The General Assembly returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 3rd for the busiest week of the 2025 legislative session. Crossover Day, a critical deadline for legislation to move from one chamber to the other occurred on Thursday, March 6th. The House worked late into the evening, passing a record 75 bills and resolutions on Crossover Day. They now await consideration in the Senate. With many bills to consider, it was a week of activity and movement and crucial decision-making as we worked to ensure that we had every opportunity to advance good, sound legislation to address the pressing needs of the People of Georgia.

We began the week by passing the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget, fulfilling our constitutional duty with the final passage of House Bill 67. It prioritizes recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. The storm’s widespread destruction prompted an urgent need for recovery, and this budget allocates critical funding to help rebuild affected communities. Set by a revenue estimate of $40.5 billion, including $2.7 billion in surplus funds, the budget provides a $4.4 billion increase, or 12.2%, over the original Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget. Notable allocations include $113 million for the Governor’s Emergency Fund to continue the state’s emergency response efforts, $50 million for debris removal and $285 million in disaster relief for farmers and timber producers. While Hurricane Helene relief is a top priority in the AFY 2025 budget, we also addressed the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) needs, it is also a key portion of this budget. HB 67 provides an infusion of $345.9 million for funding the department’s essential safety, security, and technology upgrades. These upgrades are necessary to ensure the safety of both inmates and correctional staff, including $17.5 million for security technology to detect and prevent the introduction of contraband. The budget also prioritizes staffing and security, providing funds for new correctional officer positions. Additionally, $10.5 million will be allocated for new body cameras and tasers, enhancing safety for both officers and offenders. These tools will be linked to an Over Watch Logistics Unit (OWL), funded at $7.2 million, it will continuously monitor security cameras across the state, enabling a rapid response to disturbances. With a focus on immediate recovery and long-term restoration, this amended budget ensures that Georgia’s response to both Hurricane Helene and essential public safety needs is comprehensive. This funding is not only necessary but essential for rebuilding lives, homes and communities across Georgia. Governor Kemp signed the amended budget on Thursday after its final passage in the House and Senate.

A key focus in the House this week was prioritizing the state’s education system, safeguarding Georgia’s children and enhancing school safety. As a result, the House passed House Bill 268, a comprehensive measure to improve the safety, health and well-being of students and school communities across Georgia. HB 268 implements a range of initiatives to foster an environment where children can thrive without fear. The bill places an emphasis on improving the sharing of student records between schools and from state agencies. HB 268 would require schools to utilize an anonymous reporting app to give students a safe and confidential way to report concerns. Schools will be able to respond more quickly to the needs of at-risk students; it creates a mental health coordinator position in each school district, to connect students with available resources. Furthermore, HB 268 requires local schools to implement Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), suicide and youth violence prevention training, making sure students are not only protected but also equipped with the tools and resources to manage their behavior and emotions in a healthy manner. HB 268 would also create an Office of Safe Schools to provide resources and training to help schools foster safer environments, develop policies to prevent violence and, by July 1, 2026, coordinate with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to develop a state-wide behavioral threat management process for local school systems and law enforcement agencies. These behavioral management teams (BTAM) would be trained on identifying behaviors that are known indicators of a youth at risk and possibly in need of supportive interventions or services. If a student poses a threat of harm, the BTAM team would immediately notify the superintendent, local law enforcement and the Office of School Safety. HB 268 will empower Georgia schools to be better prepared for emergencies, giving families peace of mind knowing that their children are safe at school and that effective plans are in place to protect and provide support services to Georgia’s students.

As the House prioritized public safety in schools this week, we also took up a bipartisan measure aimed at incentivizing safe, responsible firearm storage through the passage of House Bill 79, the Firearm Safe Handling and Secure Storage Tax Credit Act. This bill would introduce new provisions under Georgia law, offering taxpayers a credit of up to $300 for eligible expenses related to firearm safety training and secure storage devices. Proper firearm storage is crucial in preventing accidents, unauthorized access and theft. The tax credit program, with an annual aggregate cap of $3 million, would encourage responsible firearm ownership by providing financial incentives for individuals to participate in safety courses and invest in secure storage solutions. HB 79 would outline a clear path toward creating safer homes and communities across Georgia, reduce preventable tragedies and provide a cost-saving incentive for Georgians.

We also passed legislation to improve maternal health outcomes with House Bill 89, will enhance oversight and coordination of maternal care services. The bill would grant the Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) access to records of deceased mothers to better understand mental health’s role in maternal mortality. Mental health conditions are a leading cause of death in mothers, and by allowing the MMRC access to these records, the committee can make informed recommendations and policy decisions to improve future health outcomes for pregnant women. HB 89 would also establish the Regional Perinatal Center Advisory Committee to consider and make recommendations to the commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH) concerning the addition, reduction or transition of regional perinatal centers in the state. The advisory committee would be composed of between 11 and 21 members and appointed by the DPH for four-year terms. Beginning July 1, 2026, and every four years thereafter, DPH, in collaboration with the advisory committee, would review and make recommendations on the adequacy of the regional perinatal system and consider hospital and labor and delivery closures. Lastly, the bill would move deceased mothers’ autopsies under the scope of the Georgia Investigative Bureau or regular medical examiner offices, rather than perinatal facilities due to liability concerns. Currently, there are six perinatal centers across the state, and DPH has determined that they each require a review of their provided services. This committee would help ensure that we are doing everything we can to reduce maternal mortality cases in Georgia. It is critical, especially for mothers in underserved communities, to receive the care and support they need to successfully care for themselves and their babies.

