Lawmakers convened for legislative days 14-17 this week. Governor Kemp’s tort reform bills, SB 68 and SB 69, carried by President Pro Tempore John Kennedy, advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. SB 68 includes comprehensive changes to Georgia’s tort laws like anchoring, premise liability, seatbelt admissibility, special damages, among others. There is a carve out for human trafficking victims attempting to bring forth a claim. SB 69 deals with third party litigation funding, specifically geared towards banning hostile foreign adversaries from financing suits against Georgia companies to gain intellectual property or advance political agendas. The measures could be voted on before the full senate next week.
Committee and subcommittee hearings continue for the Fiscal Year 26 Budget in the House and Amended Fiscal Year 25 Budget in the Senate. Session will resume for legislative days 18-21 beginning Tuesday.
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 passed by substitute out of the House Regulated Industries Committee.
HB 92 sponsored by Rep. Shaw Blackmon would push back the date by which local governing authorities like counties, cities, and public school districts can opt out of base year homestead exemption. It passed out of the Ways and Means Committee by substitute.
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 out of the Ways and Means Committee.
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 Ways and Means 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 passed out of the House Government Affairs Committee.
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 the House 152-9.
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 Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee.
HB 168 sponsored by Rep. Mitchell Horner would require a local Act by the General Assembly to reimpose a county SPLOST. It has been assigned to the House Mays and Means Committee.
HB 230 sponsored by Rep. Yasmin Neal would create a tax credit for single-family home builders to receive up to 20% of eligible construction expenses for homes that cost $200,000 or less. The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means 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. It has been assigned to the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
SB 34 sponsored by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler would require electric utilities to charge commercial data centers for their higher energy usage instead of passing it on to the electric utilities’ general customer base. It is assigned to the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.
SB 37 “AI Accountability Act” sponsored by Sen. John Albers would require all government entities to develop and maintain artificial intelligence system usage plans. It would create the Georgia Board for Artificial Intelligence. The bill is assigned to the Senate Economic Development and Tourism 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 the Senate Judiciary 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 passed out of the Senate Finance 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. The bill is assigned to the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
SR 131 sponsored by Sen. Carden Summers would require a constitutional amendment to allow sports betting and casino gambling in Georgia. Funds would go to county governments and addiction prevention and treatment programs. It has been assigned to the Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.