LEGISLATIVE REPORT
January 17, 2025
In Today’s Edition:
- Governor Brian P. Kemp Delivers State of the State Address
- Georgia State University’s Research Tower Groundbreaking Ceremony
- Speaker Burns Outlines Top Priorities
- Gov. Kemp Announces Legislative Package Strengthening K-12 Education
- Gov. Kemp Unveils Economic, Workforce Development Legislative Priorities at Eggs and Issues
- Legislation Tracker
- GSU Welcomes 2025 GLIP Interns
- New to the GSU Legislative Delegation
- Calendar Set Thru Sine Die
- Upcoming Events: Legislative Calendar
Governor Brian P. Kemp Delivers State of the State Address
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (left) and Gov. Brian Kemp (right) at the annual State of the State address at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Matthew Pearson/WABE): John Raoux
Governor Brian P. Kemp on Thursday delivered his seventh State of the State address to a join session of the Georgia General Assembly. Governor Kemp emphasized Georgia’s resilience and progress amid challenges like natural disasters, inflation, and the pandemic. Kemp praised Georgians’ strength and generosity and outlined key achievements, including $7.6 billion in taxpayer savings, record economic growth with over 193,000 new private-sector jobs, and bipartisan disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Helene. He also announced further tax cuts, continued investments in public safety and mental health, and comprehensive tort reform to reduce litigation and insurance burdens for businesses and consumers.
Kemp highlighted Georgia’s innovative healthcare initiatives, which provide better coverage and outcomes for more residents than traditional Medicaid expansion. He called for unity in addressing the state’s challenges, urging bipartisan collaboration to sustain Georgia’s success as a top state for business, job growth, and opportunity. Concluding with a call to action, Kemp reaffirmed his commitment to putting hardworking Georgians first and ensuring the state’s prosperity for future generations.
Georgia State University’s Research Tower Groundbreaking Ceremony
Breaking new ground, from left: Jian-Dong Li, Director of the Institute for Biomedical Sciences; Jared Abramson, GSU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; GSU First Lady Dr. Bridget Blake; Marty Kemp, First Lady of Georgia; Gov. Brian Kemp; GSU President M. Brian Blake; Sonny Perdue, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia; Jon Burns, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives; Nicolle Parsons-Pollard, GSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs; T. Dallas Smith; Chairman of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and Donald Hamelberg, GSU Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Georgia State University broke ground Wednesday January 15th, on its new 155,000-square-foot Research Tower off Decatur Street on the university’s downtown Atlanta Campus. The state-of-the-art facility, set to be completed in 2026, will provide updated laboratories, flexible research space and modern teaching environments designed to foster innovation and collaboration. The nine-story Research Tower represents a crucial step forward in Georgia State’s strategic commitment to research and innovation and to increasing placemaking efforts in the downtown community.
“This is more than just a physical space. This building expands our capacity for discovery and learning both at Georgia State University and in the Atlanta area,” said Georgia State President M. Brian Blake, who delivered comments at the groundbreaking ceremony for the building Jan. 15. “We’re grateful for the support that’s helped make it a reality.”
Speaker Burns Outlines Top Priorities
Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns speaks during a press conference on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice
Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns met with reporters last week to outline his priorities for the upcoming 2025-2026 legislative session.
“We’re ready to hit the ground running,” Burns said. “There’s no issue more critical to Georgians and our quality of life than the education of our young people. Our goal is to ensure every child in this state has access to a high-quality education. We are committed to providing the resources and support needed for students, parents, and teachers to thrive. But above all, we want to guarantee one fundamental thing: that every student feels safe when they walk into school each day.”
Other items on Burns’ list include:
- School safety measures
- Tax reform
- Mental health funding for Georgia schools
- Restrictions to transgender participation in girls’ sports
- Strengthening the healthcare workforce
- Income tax rebates
- Codify and protect in vitro fertilization procedures
- Additional funding for Georgia’s prison system
- Tort reform
Gov. Kemp Announces Legislative Package Strengthening K-12 Education
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announces education and school safety proposals during a press conference at the State Capitol on Monday, January 13, 2025. (Matthew Pearson/WABE) (Natacha Pisarenko)
Governor Brian P. Kemp, alongside state officials, announced a legislative package to enhance K-12 education in Georgia, with a focus on increasing funding, improving school safety, and supporting teachers. The package includes $120.8 million for K-12 education in FY’25 and $402.2 million in FY’26, as well as $50 million in additional school safety grants. It also proposes increases in counseling support in an educational environment, teacher benefits, and investments in technical education, including funding for career-focused labs in high schools.