The House fulfilled one of Governor Kemp’s legislative priorities this session with the passage of House Bill 112, which would provide a one-time income tax refund for taxpayers who filed returns for both the 2023 and 2024 tax years. This refund amount would be the lesser of their 2023 state income tax liability or a fixed amount determined by their filing status: $250 for single filers or married individuals filing separately, $375 for heads of household and $500 for married couples filing jointly. Taxable nonresidents and part-year residents would receive a prorated refund based on the portion of their income taxable in Georgia, as reported on their 2023 form. With an estimated total distribution of $7.6 million, the measure underscores the House’s commitment to returning taxpayers’ hard-earned money back into their pockets.

The House also unanimously passed House Bill 262, a measure to strengthen Georgia’s healthcare infrastructure, by creating a grant program to acquire and install backup generators for affected rural hospitals – acute care hospitals located in rural counties with fewer than 100 beds and located in any region where the governor declared a state of emergency after July 1, 2024. Under this legislation, the Department of Community Health, in collaboration with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, would set grant criteria and make award decisions. These grant amounts would be determined on a case-by-case basis to best meet each hospital’s specific needs, with priority given to affected rural hospitals lacking backup generators and the means to install them. In response to vulnerabilities exposed by Hurricane Helene and other recent storms in our state, this legislation would ensure that rural healthcare facilities can continue to operate and provide uninterrupted essential medical services during power outages.

House Bill 465 also passed unanimously in the House this week and aims to protect missing individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). HB 465, the Autism Missing Person Alert System Act will add ASD to the list of conditions eligible for triggering the Mattie’s Call state-wide alert system. Established by the Georgia General Assembly in 2006, Mattie’s Call is an emergency missing alert for disabled or elderly persons, and this investigative tool can only be activated by a local law enforcement agency. By including autism spectrum disorder in the alert system, local law enforcement would be provided with vital guidance to prioritize searches in waterways and public roadways, areas where missing individuals with ASD may be more vulnerable. The unanimous passage of HB 465 reflects a strong commitment to enhancing safety and support for individuals with autism and their families.

This week, we and our colleagues actually passed two bills addressing school zone speed enforcement. The first bill was House Bill 225 it will completely remove automated school-zone speed cameras altogether, with the goal of outright banning unjust citations. The second bill House Bill 651 reforms school-zone speed enforcement by implementing greater transparency and a fairer citation process. This bill limits automated speed camera operation to a four-hour window around school starting and dismissal times and enforce a 10-mph buffer above the school-zone speed limit before a citation is issued. Proper signage, including flashing yellow lights and radar speed detectors, would also be in place to ensure drivers receive clear warnings. A key change in this bill is the redistribution of civil citation revenue, with 50% of funds going directly toward school safety measures. The remaining revenue would still support local governments, but there would be greater accountability so that citation funds are not funneled to improper uses by private companies and local governments. Under this bill, the first offense would be $75 and the second offense $125, and the bill removes the previously stated $25 administrative fee. Furthermore, the bill would remove provisions that allowed unpaid citations to affect vehicle tag renewals and reinforce a driver’s right to contest citations in court. Lastly, the bill would require the Department of Public Safety to review speed enforcement measures on state highways, with the goal of preventing unwarranted fines. The House sent both bills to the Senate for its consideration in hopes that at least one of the two bills will receive final passage to address the House’s desire to reform this practice.

Along with other members of the House your South Georgia Delegation was busy moving their legislation. Representative Joe Campbell successfully passed HB 618 a bill for consumer protection. It requires sellers of real property to make certain disclosure regarding flood damage to such real property.

Representative Darlene Taylor saw two bills passed on Crossover Day, HB 250 the Small Business Benefit Act; it, requires the Department of Labor to establish regulations and registration policies for professional employer organizations (PEO). The bill would outline a fee cap and structure for each application type. Any person administering professional employer services who violate this Code could be subject to a penalty of no more than $2,000 for each violation. Temporary help contracting firms and individuals who are not a PEO but share employees with a commonly owned corporation, trade or business related to Section 414(b) and (c) of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 would be exempt from this Code section;

This week Representative Chas Cannon also had two bills favorably passed out of the House, they are HB 129 it amends state law related to bona fide conservation use property to allow property leased by a corporation, partnership, general partnership, limited partnership or corporation or a limited liability company to qualify as bona fide conservation use property if it meets the following conditions: entity would be owned by at least one natural or naturalized citizens. and the primary purpose of the property is related to production of agricultural or timber products; also, HB 244, which makes adjustments to local government audit requirements, depending on total expenditures by such local government entity. The bill would require specified county officers to cooperate with the county government in the preparation of required financial statements and audits, which would be subject to specified waivers;

The House reconvened at the State Capitol on Monday, March 10th for Legislative Day 29. With Crossover Day behind us, the House will now begin to considering legislation that passed in the Senate and vice versa. With Sine Die approaching on April 4th, we encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns about the bills currently under consideration. Please feel free to schedule a phone call or visit the State Capitol so we can discuss the issues that matter most to you and your family. You can reach Rep. Darlene Taylor may be reached at her office in the Capital Building 245-B or via email at darlene.taylor@house.ga.gov or by phone at (404) 463-2246 and Rep. Chas Canon, his office is 501-C Coverdell Legislative Office or via email at chas.cannon@house.ga.gov or by phone at: (404) 656-0177. As always, thank you for allowing us to be your representatives.