Gold Dome Report - Legislative Day 28 - March 2025

Crossover Day coincided with Cattlemen’s Day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, and the event known for its coveted steak biscuits brought a different type of celebrity this year. The Georgia Mobile Dairy Classroom, which was also present and pungent, featured a dairy cow from Madison named Moolania. It wasn’t the only homage to the nation’s First Lady on Legislative Day 28. In the afternoon, Senator Blake Tillery read from Mrs. Trump’s memoir on the Senate floor as part of his presentation of Senate Bill 57. While it is unclear if the incidents were related, the Crossover Day kowtowing didn’t go unnoticed by the #GoldDomeReport team.

While floor activity is expected to continue late into the evening, the House and Senate have already passed several notable measures as this Report is published. The House signed off on Governor Brian Kemp’s proposals to reduce the income tax rate (HB 111) and provide a one-time rebate for Georgia taxpayers (HB 112). Meanwhile, the Senate approved school safety (SB 17) and occupational licensing reform (SB 207) measures. Governor Kemp even got in on the action, signing the Amended FY25 Budget in the North Wing on Thursday morning. While the work continues under the Gold Dome, read on for what else has happened so far.

In this Report:

• Floor Action
• Committee Notes
• New Legislation
• What’s Next

Floor Action

The House took up the following measures before our deadline on Legislative Day 28:

