The General Assembly convened this week for a full committee work day and legislative days 29 through 31. Only nine legislative days remain before the end of legislative session. Sine Die is Thursday, April 2. On Tuesday, the House passed HB 974, the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. Lawmakers have one constitutional requirement each session: pass a balanced budget. The FY27 budget was presented by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Hatchett. The $38.5 billion budget is a $738-million increase from the FY26 original budget. The budget includes $60 million in funding to implement statewide K-3 literacy coaches and other early literacy efforts as outlined in HB 1193 that passed the House earlier this year. The budget also fully funds Quality Basic Education program ($14.9 billion) and appropriates $41.1 million in additional funds for pupil transportation. Other highlights from the budget include:
- $18.2 million in new funding for graduate medical education, including $4.7 million for 147 slots in primary care medicine and $1.9 million for 13 new fellowship slots
- $1.5 million for behavioral and mental health services stabilization
- Additional $34 million in formula funds for the Technical College System of Georgia
- $1.1 million for the creation of four new superior court judgeships in the Atlanta, Gwinnett, Middle, and Northeastern Judicial Circuits
- $112.8 million for the Capital Construction program
- $33.5 million for Routine Maintenance in roads and bridges
- $13.6 million for Local Maintenance and Improvement Grants for local resurfacing projects
Lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week for Legislative Days 32 through 35.
Bills to Watch
Economic Development & Business Climate
HB 880, sponsored by House Ways and Means Chairman Shaw Blackmon, would, under certain conditions, incrementally reduce the state income tax rate each year to until it reaches 3.99 percent, the individual standard deduction to $18,000, and dependent deduction to $6,000. It also increases the senior exemption to $70,000. The bill is assigned to the Senate Finance Committee.
HB 1000, sponsored by Governor’s Floor Leader Matthew Gambill, would provide a one-time tax credit for Georgia taxpayers who filed state tax returns for tax years 2024 and 2025. The bill was favorably reported in the Senate Finance Committee.
HB 1001, sponsored by Governor’s Floor Leader Will Wade, would reduce the state personal and corporate income tax from 5.19 percent to 4.99 percent for 2026. The bill is assigned to the Senate Finance Committee.
HB 1063, sponsored by House Special Committee on Resource Management Chairman Brad Thomas, would require electric utility companies to not pass on data center construction and operation costs to residential and retail customers. The bill is assigned to the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.
HB 1074, sponsored by Rep. Matt Reeves, would provide a homestead exemption from City of Suwanee ad valorem taxes in the amount of $15,000 if city residents vote to approve in the November elections. It was adopted through the local consent calendars in the House and Senate.
HB 1116, sponsored by House Ways and Means Chairman Shaw Blackmon, originally would have exempted homesteads from local property taxes by 2032. Local governments and school systems would be allowed to levy or repurpose sales taxes to cover the difference. On Crossover Day, the House substitute version changed the bill to cap property tax revenue growth to the greater of three percent or the rate of inflation. It would also limit local governments from imposing sales tax to five percent but could utilize sales tax revenue to offset property tax. The bill passed out of the House on Crossover Day and has been assigned to the Senate Finance Committee. HR 1114, would have created a statewide ballot referendum. The resolution requires two-thirds majority vote from both chambers. The resolution did not receive the two thirds majority vote in the House.
HB 1185, sponsored by House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, would require certain shareholder-related business disputes to be filed in the Georgia State-wide Business Court. It is assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
HB 1274, sponsored by Rep. Matt Reeves, would require insurance companies to file for rate decreases if they exceed anticipated profits for 3 consecutive years by 5% or more. The bill is assigned to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee.
HB 1344, sponsored by Rep. Matt Reeves, would strengthen the enforcement authority of the Commissioner of Insurance and clarifies regulations on insurance, insurance fraud, uninsured motorists, excluded drivers, premium tax, insurance rates, claims processing, and uninsured or unregistered motor vehicles. It also partners the Insurance Commissioner and Economic Development Commissioner to work together to recruit and retain insurance company headquarters in Georgia. The Blue Ribbon Study Committee on Insurance Rates held several hearings last year, including one at the Gwinnett Chamber in December. The bill is assigned to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee.
HR 1243, sponsored by House Higher Education Chairman Chuck Martin, would establish the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund to help pay exclusively for the expansion, maintenance, and operation of 9-1-1 systems throughout the state, including the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1. It would require two-thirds support in both the House and Senate and then appear as a statewide ballot measure in November. The resolution passed out of the Senate Public Safety Committee.
SB 382, sponsored by Senator Chuck Hufstetler, would mandate the statewide base-year homestead exemption for all local governments and streamline the process for calling a referendum on special district option sales and use tax. The bill is assigned to the House Ways & Means Committee.
SB 410, sponsored by Sen. Matt Brass, would sunset the tax exemption for new data centers by 2031 and the tax exemption for high-technology data equipment by 2028. It would prohibit the issuance of new certificate of exemption upon the date of bill’s signing. The bill is assigned to the House Ways & Means Committee.
