Legislation offering a new tax break to physicians and dentists who opt to practice in rural areas is on track to move quickly through the Georgia General Assembly.
House Bill 82, sponsored by Rep. Mack Jackson, D-Sandersville, passed that chamber with just one “no” vote last year but ran out of time to cross over. It’s scheduled for a hearing Monday in the Senate Finance Committee chaired by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome.
Hufstetler and other members indicated support for the measure when Jackson first presented it last week. However, they requested a few updates, primarily focused on the dates used in the 2023 version.
“Let’s hash this out and bring you back,” Hufstetler said, and Jackson readily agreed.
The bill would provide a tax credit of up to $5,000 to doctors and dentists who choose to practice in a rural county, defined by a population of no more than 65 people per square mile. It would not be available to those currently practicing in those places.
“It will allow us to incentivize recruitment of medical students to our rural communities and keep them,” Jackson said.