John F. Kennedy, a State Senator for Georgia, said that tort reform legislation will assist in protecting small businesses and supporting job creation across the state. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"I'm honored to receive the Guardian of Small Business Award from the NFIB," said F. Kennedy. "Small businesses are the backbone of Georgia's economy. I'm thankful we accomplished meaningful tort reform. Maintain our pro-business environment and put job creators across the state first."
Georgia enacted significant tort reform legislation in April 2025 aimed at reducing legal costs for businesses. According to the Associated Press, the new laws—Senate Bill (SB) 68 and SB 69—limit premises liability lawsuits, cap non-economic damages, and restrict third-party litigation funding. Supporters argue these reforms will stabilize insurance premiums and improve the business climate, while critics contend they could hinder access to justice for injured individuals.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2025 state profile, Georgia has approximately 1.3 million small businesses, making up over 99% of all businesses in the state. These enterprises employed 1.7 million people and created 45,950 net new jobs between March 2024 and March 2025. The state experienced a net increase of 4,369 small business establishments during that period.
As reported by Georgia Trend, from 2020 to 2025, the Georgia Small Business Development Center assisted in launching 2,182 new businesses and creating over 15,000 jobs. The center also supported clients in raising $1.25 billion in capital and generating $9.5 billion in sales. These figures underscore the consistent role of small businesses in driving employment and economic growth within the state.
According to Atlanta News First, Kennedy has served in the Georgia State Senate since 2015 and became President Pro Tempore in 2023. A Republican representing the 18th District, he previously served as Majority Caucus Chairman and was a lead sponsor of the 2025 tort reform package. In that year, he announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor with a focus on economic and public safety issues.