Gov. Kemp also took the opportunity to look back on recent years and remarked on some of the work they’ve done, including with the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative. He said since the program launched, they have awarded more than $42 million in infrastructure grants to 21 rural communities.

Since 2019, he said the state has created more than 193,000 new jobs and has brought in over $90 billion in private investments, with the majority going to rural communities.

Last year, Georgia lawmakers approved $250 million to invest in local roads, and Kemp said they plan to do that again this year.

“With a new legislative session upon us, I’m confident that by continuing this approach, we can keep Georgia the best place to live, work, and raise a family for years to come,” said Kemp.