ATL Standard

The Georgia legislature has been active with a variety of bills crossing over or failing to progress during the 2025 Crossover Day. Key legislative proposals have addressed issues ranging from tax reductions to infrastructure and education.

In the realm of business climate, several bills have crossed over. HB 111, introduced by Rep. Soo Hong, proposes reducing the individual income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%, with further reductions contingent on economic conditions. HB 112 by Rep. Lauren McDonald suggests a one-time tax refund for taxpayers who filed returns in both 2023 and 2024.

Other notable bills include HB 266 by Rep. Steven Sainz, which increases the retired military income tax exclusion, and HB 360 by Rep. Chuck Efstration, allowing earlier claims on rehabilitation tax credits for certain historic structures.

Infrastructure initiatives also saw significant activity. HB 67, signed by Governor Jon Burns, amends the fiscal year budget with substantial allocations for water planning and hurricane relief efforts. Additionally, SB 9 from Sen. John Albers aims to criminalize AI-generated obscene content involving minors.

In talent development and education, several measures crossed over as well. These include HB 38 by Rep. Chuck Martin, expanding College Completion Grants eligibility; SB 89 from Sen. Brian Strickland increasing tax credits for employers providing childcare; and SB 180 by Sen. Clint Dixon enhancing incentives for apprenticeship programs.

The thriving communities sector saw various proposals related to sports betting regulation and occupational licensing transparency but faced challenges in advancing constitutional amendments related to gambling.

Despite some setbacks in specific areas such as workplace harassment legislation (HB 306) and DEI activities funding (SB 120), many other bills successfully moved forward in their legislative journey.