ATL Standard

A number of legislative proposals have moved through the Georgia General Assembly with varying degrees of success, as outlined in a recent report. Several bills focus on tax reforms, economic incentives, and infrastructure, alongside a range of initiatives aimed at talent development and community programs.

Among those awaiting the governor's signature are:

- HB 111, introduced by Rep. Soo Hong, aims to reduce the individual income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%, with potential further cuts to 4.99% by 2027.

- HB 112 from Rep. Lauren McDonald proposes a one-time tax refund of $250 for individual taxpayers who filed returns for both 2023 and 2024.

- SB 68 and SB 69, both under Sen. John F. Kennedy's sponsorship, touch on civil practice rules and third-party litigation financing regulations.

Other bills that successfully passed and have been signed by the governor include HB 67, led by Speaker Jon Burns, which amends the budget for the 2025 fiscal year with notable allocations, such as $863 million for Hurricane Helene relief.

On the infrastructure side, HB 164 by Rep. Steven Meeks, awaiting the governor's signature, looks to remove sunset clauses on weight limit exceptions for certain trucks.

Efforts in education and talent development see HB 38, promoted by Rep. Chuck Martin, potentially expanding College Completion Grants, and HB 68, also by Speaker Jon Burns, enhancing funding for the Childcare and Parent Services program. Both bills await gubernatorial approval.

Attempts to initiate new measures in community enrichment faced challenges, as evident in bills like HB 14 by Rep. Kasey Carpenter, which proposed establishing a statewide Music Business Office but did not pass.

On the regulatory front, SB 36, sponsored by Sen. Ed Setzler, has been signed, adopting the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into Georgia law. However, SB 57 and SB 111, concerning protections against discrimination by service providers and consumer data protection, respectively, did not succeed.

Proposals to legalize sports betting through constitutional amendments, such as HR 450 by Rep. Marcus Wiedower and SR 131 by Sen. Carden Summers, failed to gain traction this session.

The wide-ranging initiatives underscore the diverse priorities of the Georgia General Assembly, with economic concessions, educational improvements, and infrastructure investments prominent on the legislative agenda.