LEGISLATIVE REPORT
January 31, 2025
In Today’s Edition:
- Governor Kemp Shares AFY25 and FY26 Budget Proposals
- State of the Judiciary
- Physical Therapy (PT) Day at the Capitol
- Georgia Department of Education Updates Rule to Prioritize Student Safety
- Legislation Tracker
- GLIP Intern Spotlight: Q&A with Victoria Oltean
- New Higher Education Committee Chairs
- Upcoming Events: Legislative Calendar
Governor Kemp Shares AFY25 and FY26 Budget Proposals
Governor Brian Kemp unveiled his budget proposals for the Amended Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026, emphasizing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and investments in Georgia’s infrastructure, education, and public safety. The budget includes over $614 million for hurricane relief, targeting transportation repairs, agriculture support, and FEMA cost-sharing. Additionally, $2.2 billion is earmarked for infrastructure projects, with funds directed toward transportation, water systems, and rural workforce housing. Governor Kemp also highlighted $1 billion in education funding to reduce class sizes, enhance university and technical school support, and maintain the HOPE Scholarship. Also included in the FY 2026 budget is $1.5 million for the Georgia State University College of Law to support continued excellence at Georgia’s nationally recognized public law schools.
The proposals prioritize fiscal responsibility while addressing Georgia’s growing needs. They include tax relief measures to save Georgians $7.5 billion over the next decade and investments in corrections and public safety to combat human trafficking and strengthen prison systems. Healthcare funding is also a focus, with $150 million allocated to grow the physician pipeline and $36 million for Medicaid coverage of groundbreaking treatments for sickle cell disease. Governor Kemp reaffirmed Georgia’s AAA credit rating and commitment to conservative budgeting, which he credits for sustaining the state’s economic competitiveness and ability to invest in its future.
State of the Judiciary
Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs spoke on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Georgia General Assembly
Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs delivered his third State of the Judiciary address to the General Assembly this week in the House Chamber of the State Capitol.
He highlighted public confidence in state courts, efforts to address AI’s impact, and initiatives to mitigate the court reporter shortage. He also discussed legal deserts in rural areas, the launch of a Supreme Court committee on legal regulatory reform, and the importance of judicial security amid rising threats. Additionally, he outlined progress on a statewide case management system, veterans’ treatment courts, and efforts to maintain judicial independence.
Physical Therapy (PT) Day at the Capitol
Physical Therapy (PT) Day at the Capitol kicked off at Georgia State University’s Student Center, followed by a walk to the Capitol for attendees to meet up with Legislators.
This event is designed to bring together physical therapy professionals, students, and supporters to engage with state legislators. The event emphasizes the importance of the physical therapy profession, highlights its impact on healthcare, and fosters discussions on legislative priorities that affect the practice and access to care. It serves as a platform for attendees to share their insights, advocate for policies that enhance patient outcomes, and strengthen the voice of the physical therapy community in Georgia.
Georgia Department of Education Updates Rule to Prioritize Student Safety
The State Board of Education has amended Rule 160-5-4-.15, requiring local school systems to collaborate with law enforcement or emergency management agencies during the design phase of new school facilities. Announced by State School Superintendent Richard Woods, this initiative aims to ensure the safety and security of Georgia’s public schools by incorporating expert input into facility planning. The rule underscores the Georgia Department of Education’s (GaDOE) commitment to creating secure environments for students and educators, with safety features such as secure entry points, surveillance systems, and evacuation routes tailored to community needs.
GaDOE’s 2025 legislative priorities further enhance school safety by advocating for funding School Resource Officers (SROs), crisis alert systems, and expanded mental health support through the APEX program. Additional measures include appointing a statewide school safety coordinator and improving information sharing between schools, state agencies, and law enforcement. Superintendent Woods emphasized the importance of early collaboration in facility planning to ensure compliance with safety standards and address community-specific concerns. The amended rule takes effect 20 days after being filed with the Secretary of State, with GaDOE providing guidance to assist schools in meeting these new requirements.
Legislation Tracker
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. The bill passed the House Higher Education Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the House Rules Committee.
