Gov. Kemp visits Southwest Georgia for agricultural legislation, signs ‘Austin’s Law’

VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) – On Tuesday, April 30, Governor Brian Kemp finalized new laws to strengthen Georgia’s No. 1 industry: agriculture.

Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said the laws will impact tax policies in agriculture, operations of the Hemp program, and penalties on cattle theft. It will also ensure foreign entities are not able to purchase farmland needed for local farming.

“The legislation that we at the Department of Agriculture and our friends in the general assembly, that the governor signed into law today goes a long way in moving the ball in the right direction to continue to protect, promote and ensure our farm families across Georgia are successful which in turns allows agriculture to be successful which allows the state to be successful,” Harper said.

Gov. Kemp officially signed Senate Bill 465 into law which will increase the penalties for fentanyl dealers. It’s known by many as Austin’s Law.

It’s named after Austin Walters, a Valdosta man who died in 2021 after taking a single pill laced with fentanyl. Under previous law, there was no penalty to hold the drug dealer accountable.

“It’s a wonderful day for us as the family of Austin, it’s a wonderful day to honor him but truly it’s a great day for Georgia,” Gus Walters, Austin’s father, said.

The Georgia House and Senate unanimously approved SB 465, known as “Austin’s Law,” in March of 2024. Austin’s Law creates a new offense called aggravated involuntary manslaughter.

The bill states: “The offense of aggravated involuntary manslaughter shall be considered a separate offense and shall not merge with any other offense.”

The bill gives law enforcement and judges discretion when investigating and trying cases involving substance abuse.

“All Americans are dealing with fentanyl, so increased penalties, doing that to honor Austin’s life and having his family here was very special,” Kemp said.

Gus and Beth Walters, Austin Walters’s parents, were in the chamber for the vote. They have worked with Senator Russ Goodman and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’s office for almost two years to push this bill through the House and Senate.

“It became very personal for a lot of people there in the legislature, and I was just glad to see something that needs to happen,” Jones said.

The Walters family plans to continue to spread the word of Austin’s Law across the state and country. To learn more about Austin’s Law click here.

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