We’ve almost made it through the 2025 legislative session. After wrapping up three more legislative days this week, we’re down to just three left next week before Sine Die next Friday.
Here is a recap of what happened this week:
- The Senate advanced their version of the $37.7 billion state budget on Friday. You can view a full recap of the budget, including differences from the House version, here. Among the notable changes, the Senate supported Gov. Brian Kemp’s request to fully fund the Georgia Promise Scholarship program at $141 million. The House version funded the program at $45 million.
- The second major piece of tort reform legislation passed the House this week. Senate Bill 69, sponsored by Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-Macon, will regulate third-party litigation funding with the hope of limiting outside influence on trials, which includes that from foreign governments, institutional investors and predatory lending practices. The Foundation released a video on third-party litigation funding.
- Legislation that deals with the ability of local governments to opt out of the floating homestead exemption approved by voters last fall is on its way to the Governor after the House agreed with the Senate’s changes. The bill allows governments to opt back in and allows refunds of local sales taxes paid on construction materials for school capital projects, but only in school districts with homestead exemptions in place. House Bill 92 is sponsored by Rep. Shaw Blackmon, R-Bonaire.
- HB 880, also sponsored by Rep. Blackmon, would establish a Taxpayers Relief Fund, which is used to supplement revenue to gradually reduce income tax rates and other forms of tax relief. The bill would also decrease the lowest rate possible for individual and corporate income tax from 4.99% to 3.99%. The Taxpayers Relief Fund has been used in Iowa, which has gone from being ranked 44th for its tax climate to 20th
- The House adopted legislation that will create new criminal offenses for fraudulent election interference and the solicitation of such offenses, particularly involving the use of AI-generated deceptive media. The bill also requires clear disclaimers on campaign ads using AI. SB 9, the Ensuring Accountability for Illegal AI Activities Act, is sponsored by Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell.
- The House Education Committee advanced legislation intended to encourage and incentivize local boards of education to approve new charter schools. SB 82, known as the Local Charter School Authorization and Support Act of 2025, is sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Buford.
- The House passed SB 123, sponsored by Sen. Kennedy, which amends state law to ensure that no student is expelled solely due to absenteeism and to address chronic absenteeism in Georgia schools.
- Legislation to prohibit the use of cell phones by students through eighth grade passed the Senate. HB 340, known as the Distraction-Free Education Act, is sponsored by Rep. Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners.
- Legislation to establish a three-year pilot immersive writing program for public elementary schools advanced in the Senate Education Committee. HB 200 is sponsored by Rep. Debra Bazemore, D-South Fulton.
The legislature will return on Monday for Legislative Day 38.