• HB 52 - Ad valorem tax; qualified disabled veterans; extend homestead exemption to unremarried surviving spouses or minor children (W&M-Rice-139th) - PASSED 170-5
• HB 56 - Education; grants to spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and prison guards who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty; provide (Substitute)(HEd-Petrea-166th) - PASSED 172-0
• HB 111 - Income tax; reduce rate of tax (W&M-Hong-103rd) - PASSED 110-60
• HB 112 - Income tax; one-time tax credit for taxpayers who filed returns for both 2023 and 2024 taxable years; provide (W&M-McDonald III-26th) - PASSED 175-0
• HB 150 - Combating Threats from China Act of 2025 - Higher Education; enact (Substitute)(HEd-Fleming-114th) - PASSED 145-22
• HB 159 - Georgia Housing and Finance Authority; increase outstanding bond limit (Substitute)(B&B-Crowe-118th) - PASSED 162-10
• HB 161 - Georgia Bureau of Investigation; authority to issue subpoenas of electronic communication records for purposes of investigating certain cyber enabled threats to life and property; provide (Substitute)(JudyNC-Crowe-118th) - PASSED 158-8
• HB 185 - Professions and businesses; repeal and reenact Chapter 11A, the Dietetics Practice Act (Substitute)(RegI-Ehrhart-36th) - PASSED 171-2
• HB 224 - Highways, bridges, and ferries; construction or maintenance of roads upon military bases or installations paid for by the United States Department of Defense or other entities; authorize (Trans-Bonner-73rd) - PASSED 172-0
• HB 248 - Income tax; tax credit for certain expenses incurred by taxpayers for certain geothermal machinery installations at residential dwellings; provide (Substitute)(W&M-Jasperse-11th) - PASSED 170-3
• HB 250 - Better Small Business Employee Benefits Act; enact (Substitute) (SBD-Taylor-173rd) - PASSED 165-7
• HB 288 - Appeal and error; declaratory judgments in instances involving accusations made by a prosecuting attorney regarding credibility of a peace officer; provide (Substitute)(PS&HS-Gaines-120th) - PASSED 146-20
• HB 331 - Animals; prohibit transfer of certain domestic animals at certain locations (Substitute)(A&CA-Camp-135th) - PASSED 161-13
• HB 360 - Revenue and taxation; rehabilitation of historic structures; revise tax credit (Substitute)(W&M-Efstration-104th) - PASSED 168-3
• HB 370 - Ad valorem tax; school districts; state-wide base year homestead exemption; provisions (Substitute)(W&M-Gaines-120th) - PASSED 96-77
• HB 425 - Revenue and taxation; purchase of an emergency power generator to convenience stores and grocery stores; provide tax credit (Substitute) (W&M-Burchett-176th) - PASSED 171-2
• HB 439 - Revenue and taxation; revise deductions allowed to dealers (Substitute)(B&B-Yearta-152nd) - PASSED 170-1
• HB 445 - Ad valorem tax; language required to be included in notices of current assessment; revise (W&M-Martin-49th) - PASSED 167-0
• HB 447 - Crimes and offenses; crimes of gift card theft, gift card forgery, and gift card fraud; provide (Substitute)(JudyNC-Gullett-19th) - PASSED 168-2
• HB 460 - Evidence; exclude certain communications made between attorney and client when client is in a penal institution (Substitute) (JudyNC-Panitch-51st) - PASSED 172-0
• HB 466 - State symbols; marsh tacky horse as official Georgia heritage horse breed; designate (SRules-Cameron-1st) - PASSED 168-1
• HB 484 - General Assembly; digitization and electronic publication of Georgia Laws; provide (CR-Yearta-152nd) - PASSED 173-0
• HB 485 - Official Code of Georgia Annotated; various provisions enacted prior to 2013 which are contingent upon funding and which remain unfunded; repeal (Substitute)(CR-Yearta-152nd) - PASSED 175-0
• HB 491 - Game and fish; remove an exception for use of air guns to hunt wildlife (Substitute)(GF&P-Chastain-7th) - PASSED 171-3
• HB 494 - Motor vehicles; require mopeds to be covered by a form of minimum financial responsibility for accident damages (MotV-McClain-109th) - PASSED 160-14
• HB 530 - Courts; authorization for electronic filing of pleadings in probate court; provide (Judy-Leverett-123rd) - PASSED 174-0
• HB 532 - Conservation and natural resources; grants and special revenue disbursements; revise provisions (Substitute)(W&M-DeLoach-167th) - PASSED 168-0
• HB 549 - Peace officers; extend time frame for which reimbursement of total training expenses by a subsequent employer may be sought (PS&HS-Seabaugh-34th) - PASSED 164-0
• HB 579 - Professions and businesses; licensure to engage in trade; provisions (Substitute)(App-Reeves-99th)(Rules Committee Substitute LC 55 0580S) - PASSED 158-2
• HB 583 - Motor vehicles; increase number of free license plates issued to certain veterans (Substitute)(MotV-Glaize-67th) - PASSED 171-0
• HB 614 - Local government; prohibit use or ignition of consumer fireworks in proximity to certain facilities housing equines; authorize (A&CA-Jones-47th) - PASSED 168-1
• HB 638 - MARTA; prohibit stopping or parking of a motor vehicle other than a transit vehicle in a designated transit vehicle lane in the City of Atlanta (Substitute)(Trans-Silcox-53rd) - PASSED 145-22
• HB 647 - Mulberry, City of; change corporate limits (IGC-Donatucci-105th) - PASSED 98-76
• HR 7 - George C. Trulock, Jr. Memorial Highway; Grady County; dedicate (Substitute)(Trans-Campbell-171st) - ADOPTED 172-0

The Senate took up the following measures before our deadline on Legislative Day 28:

