Lawmakers convened for legislative days 10-13 this week. Over 800 bills have been filed, and committee activity has picked up. The House passed the amended fiscal year 2025 budget on Thursday. House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett presented HB 67, highlighting key changes in the state’s budget that funds the government through June 30, 2025. Recommendations to the AFY25 budget are based off a $40.5 billion in anticipated state funds, $2.7 billion in surplus:
- $750 million to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for water and wastewater infrastructure
- $530 million in new funds to the Georgia Department of Transportation for freight infrastructure projects along interstate corridors
- $225 million to the Department of Administrative Services to reduce outstanding obligations to the state’s liability insurance program
- $114 million to fully fund K-12 enrollment growth
- $50 million for additional school security grants, $68,759 per school
- $333 million in new funds for the Department of Corrections to strengthen staffing, facilities, and safety
- $197 million in Hurricane Helene relief and recovery efforts
Bills to Watch
HB 76 Transportation, Department of; require public hearings for local transportation projects of significant impact
HB 92 – Revenue and taxation; postpone date by which local governing authorities can opt out of base year homestead exemption
HB 111 Income tax; reduce rate of tax
HB 112 Income tax; one-time tax credit for taxpayers who filed returns for both 2023 and 2024 taxable years; provide
HB 113 State government; prohibit the state or its agencies from purchasing goods from certain foreign countries or related entities
HB 137 Contracts; increase dollar value of certain public works contracts exempt from provisions relating to retention of contractual payments
HB 147 Georgia Technology Authority; annual inventory of artificial intelligence usage by state agencies; provide
HB 168 Sales and use tax; SPLOST; require enactment of a local Act for reimposition of such tax
HB 230 Income tax; tax credit for certain expenses incurred by taxpayers that sell new construction homes to certain individuals for up to a certain price; provide
SB 28 “Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025”; enact
SB 34 Public Service Commission; costs incurred by an electric utility as a result of providing electric services to commercial data centers from being included in any rates; prohibit
SB 37 “AI Accountability Act”; enact
SB 68 Civil Practice; substantive and comprehensive revision of provisions regarding civil practice, evidentiary matters, damages, and liability in tort actions; provide
SB 69 “Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act”; enact
SB 79 “Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act”; enact
SB 89 Income Taxes; amount of a tax credit based on the federal tax credit for certain child and dependent care expenses; increase
SB 111 “Georgia Consumer Privacy Protection Act”; enact
SR 131 Sports Betting and Casino Gambling Activities; operation and regulation; authorize the Georgia General Assembly – CA