SB 437, sponsored by Senate Majority Caucus Vice Chair Clint Dixon, would allow applicants for building, plumbing or electrical plan reviews to use a private professional provider to conduct them and have that work recognized in place of review by a city or county. It also shortens the timeframe for plan and inspection reviews to 10 days and eliminates or reduces certain fees. The bill passed in the Senate this week. The bill is assigned to the House Governmental Affairs Committee.
SB 447, sponsored by Senate Majority Caucus Vice Chair Clint Dixon, would ensure permit applicants receive clear and timely reasons when their permits are denied. The bill also revises how counties and municipalities may accept, reject or deny permit applications. The bill passed in the Senate this week. The bill is assigned to the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee.
SB 476, sponsored by Senate Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery, would exempt income tax for individuals making $50,000 or less and households making up to $100,000. It makes up the revenue loss by eliminating 29 economic development tax credits/exemptions, including the sales and use tax exemption on high-technology data center equipment. The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee.
SB 477, sponsored by Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery, would reduce the state income tax rate to 3.99 percent by 2028 under certain state revenue conditions. The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee.
SB 553, sponsored by Floor Leader Bo Hatchett, would codify objective licensing requirements to streamline licensing process for the State’s Construction Industry Licensing Board’s five divisions. This includes electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low voltage contractors, and utility contractors. The bill is assigned to the House Regulated Industries Committee.
Transportation & Infrastructure
SB 463, sponsored by Senator Greg Dolezal, would prohibit business enterprises from owning more than 500 single-family residential properties but excludes build-to-rent companies. It also bans foreign investors from purchasing single family homes for rental. The bill is assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.
Education & Workforce
HB 372, sponsored by Rep. Bethany Ballard, would allow certain retired K-12 public educators to return as a teacher to help fill educational workforce needs. The bill is assigned to the Senate Retirement Committee.
HB 1009, sponsored by Rep. Scott Hilton, would ban the use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices to public high school students. Last year, Governor Kemp signed into law Rep. Hilton’s bill that banned cell phone use to public elementary and middle school students. The bill is assigned to the Senate Children and Families Committee.
HB 1023, sponsored by House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, would require local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to utilize weapon detection systems. The bill is assigned to the Senate Public Safety Committee.
HB 1030, sponsored by Rep. Sandy Donatucci, is also known as Math Matters Act. The bill aims to improve math proficiency, training, and instruction. The bill is assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
HB 1193, sponsored by House Education Chairman Chris Erwin, would require all children to attend kindergarten, places a dedicated literacy coach in every elementary school, and establish the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee to oversee statewide literacy programs. The bill is assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
HB 1254, sponsored by Rep. Matt Reeves, would Professions and businesses; move regulation of various professions from individual boards to Secretary of State. It is assigned to the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.
HB 1302, known as the Education and Workforce Strategy Act, is sponsored by Floor Leader Matthew Gambill and would designate the Governor’s office of Student Achievement as the lead coordinator among Georgia’s existing state education agencies and boards to prepare a combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State Plan. It passed out of the Senate Higher Education Committee.
SB 515, sponsored by Senate Education and Youth Committee Chairman Billy Hickman, would increase the maximum number of participating teachers in the teacher recruitment and retention tax credit program and only applies to teachers in the lowest 25 percent performing schools teaching certain classes including Math, Special Education, Career and Technical, English and Language Arts. It is assigned to the House Education Committee.
Healthcare
SB 427, sponsored by Sen. Ben Watson, seeks to address Georgia’s shortage of healthcare workers by creating a process for limited provisional licenses and a pathway to full medical licensure for certain internationally trained physicians. The House Health Committee favorably reported by substitute.
SB 439, sponsored by Senate Majority Caucus Chair Shawn Still, would require referral agencies for assisted living communities and personal care homes to disclose referral fees to customers. The bill is assigned to the House Health Committee.
Arts, Tourism & Entertainment
HB 1077, sponsored by House Banks & Banking Chairman Noel Williams, Jr., would extend the sunset date for sales and use tax exemption for ticket sales in certain museums and fine arts performances or exhibitions at nonprofit facilities. It is assigned to the Senate Finance Committee.
Policy
HB 1057, sponsored by Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, would add an eight State Court Judge in Gwinnett County to help meet the demands of backlog cases. It passed through Local Consent Calendar vote and was read and referred in the Senate.
HR 251, sponsored by Representative Kimberly New, would propose a statewide constitutional amendment to change all probate judge elections to nonpartisan. The bill was favorably reported in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
SB 457, sponsored by Senate Majority Caucus Vice Chair Clint Dixon, would stagger the City of Mulberry councilmembers’ elections and terms of office, with Districts 1, 3, and 5 serving through 2031 and Districts 2 and 4 serving through 2029. It passed through the local consent calendar in the Senate.