• SB 17 - "Ricky and Alyssa's Law"; enact (Substitute) (ED&Y-31st) - PASSED 55-0
• SB 33 - "Georgia Hemp Farming Act"; total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; provide limits (Substitute) (RI&U-32nd) - PASSED 50-6
• SB 61 - Delinquency; additional offenses over which superior courts are authorized to exercise exclusive original jurisdiction; provide (Substitute) (JUDY-27th) - PASSED 33-22
• SB 105 - Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians; licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians to practice veterinary teleadvice; authorize (AG&CA-31st) - PASSED 52-0
• SB 109 - Life Insurance; a policy of group life insurance from excluding or restricting liability for certain deaths occurring while an individual is an active duty service member; prohibit (Substitute) (VM&HS-15th) - PASSED 53-0
• SB 149 - Tuition Equalization Grants at Private Colleges and Universities; definition of approved school; revise (H ED-4th) - PASSED 50-4
• SB 163 - Brady Law Regulations; standards for bringing an action against the government for an unauthorized act relating to regulation of weapons; revise (Substitute) (JUDY-53rd) - PASSED 33-23
• SB 179 - Education; the academic and disciplinary records of each transferring student shall be provided within five days; require (Substitute) (JUDY45th) - PASSED 54-1
• SB 207 - Professions and Businesses; a preclearance process in the licensing of individuals with criminal records who make application to or are investigated by certain licensing boards and commissions; create (JUDY42nd) - PASSED 55-0
• SB 218 - Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission; shall be assigned for administrative purposes only to the Administrative Office of the Courts; provide (Substitute) (JUDY-29th) - PASSED 34-21
• SB 220 - "Putting Georgia's Patients First Act"; enact (Substitute) (H&HS-6th) - PASSED 39-17
• SB 233 - Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission; revise the subcommittees (Substitute) (H&HS-6th) - PASSED 51-4
• SB 254 - "Georgia Hemp Farming Act,"; delta-9-THC in consumable hemp products; provide milligram limits (Substitute) (RI&U-46th) - PASSED 42-14
• SB 255 - General Assembly; authorization of statutory investigatory powers to certain committees of the General Assembly; codify a process (RULES46th) - PASSED 33-23
• SB 259 - Juvenile Code; certain procedures to be followed when there is a determination of suspected child abuse or neglect; provide (Substitute) (C&F-6th) - PASSED 55-0
• SB 276 - Recovery of Medical Assistance from Third Party; certain provisions to comply with federal law; revise (I&L-49th) - PASSED 54-1

Committee Notes

House Insurance Committee

Chairman Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee) and the House Insurance Committee met Wednesday morning to take up these measures:

• HB 101, authored by Representative Demetrius Douglas (D-Stockbridge), is a bill that has previously been proposed before. It seeks to create transparency in OC,G,A, 45-18-6.2, relating to the state employees’ health insurance plan. Specifically, it requires that a “contracted entity” (healthcare corporation, professional claim administrator, independent adjusting firm, HMO, licensed pharmacy benefits manager, or other entity which enters into a contract with the board to provide medical benefits, pharmacy benefits, and well-being incentives and programs) to prepare an annual report and disclose the amount of prescription drug rebates and other price concessions (in dollars and by percentage) applied to premium reductions for state health plan participants. This would apply to the State Health Benefit Plan (teachers and state employees) and Board of Regents Health Plan. Representative Douglas indicated he would like to see how the money is spent and applied to premium reductions. Since getting coverage under the State Health Benefit Plan, he has seen no reductions in premiums (since 2013). Representative Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville) asked if the 340B plan was also included in these disclosures; Representative Taylor said those program’s drugs were not. The legislation received a DO PASS recommendation, moving the legislation forward to the House Rules Committee.
• HB 649, authored by Representative Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain), is to be known as the Georgia Maternal Mother Mental Health Improvement Act in Titles 33 and 49. It requires that each health benefit plan issued, delivered, or renewed in Georgia provide coverage for maternal mental health screening during the prenatal period and 12 months postpartum, and care and treatment for those screenings positive for maternal mental health conditions. This issue is to help address unnecessary deaths of women as mental health conditions are one of the top reasons for death in these women. Representative Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasvile) indicated that patients’ services are covered if they have physicians’ orders. Patients may also decline screening but the goal is that all women be screened. Jesse Wethington, with the Georgia Association of Health Plans, noted that his health plans were comfortable with section 3 of the legislation as it requires that national guidelines be followed. It will make coverage consistent from carrier to carrier. The legislation’s substitute received a DO PASS recommendation, moving the legislation forward to the House Rules Committee.