Pay As You Earn Education Program
HB 130, sponsored by Rep. Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper), would establish the Pay As You Earn Education Program (PAYE), a student loan initiative designed for Georgia residents attending eligible in-state postsecondary institutions. Under this program, students contribute $1,000 annually toward their education costs, while the remaining expenses are covered by a loan tied to their future earnings. After graduation, participants repay the loan by contributing 3% of their annual federal adjusted gross income over 15 years. Alternatively, they may opt to repay the full loan amount plus 3% simple interest within a 10-year period, offering flexible repayment options tailored to their financial circumstances. Assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
Combating Threats from China Act
HB 150, sponsored by Rep. Tim Fleming (R-Covington), would require the University System of Georgia to submit quarterly reports detailing funding received from individuals or entities affiliated with China, the Chinese Communist Party, or the People’s Liberation Army. Reports must specify amounts, sources, types of funding, contracts, and purposes. Assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
SB 37, sponsored by Sen. John Albers
(R-Roswell), the “AI Accountability Act,” would require all Georgia governmental entities to develop and maintain comprehensive plans for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. These plans must outline key areas such as objectives, fairness, data privacy, oversight, compliance, training, incident response, and reporting protocols. Additionally, the act establishes the Georgia Board for Artificial Intelligence, a 12-member panel appointed by state officials, to provide guidance on AI implementation, publish model plans, and submit annual reports to state leaders. Assigned to the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
HB 147, sponsored by Rep. Brad Thomas (R-Holly Springs), would require the Georgia Technology Authority to conduct an annual inventory of AI systems used by state agencies, with the first report due by December 31, 2025. By December 31, 2026, the authority must establish comprehensive policies for AI procurement, implementation, and assessment, emphasizing the prevention of unlawful discrimination. Assigned to the House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee.
Safe Teens Act
HB 106, sponsored by Rep. Imani Barnes (D-Tucker), would authorize local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to offer a driver education training course as an elective. Assigned to the House Education Committee.
Cigarette and Vapor Products Taxation
HB 83, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Au
(D-Johns Creek), would increase the excise tax on cigarettes from 37¢ to 57¢ per pack of 20 cigarettes, with proportional adjustments for other package sizes. The bill specifies that 20¢ of the increased per-pack tax will be allocated annually to healthcare initiatives for Georgia residents. Assigned to the House Ways & Means Committee.
HB 84, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Au
(D-Johns Creek), would increase the tax rate on consumable vapor products from 7 percent to 15 percent of the wholesale cost price. Assigned to the House Ways & Means Committee.
HB 96, sponsored by Rep. Sam Park
(D-Lawrenceville), would increase the excise tax on cigarettes from 37 cents to $1.37 per pack of 20 cigarettes, with a proportional rate for other package sizes. Assigned to the House Ways & Means Committee.
Income Tax Reduction
HB 111, sponsored by Rep. Soo Hong
(R-Lawrenceville), would propose a gradual reduction of Georgia’s income tax rate of 5.19% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. The rate will decrease by 0.10% annually until it reaches 4.99%, unless economic conditions trigger a delay. Reductions may be postponed if state revenue growth is below 3%, if net revenue collection is lower than the past three years, or if the Revenue Shortfall Reserve lacks funds to offset the tax cut. Assigned to the House Ways & Means Committee.
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. This bill passed the Senate Education and Youth Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Equal Athletic Opportunities Act
HB 104, sponsored by Rep. Brent Cox
(R-Dawsonville), would establish guidelines for student participation in interscholastic sports based on biological sex. This legislation defines essential terms, including “sex” as an individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth, and sets specific criteria for athletic team designations. Schools must categorize teams as male, female, or coed, with strict regulations preventing male students from competing in female sports and vice versa, ensuring clarity and consistency in athletic participation. Assigned to the House Education Committee.
Gender-Affirming Health Care
SB 39, sponsored by Sen. Blake Tillery
(R-Vidalia), would prohibit the use of state health plans or state funds for gender-affirming care, including surgeries and hormone therapies. In this bill, no healthcare facility owned or operated by the state and no physician or other healthcare provider employed by an agency or entity of the state can provide gender-affirming care. Assigned to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee.