“We are spending more today on K-12 education than we ever have in our state’s history,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “I made a promise to hardworking Georgians that we would make all of our children a priority in this state, and we are doing that once again today. In working with our legislative partners, we have fully funded our schools, raised teacher pay by nearly $10,000, delivered millions of dollars in school safety grants, consistently directed funding to address mental health in our schools, and so much more. I am proud today to stand with our legislative partners and announce these additional actions that support our educators, help secure our classrooms, and ensure our students have the resources they need for a safe and quality education.”
Gov. Kemp Unveils Economic, Workforce Development Legislative Priorities at Eggs and Issues
At the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs and Issues event, Governor Brian P. Kemp outlined his top legislative priorities for the 2025 session, focusing on economic growth, workforce development, and infrastructure. He announced initiatives to ensure Georgia remains the top state for business, including the “Top State for Talent Act,” aimed at aligning education with high-demand careers and expanding workforce development. The governor also highlighted investments in rural workforce housing and infrastructure, with $1.5 billion allocated to expedite projects and an additional $530 million proposed for freight and logistics.
A key focus for the upcoming session is tort reform, which Kemp described as a critical priority to create a balanced legal environment that supports economic growth. He urged local chambers of commerce to engage actively in advocating for the reform, which he plans to introduce soon.
Legislation Tracker
Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act
SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Greg Dolezal
(R-Cumming), would require middle and high schools, along with colleges and participating private schools, to designate interscholastic sports teams as either male, female, or co-ed, based on the participant’s sex at birth. Males would not be allowed to participate in any interscholastic competition on any team that is designated as female. Any student will be allowed to participate on a male or co-ed team. This legislation would also require schools that host or sponsor sporting events to provide separate changing and dressing facilities for male and female athletes based on their biological sex at birth. Assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
Dual Enrollment Act
HB 18, sponsored by Rep. Steven Sainz
(R-St. Mary’s), would amend Georgia’s Dual Enrollment Act to include a residency requirement for students participating in the program. It specifies that eligible students must meet Georgia’s residency criteria and remain residents while enrolled in dual credit courses. Assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
Needs Based Financial Aid
HB 38, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Martin
(R-Alpharetta), would revise the definition of “eligible student” for Georgia’s needs-based financial aid program, expanding eligibility to students with a financial aid gap and decreasing the credit completion threshold for eligibility to 70% for four-year programs and 45% for two-year programs. Assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
Georgia Veterans Cemeteries
HB 53, sponsored by Rep. Josh Bonner
(R-Fayetteville), would allow certain reserve component members of the U.S. armed forces, their spouses, and children to be buried in Georgia veterans cemeteries. Assigned to the House Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Nursing
HB 54, sponsored by Rep. David Clark
(R-Buford), would authorize advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and physicians assistants (PA) to order home healthcare services for patients of licensed home health agencies. Assigned to the House Health Committee.
Tuition Grants
HB 56, sponsored by Rep. Jesse Petrea
(R-Savannah), would expand Georgia’s educational grant program to include tuition grants for the spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and prison guards killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
Seed-Capital Funds
HR 6, sponsored by Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia), proposes an amendment to the Georgia Constitution allowing the General Assembly to create one or more Seed-Capital Funds. These funds would provide capital to small, innovative firms in technology, manufacturing, or agriculture, managed by the Advanced Technology Development Center of the University System of Georgia. Assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
Ensuring Accountability for Illegal AI Activities Act
SB 9, sponsored by Sen. John Albers
(R-Roswell), would criminalize the distribution of AI-generated obscene material depicting a child, defining such material as obscene if it appeals to prurient interests, lacks value, and depicts explicit conduct. It introduces enhanced sentencing for crimes involving AI, requiring notice of intent to seek penalties and establishing penalties for using AI in specific crimes, including imprisonment and fines. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Ricky and Alyssa’s Law
SB 17, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte
(R-Dallas), would require local school systems to implement a mobile panic alert system by July 1, 2026, to ensure real-time coordination between state and local emergency responders during school security emergencies. It mandates school mapping data for all public and private schools, including floor plans, critical utility locations, and access points, to enhance emergency response. The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency will oversee regulations. Assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
GSU Welcomes 2025 GLIP Interns
Georgia State is pleased to welcome fourteen (14) students who were selected to participate in the Georgia Legislative Internship Program (GLIP).
Assigned to various House and Senate committees, interns are given the opportunity to learn the legislative and policy process firsthand from inside the Gold Dome. In addition to gaining an inside view of the legislative process and how constituents are served, interns acquire marketable skills and professional work experience prior to graduation. After successful completion of the program, students receive nine hours of course credit.
Dr. Stephanie Kerce, Professor of Political Science at Georgia State University, serves as the Statewide Director for the Georgia Legislative Internship Program. The 2025 Georgia State University legislative interns are Sam Byers, Zayne Dabbas, Kendall Griffin, Zahrya Grimes, Elisa Heinzelmann, Bethany Jones, Grace King, Loren Lyles, Dan Ngo, Victoria Oltean, Jaeda Ray, Ella Salter, Jaslin Stanley and Kristen Tran. Each intern will be highlighted in this newsletter during the legislative session along with additional Georgia State students serving in various internship roles at the Capitol.
New to the GSU Legislative Delegation
Robert Flournoy Jr. (D-Hampton), will represent House District 74. Rep. Flournoy received his B.B.A. in Management in 1997.
About – Robert is a proud Georgia native born in Atlanta and attended Atlanta Public Schools. Robert holds a business degree from Georgia State University and works as a title examiner in the legal/real estate industry. Robert is passionate about serving others. He’s previously served on the Student Advisory Council to the Board of Regents. Robert and his wife have been married since 2023, and he is the proud father of his daughter and three step-children.
Gabriel Sanchez (D-Smyrna), will represent House District 42. Rep. Sanchez received his B.A. in Film & Video in 2018.
About – Gabriel was born and raised in Cobb County to Colombian immigrants striving for a better future. He currently lives in Smyrna with his partner Anna, their dog Winston, and their cat Kiki.
Calendar Set Thru Sine Die
The House and Senate adopted an adjournment resolution this week that will take them thru the 2025 legislative session. The legislature met five days this week and set a calendar to return Monday, January 27-30. They will take next week off for budget hearings. Crossover Day is set for March 6 and Sine Die is April 4.
Upcoming Events
Joint Appropriations Committee Hearing
Tuesday, January 21st, 2025
9:00 am – 9:15 am: Chairman’s Remark
9:15 am – 9:45 am: Governor Brian P. Kemp
9:45 am – 10:15 am: State Economist Dr. Robert “Bob” Buschman
Hurricane Response
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, Director James C. Stallings.
11:00 am – 11:30 am: Georgia Forestry Commission, Director Johnny Sabo
11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Department of Agriculture, Commissioner Tyler Harper
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Department of Transportation, Commissioner Russell McMurry
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm: Office of Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner John King
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Department of Natural Resources, Commissioner Walter Rabon
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Department of Public Safety. Colonel Billy Hitchens
3:00 pm – 3:20 pm: Department of Administrative Services, Commissioner Rebecca Sullivan
3:20 pm – 3:40 pm: Department of Community Affairs, Commissioner Christopher Nunn
Joint Appropriations Committee Hearing
Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025
8:00 am – 8:30 am: Technical College System of Georgia, Commissioner Greg Dozier
8:30 am – 9:15 am: University System of Georgia, Chancellor Sonny Perdue
9:15 am – 9:45 am: Department of Education, State School Superintendent Richard Woods
9:45 am – 10:15 am: Department of Early Care and Learning, Commissioner Amy Jacobs
10:30 am – 10:50 am: Georgia Student Finance Commission, President Lynne Riley
10:50 am – 11:10 am: State Properties Commission and Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission, State Property Officer Marty Smith and Director Diana Pope
11:10 am – 11:30 pm: Department of Law, Attorney General Chris Carr
11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Courts and Judicial Council/ AOC, Chief Justice Michael Boggs and Director Cynthia Clanton
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm – 1:20 pm: Georgia Public Defender Council, Executive Director Omotayo Alli
1:20 pm – 1:40 pm: Department of Juvenile Justice, Commissioner Shawanda Reynolds-Cobb
1:40 pm – 2:00 pm: Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Director Chris Hosey
2:00 pm – 2:20 pm: Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Executive Director Jay Neal
Joint Appropriations Committee Hearing
Thursday, January 23rd, 2025
8:00 am – 8:40 am: Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Commissioner Kevin Tanner
8:40 am – 9:20 am: Department of Community Health, Commissioner Russel Carlson
9:20 am – 9:50 am: Department of Public Health, Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey
9:50 am – 10:30 am: Department of Human Services and Division of Family and Children Services, Commissioner Candice Broce
10:30 am – 10:55 am: Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, Executive Director Chris Wells
10:55 am – 11:15 am: Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, Director Richard Dunn
11:30 am – 12:30 am: Block Grant Hearing
Helpful Links
Information on legislative activities including bills and resolutions as well as webcasts of daily sessions in both chambers and committee meetings are available via the General Assembly website at www.legis.ga.gov.
Think Georgia State is right for you? Take the next step to becoming a Panther by clicking here.
Brian Harris, Director for Government & Community Affairs
Jason Thomas, Assistant Director for State Relations
Debbie Jones, Associate to the Director
Vinesh Sahadeo Singh, Data Analyst
100 Auburn Avenue, Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2030