House Public and Community Health Committee

Chairman Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) and members of the House Public and Community Health Committee took up three measures at the Wednesday noon hour:

• HB 657, authored by Representative Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons), is a bill brought by the Georgia Council on Recovery. It provides for the qualifications of recovery community organizations for substance use. There are 45 of these entities across the state, but they are not certified. This legislation puts into place language in O.C.G.A. 37-1-8 so that these entities may be certified by a certified training body. Georgia has a robust peer specialist program and one which is nationally recognized. There are definitions for certified peer specialist - addictive disease (CPS-AD), certified peer specialist - mental health (CPS-MH), certified peer specialist - youth (CPS-Y), and certified peer specialist - parent (CPS-P). These individuals have been certified for 15 years; this legislation is to protect the community. There is no intention to get Medicaid reimbursement, per Jeff Breedlove with the Georgia Council on Recovery. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities has information on its website on where to find these 45 entities. Members of the committee indicated that these entities play critical roles in their communities. These RCOs are certified annually by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. There are no penalties in the bill unless an entity does not go through certification. There were questions on what would occur if a peer specialist’s certification was “paused.” Mr. Breedlove indicated that an individual has to be in recovery for two years before applying and 20 per year are certified. If an individual has a setback, then they will go back before the Georgia Council and undergo a peer-to-peer review. The legislation received a DO PASS recommendation, moving the legislation forward to the House Rules Committee.
• HB 668, authored by Representative Brad Thomas (R-Holly Springs), regards the rights of individuals with disabilities who have service or assistance dogs. The legislation before the committee was a new substitute. However, the issue was reviewed previously last legislative session. The reason for the bill is that these individuals with disabilities who have these dogs had encountered confusion with Georgia law and the Department of Justice’s implementation of its rules regarding these service animals. The concerns have been around individuals who may harass the service or assistance dog and what rights those owners might have. This legislation provides penalties for those instances in Title 16. These service dogs can cost up to $60,000. The dogs to which this law will apply relates to service and assistance dogs; emotional support dogs are excluded. The committee had numerous questions including what type of vests they may wear; how one will know a dog is a service dog; whether a registry exists for service dogs (that is preempted by federal law). The substitute proposal received a DO PASS recommendation, moving the legislation forward to the House Rules Committee.
• HB 717, authored by Representative Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), is a bill that was brought to her by the Composite Medical Board. Previously, the state undertook the regulation of pain management clinics. This legislation addresses the regulation of ketamine clinics in Georgia in O.C.G.A. 43-34-49. There are 15 of these clinics in metro Atlanta. Presently, no one really knows who (or their qualifications) is administering this IV medication to patients in these clinics even though it is a nursing or medical procedure. The drug may cause amnesia, seizures, unconsciousness, slow breathing, and even death. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic (which first came on the market in approximately 1970) and is the only psychedelic FDA-approved therapy. However, these clinics are using the drug on an off-label basis. Those who are administering the drug may not know the proper dosing or administering of the medication. The legislation is not trying to quell research efforts that are underway at Emory. The legislation will require that these clinics be owned by a Georgia-licensed physician who meets the requirements for psychedelic-assisted treatment and therapy established by the board and who maintains advanced airway management training. The clinics will be licensed with biennial renewals. The legislation also outlines who may administer this medication (e.g. a licensed physician with advanced airway management training, a certified registered nurse anesthetist licensed in Georgia under the direction of a duly licensed physician). Michelle Au, MD (D-Sandy Springs) noted that as an anesthesiologist she cannot believe that these clinics are not regulated. Ketamine is a Schedule III drug. She noted too that this drug is often used at veterinary clinics with animal procedures. This legislation received a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the House Rules Committee. The committee had several questions after finalizing action on the initiative, including what it could do in the future about drug (or new drugs) regulation when prescribers are using medications off-label.

House Education Committee

The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Chris Erwin (R-Homer), met on Wednesday afternoon to consider the following measures:

• HB 133, authored by Representative David Clark (R- Buford), is the “Student Character Development Act”. The bill provides for public school students to be permitted to attend courses in religious moral instruction provided by a person or organization independently of a public school, subject to certain conditions. The bill also provides for students to receive academic credit for such courses and prohibits students who participate in such courses from being counted as absent from school.

