2025 Legislative Report Week 1

Photo Credits: House Media Services

Georgia General Assembly Begins 2025-2026 Legislative Session

On Monday, January 13th, the General Assembly convened for the beginning of the 2025 legislative session and a new biennium. The Georgia General Assembly operates on a two-year cycle, known as a biennium, meaning any legislation that was under consideration last year must be reintroduced this year. As well as new legislation, leadership in both chambers have the opportunity to select new chairmen and members on committees. We welcomed 22 new members to the General Assembly after the 2024 elections and look forward to working with them.

The calendar was for the year was passed this week with Sine Die, the last day of the legislative session, falling on April 4th and Crossover Day, the day all bills must pass from their chamber of origin, falls on March 6th. This week the General Assembly convened for five legislative days, finishing the week on Friday, January 16th. The chambers will not convene for any legislative days next week, providing the Joint Appropriations Committee time to go through the Governor's budget recommendations as well as agency request. They will reconvene on January 27th. For the complete calendar of the 2025 legislative session, click here. 

Photo Credits: House Media Services

State of the State 

Governor Brian Kemp addressed a joint session of the House and Senate on Thursday for his annual State of the State address. During his speech, he laid out his priorities for the upcoming legislative session which included income tax reductions, tort reform, and relief from Hurricane Helene for farmers and rural communities. Hurricane Helene, which hit Georgia in September of last year, resulted in a $5.5 billion economic impact to the agriculture and forestry industry alone. 

Governor Kemp stood firm on his promise to pass meaningful tort reform, alluding to a special session later this year if nothing is passed by day forty. He restated his package would be comprehensive and bring relief to Georgians fighting high inflation, sky rocketing insurance premiums, and small businesses constantly under the threat of frivolous lawsuits. Kemp also touted notable income tax reductions during his tenure and proposed lowering income taxes by another twenty basis points (0.2%) saving Georgians over $7.5 billion over ten years. 

Governor's Budget Review

This week Governor Kemp released his proposals for the Amended Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026. With state tax revenue projected to remain steady, Governor Kemp kept most of the budget flat and made investments in important areas like transportation, hurricane relief, corrections, and public safety. The Governor included a $1.6 billion package for water and transportation as well as $150 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts announced last year after the storm. Below, we have highlighted important budget items related to agriculture. GFB has identified important items we will work with the General Assembly to hopefully include in the budget as each chamber adds their priorities to the spending package. 

AFY25 Budget Highlights

Georgia Department of Agriculture

• $425,772 for administrative assistant, license coordinator, investigator, and equipment costs to expand the Georgia Hemp Program.
• $225,000 for five new vehicles for the Poultry Veterinary Diagnostic Labs

OneGeorgia Authority

• $28,000,000 for grants and loans for rural workforce housing
• $20,000,000 for grants for rural site development

Office of the Governor

• $150,000,000 for Hurricane Helene response expenses

FY26 Budget Highlights

Georgia Department of Agriculture

• $490,873 for administrative assistant, license coordinator, investigator, and equipment costs to expand the Georgia Hemp Program.

Capital Projects Fund

• $23,000,000 for construction of the UGA Science and Ag Hill Modernization Phase III - Poultry Science Building Renovation
• $2,100,000 for design for the UGA Science and Ag Hill Modernization, Phase IV (Biological Sciences - North Wing)

Committees on Assignments and Caucus Leaderships 

At the beginning of the new biennium both caucuses voted on new leadership. Representative Jon Burns (R-Newington) was re-elected Speaker of the House and Senator John Kennedy (R-Macon) was elected to serve as the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. All republican leadership remained the same in both chambers, but the House Democrat Caucus elected Representative Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus) to serve as the Minority Leader in the House and the Senate Democrat Caucus elected Senator Harold Jones (D-Augusta) to serve as the Minority Leader in the Senate. 

Representative Robert Dickey (R-Musella) was chosen to serve again as the Chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. Chairman Dickey is a peach farmer from Middle Georgia and their family operates Dickey Farms. Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) was chosen to serve as the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. Chairman Goodman is a blueberry farmer from South Georgia and his family operates the Great American Cobbler Company. For a complete list of the House committee members clink the link here and click here to find a list of the Senate committee members. 

GFB Priority Issues

In preparation for the upcoming legislative session, the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors set our organization's priority issues to communicate to the General Assembly what we are focusing on this year. These priorities are based off the policy set by our members every year. As a true grassroots organization, our members determine the positions we take on issues in Atlanta and Washington D.C. as we advocate for Georgia farmers. 

HR 1554 Study Committee Recommendations

During the 2024 legislative session, the House passed HR 1554 establishing the House Study Committee on Navigable Waters and Related Matters. The Study Committee was chaired by Representative Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) and attempted to better understand the complexities surrounding navigable waters. Ultimately, the committee found it is in the best interest of the General Assembly to not alter the statutory definition of navigable waters or codify a map of Georgia's rivers as was discussed last year. We were pleased with the thorough work the committee conducted over the summer, hearing from many of our members, whose concerns were reflected in the final recommendations. To read the full recommendations of the committee, follow the link here. 

New Faces at GFB Public Policy Department

GFB's Public Policy Department welcomed new staff this year with the additions of Amelia Junod and Chase McClure. Ms. Junod is Macon native and graduate of Mercer University where she earned a degree in law and public policy. She will serve as the Advocacy and Policy Development Specialist managing GFB's annual process of establishing its positions on a variety of farm-related issues, as well as working to promote the organization's stances through advocacy campaigns.

Public Policy also welcomed Chase McClure. McClure is a native of Macon and a graduate of Mississippi State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. McClure will serve as the Government Affairs Specialist working with the GFB team at the capitol in Atlanta to make the voices of agriculture heard across the state.

GFB Day at the Capitol

Mark your calendars for February 11th as we prepare for Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol. We encourage all our members to attend and take this opportunity to advocate for our state's number one industry and the farm families that are the backbone of our state. The event will begin at 9:30am in the Blue Room, and attendees will have the opportunity to hear from elected officials and leadership about the work going on this year to support agriculture. 

Action This Week

HB 14:

Reps. Carpenter, Tarvin, Crawford, and Fleming

This bill designates cornbread as the official state bread of Georgia.

Assigned to the House Committee on Special Rules 1/14/2025

HB 21:

Reps. Scott, Davis, and Schofield

The bill is intended to provide a tax credit for businesses, or other eligible retailers, that sell healthy foods in less developed areas. Taxpayers can claim a credit equal to 15% of expenses incurred for constructing, renovating, purchasing, or leasing properties to establish eligible retailers in less developed areas.

Assigned to the House Committee on Ways & Means 1/14/2025

HB 88:

Reps. Barnes, Drenner, Clark, Frye, and Burnough

This bill is intended to make biomedical technicians, which includes  animal care and veterinary technicians working in biomedical research facilities, eligible for the state student loan forgiveness program. To be eligible you must work in a county with a population fewer than 50,000 and be within five years of completing your coursework.

Assigned to the House Committee on Higher Education 1/17/2025

HB 90:

Reps. Efstration, Dickey, Hagan, and Buckner

This bill is intended to double the maximum allowed acreage in Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA) from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres. If passed, owners can qualify for multiple covenants if the total acreage does not exceed 4,000 acres.

Assigned to the House Committee on Ways & Means 1/17/2025

HB 91:

Reps. Cooper, Carpenter, Jasperse, Dickey, and Camp

This bill seeks to update veterinary licensing standards and includes provisions to license graduates of foreign veterinary schools. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, graduate from an accredited veterinary program or have equivalent certificate and pass a board-approved examination. Foreign graduates must complete a residency program of two or more years, obtain board certification in a specialty, and may only practice within that specialty.

Assigned to the House Committee on Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

HB 92:

Reps. Blackmon, Kelley, Williams, Erwin, and Washburn

This bill extends the deadline for local governments to opt-out of the base year homestead exemption from March 1, 2025, to May 1, 2025. Authorities must advertise their intent to opt out via press releases and newspaper ads, and hold at least three public hearings. 

Assigned to the House Committee on Ways & Means 1/17/2025

HR 32:

Reps. Efstration, Dickey, Hagan, and Buckner

This resolution is the enabling legislation for HB 90 and includes the ballot question for the constitutional amendment.

Assigned to the House Committee on Ways & Means 1/17/2025

SB 20:

Sens. Kirkpatrick, Summers, Payne, Anderson, and Parent

This bill would create a loan forgiveness program for veterinarians who practice shelter medicine and veterinarians who practice in nonprofit pet sterilization clinics. It would create the State Veterinary Education Board for Shelter Medicine and Pet Sterilization and establishes the program qualifications for applicants. The Board would be attached to the Georgia Department of Agriculture for administrative services.

Senate Hopper 1/16/2025

Save the Date

• GA Dairy Conference - January 20th-22nd
• Georgia Ag Forecast - January 24th
• Cotton Commission Annual Meeting - January 29th
• GA Agribusiness Council Annual Meeting - February 4th
• GA Agribusiness Council Legislative Breakfast - February 5th
• Forestry Day at the Capitol - February 10th-11th
• Georgia Farm Bureau Federation Day - February 11th
• FFA day at the Capitol - February 18th
• Field to Table: Food Prices & Inflation 2025 - February 21st
• 4-H day at the Capitol - February 25th
• Georgia Citrus Association Conference - February 25th
• FFA Blue & Gold Gala - March 15th
• GA Chamber Rural Ag Day - February 4th-5th