Hormone Therapies and Puberty-Blocking Medications
SB 30, sponsored by Sen. Ben Watson
(R-Savannah), would prohibit hospitals and the Georgia Composite Medical Board from providing specific medical treatments for minors related to gender dysphoria. It explicitly bans the prescription, administration, or performance of hormone therapies, puberty blockers, and sex reassignment surgeries aimed at altering a minor’s biological sex or affirming a gender identity inconsistent with their biological sex. Assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Veterans
SB 11, sponsored by Sen. Doc Rhett
(D-Marietta), would allow members with at least ten years of service to obtain up to 36 months of creditable service for active military service performed on or after January 1, 1990. To be eligible, members must apply through a board-prescribed method, submit proof of qualifying active military service, and pay the full actuarial cost of the service. Assigned to the Senate Retirement Committee.
SB 26, sponsored by Sen. Doc Rhett
(D-Marietta), would require the state revenue commissioner to apply a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the portion of military retirement income excluded from taxable net income. Assigned to the Senate Finance Committee.
Religious Freedom Restoration Act
SB 36, sponsored by Sen. Ed Setzler
(R-Ackworth), would establish the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which provides legal protections for individuals’ religious exercise by creating a standard for how government can burden religious practices. The bill allows government to substantially burden a person’s religious exercise only if it can demonstrate that the burden serves a “compelling governmental interest” and uses the “least restrictive means” to achieve that interest. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
GLIP Intern Spotlight: Q&A with Victoria Oltean
Q: Where is your hometown?
A: I am from Roswell, Georgia.
Q: What is your major?
A: I am currently a junior doing a Political Science major.
Q: Who inspires you most in the world, and why do they inspire you?
A: My grandmother inspires me the most because she is the strongest, hardest working, and most disciplined person that I know. She has taught me how to push through the difficulties of life through her stories of living during the regime of an oppressive government, surviving through years of intense political instability, and building a beautiful life in a new country during the second half of her life. It is her resilience that inspires me to push myself towards achieving successes beyond my imagination.
Q: Which office/committee are you assigned to?
A: I am assigned to the President Pro Tempore’s Office with Senator John F. Kennedy.
Q: What are some of your duties as a legislative intern?
A: My duties consist of keeping up with the administrative needs of my office. Duties range from stocking up the fridge in the office to delivering invitations for events. I also aid with Senator Kennedy’s communication by helping in the creation of social media posts and editing the weekly newsletter. However, my most important obligation is to support Senator Kennedy’s staff in all that they need so that the legislative session runs as smooth as possible.
Q: What do you hope to gain from the Georgia Legislative Intern Program?
A: I hope to gain insight about my skillsets and how my talents can best serve my community. I am
also excited for the opportunity to deeply understand the inner-working of state politics, the legislative branch, and the Georgia community as a whole.
Q: How will this experience help you in your future career plans?
A: I believe that the Georgia Legislative Intern Program will teach me the discipline that I need to succeed in high-pressure and fast paced professional environments. I also believe that this internship will guide me towards a professional path that is the best suited for my talents!
Q: If you could use one word to describe your experience at the Georgia Legislative Internship Program thus far, what would that word be, and why?
A: I would describe this internship as eye-opening. I am learning so much about myself, the legislative process, and how state government operates! I am excited to see what the next couple of months have in store for me.
New Higher Education Committee Chairs
Sen. Max Burns (R-Sylvania), a two-time Georgia State University graduate, M.B.A. 1978, PH.D-Philosophy, 1983 is the newly appointed chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.
Sen. Burns is also a former U.S. Congressman, representing Georgia’s 12th Congressional District from 2003 to 2005. In addition to his legislative experience, Burns has an extensive background in academia, having served as the president of Gordon State College.
Rep. Mark Newton (R-Augusta), has been appointed as the new chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education.
Newton, who is also a physician, brings his legislative experience and commitment to education to this pivotal role.
Upcoming Events
Monday, February 3, 2025
- Legislative Day 10
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
- Legislative Day 11
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
- Legislative Day 12
Thursday, February 6, 2025
- Legislative Day 13
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.
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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
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