Representative Clark presented the bill to the committee as a substitute, which he explains changes the “shall” to “may”, requires a background check for adults participating in the program, and provides a liability shield for local schools. The committee recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the Rules Committee.

• HB 383, authored by Representative Brent Cox (R-Dawsonville), amends Titles 29 and 39 to provide for high school student-athletes and prospective student-athletes to receive name, image, or likeness compensation. The bill also provides for the automatic expiration of contracts that provide name, image, and likeness compensation to student-athletes after the student-athlete graduates or is no longer enrolled.

Representative Cox presented the bill and the Georgia High School Association appeared in support. The committee recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the Rules Committee.

• HB 442, authored by Representative Teddy Reese (D-Columbus), amends Title 20, to provide that student performers shall not be counted absent from school due to performing in certain productions, subject to certain conditions, for no more than all or part of 25 school days. The bill also authorizes the Department of Labor, in consultation with the Department of Education, to develop such certification forms and promulgate rules and regulations and provides for authorizations by parents or guardians relating to the education records of student performers.

Representative Reese presented the bill to the committee, explaining that he wants to keep Georgia kids who want to act here. The committee recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the Rules Committee.

• HR 174, authored by Representative Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville), proposes an amendment to the Constitution to provide for the appointment of the state school superintendent by the State Board of Education effective not later than January 1, 2031. The amendment also provides for the election of members of the State Board of Education for two-year terms by the members of the House of Representatives and Senate whose respective districts are embraced or partly embraced by each congressional district of this state.

Representative Dubnik presented the resolution to the committee, explaining that it would align the State Board of Education and State School Superintendent with how local school boards and superintendents operate and will provide for the election of school board members as the General Assembly elects Department of Transportation board members. Representative Doreen Carter (D-Austell) expressed concern at this arrangement given issues seen with local school districts recently. Representative Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins) asked about the terms of board members and suggested they be staggered. Representative Lydia Glaize (D-Fairburn) asked how two-year terms for the board members would support continuity in education policy, to which Representative Dubnik noted that legislators are elected to two-year terms. Representative David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs) expressed support for the measure.

Representative Rick Townsend (R-St. Simons Island) offered an amendment increasing the board member terms from two years to four years, and the amendment was adopted. The committee recommended the resolution DO PASS and be sent to the Rules Committee.

Senate Education & Youth Committee

The Senate Education & Youth Committee, chaired by Senator Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro), met on Wednesday to consider the following measures:

• HB 81, authored by Representative Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins), is the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. This compact aims to facilitate the interstate practice of school psychology, thereby improving the availability of school psychological services across member states. It allows school psychologists to obtain equivalent licenses in any member state, promoting mobility and addressing workforce shortages. The compact ensures that only qualified professionals provide services, requiring compliance with the scope of practice laws in each state.

Representative Ballard presented the bill to the committee, explaining that the compact has already been adopted in two states and is being considered by several others. It takes adoption in seven states to take effect. Margaret Ciccarelli of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators spoke in favor of the legislation and read a letter of support from the Georgia Association of School Psychologists. The committee recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the Rules Committee. Senator Larry Walker (R-Perry) will carry the bill in the Senate.

• SB 54, authored by Senator Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), amends Title 20 to require the establishment of a program and state-wide database by the State Board of Education relating to threats to safety made on or impacting school campuses. By July 1, 2027, a secure statewide database will be established to report and monitor safety threats, ensuring that individuals who pose verified threats are recorded. However, students will only be added to this database after a thorough investigation by local law enforcement and evaluation by a certified school social worker. The legislation also provides a framework for petitioning the removal of names from the database, contingent upon a certified school social worker's evaluation.

Senator Jones presented the bill to the committee, explaining that it is the number one recommendation from the Safe Gun Storage Study committee from last year. Senator Tim Bearden (R-Carrollton) asked whether the development of the database should begin with GEMA rather than the State School Board and asked for confirmation that all schools already have counselors and social workers. No action was taken on the bill.

New Legislation

The following new legislation of interest has been introduced in the House:

The following new legislation of interest has been introduced in the Senate: