Lawmakers convened for legislative days 32-34 this week with Wednesday serving as a committee work day. This leaves 6 legislatives days until Sine Die. On Thursday, lawmakers spent over an hour and a half debating SB 68, Governor Kemp’s lawsuit reform priority, before passing the measure 91-82. The bill moved back to the Senate after the Subcommittee made minor amendments. On Friday, the Senate agreed to the House version 34-21. SB 68 heads to the Governor’s desk.
Governor Kemp appointed Bárbara Rivera Holmes to be the next Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor. She replaces the late Bruce Thompson who passed away last year. Holmes served as the Albany Chamber of Commerce CEO.
HB 767 sponsored by Rep. Dewey McClain, is a local bill aimed at reducing the Gwinnett County School Board’s pay in the event of a superintendent’s buyout. It also stops the board from prohibiting its members from speaking to the press. The bill has eight democrats and four republican co-sponsors.
HB 739 passed the House on the local consent calendar this week. It would annex parts of unincorporated Lawrenceville into city limits and put a referendum on the 2026 general primary ballot.
Bills to Watch
HB 34 sponsored by Rep. Dale Washburn would create a continuing education tracking solution to monitor compliance of professional licenses with applicable continuing education requirements. It was favorably reported in the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.
HB 111 sponsored by Governor’s Floor Leader Soo Hong would reduce the state income tax rate from 5.39 to 5.19 and will continue to reduce the rate by 0.1 percent annually until it reaches 4.99. The bill passed in the Senate and now heads to the Governor’s desk.
HB 112 sponsored by Governor’s Floor Leader Lauren McDonald III would provide a one-time tax credit to Georgia taxpayers who filed state tax returns in 2023 and 2024. Single filers would receive $250, married filing jointly would receive $500, and heads of households would receive $375. This bill passed out of the Senate Finance Committee.
HB 113 sponsored by Governor’s Floor Leader Lauren McDonald III would prohibit state agencies from purchasing goods from foreign companies or country of concern. The bill was favorably reported by substitute in the Senate Committee on Government Oversight.
HB 137 sponsored by Rep. Victor Anderson would increase the bid limits for public works purchasing projects from $100,000 to $250,000. It passed in the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 147 sponsored by Rep. Brad Thomas would allow the Georgia Technology Authority to take annual inventory of artificial intelligence usage by state agencies. The bill passed out of the House 172-0. It is assigned to the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
HB 266 sponsored by Rep. Steven Sainz would double the retirement income benefit for Georgia’s retired military personnel. The bill was favorably reported by substitute in the Senate Finance Committee.
HB 475 sponsored by Rep. Matthew Gambill is an agency clean-up language bill on the state’s film tax credit. It was favorably reported in the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism.
HB 539 sponsored by Rep. Matt Reeves would increase the existing homestead exemption on Gwinnett School property taxes to $10,000. Gwinnett County Board of Education unanimously voted to opt-out of the statewide homestead exemption. There would be a referendum before Gwinnett voters on the general primary 2026 ballot. The bill is assigned to the Senate Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations.
HB 540 sponsored by Rep. Matt Reeves would increase the homestead exemption for school taxes in Gwinnett County for healthcare workers, first responders, military, disabled veterans, and school employees. There would be a referendum before Gwinnett voters on the general primary 2026 ballot. It is assigned to the Senate Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations.
SB 12 sponsored by Sen. Frank Ginn would require any open records request to be made to the government entity that has control over such records. It was favorably reported by substitute in the House Governmental Affairs Committee.
SB 28 “Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025” sponsored by Sen. Greg Dolezal aims to streamline the state’s regulatory process and strengthen public and legislative oversight of any rule-making process. Among the requirements include reducing burdensome regulations on small business. It was favorably reported by substitute in the House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee.
SB 31 sponsored by Sen. Greg Dolezal would eliminate state income tax on all military retirement income. It is assigned to the House Ways & Means Committee.
SB 79 “Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act” sponsored by Sen. Russ Goodman would increase penalties for crimes and offenses relating to the possession, selling, distributing, and manufacturing of fentanyl. It is assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil.
SB 82 sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon would encourage local school boards to approve high value charter schools. This bill is assigned to the House Education Committee.
SB 89 sponsored by Sen. Brian Strickland would increase the tax credit for certain childcare expenses. It would also create a new state tax credit for families and offer tax credits for employers providing child care. The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee.
SB 111 “Georgia Consumer Privacy Protection Act” sponsored by Sen. John Albers would limit certain businesses from data collecting and first obtain consent for sensitive info. Excluded are entities covered by HIPAA and financial regulators. It is assigned to the House Committee on Technology and Infrastructure Innovation.
SB 180 sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon would allow apprenticeship sponsors in high demand apprenticeship programs to apply directly to apprenticeship programs with the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, giving more access and awareness to apprentices. It was favorably reported in the House Higher Education Committee.