Legislative Report Week 5
Legislative Report Week 5
February 14, 2025
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Photo Credits: House Media Services |
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This week the Georgia General Assembly convened for legislative days 14-17 beginning the week on Monday, February 10th, and wrapping up on Thursday, February 13th. Committee meetings are filling the calendar as legislation is considered and debated amongst members. With so many bills having been introduced, the legislature will be working hard as Crossover Day looms in the coming weeks.
All week long the halls of the Capitol were buzzing with friends from across rural Georgia. On Monday, we celebrated 85 years of electric membership cooperatives at Georgia EMC Day at the Capitol. Tuesday evening and Wednesday, we celebrated Georgia Forestry Day at the Capitol and Wednesday we were joined by our friends at the Georgia Young Farmers Association. It is always encouraging to see our partners advocating for their industries and to see our rural communities from across the state spend time under the gold dome.
The General Assembly will observe Presidents' Day on Monday and reconvene on Tuesday, February 18th, for legislative day 18. |
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Photo Credits: Governor Brian P. Kemp Official X account |
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Tuesday, February 11th, Georgia Farm Bureau hosted the annual GFB Day at the Capitol. This event is a highlight of the legislative session for our organization as we fill the halls with members, engage with our elected officials about issues facing our industry, and learn about policies that are being consider this year. There is no better event that showcases our organization's grassroots membership than GFB Day at the Capitol.
We were fortunate to hear from many distinguished guests throughout the day starting our morning with Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Chairman Russ Goodman and House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Chairman Robert Dickey. The chairmen briefed our group on proposals being considered and the importance of letting legislators know how those proposals would affect farm families. After spending the morning at the Capitol, members gathered at the Freight Depot for lunch and to hear from Governor Brain Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr, Speaker Jon Burns, and Commissioner Tyler Harper. It was encouraging to see the unwavering support from our speakers to provide relief from the devastation of Hurricane Helene which was a common topic of all our guest.
We want to say thank you to the over 600 members who traveled to Atlanta and spent the day advocating for agriculture. The strength of our organization lies within our membership, and that was on full display Tuesday. |
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Hurricane Relief Bill Passes Committee On Thursday morning, the House Ways and Means Committee met to consider HB 223 by Representative James Burchett (R-Waycross). This bill includes the income tax exemption for federal agricultural disaster assistance for Hurricane Helene, the reforestation tax credit, and the sales tax exemption for the rebuilding and repairing of poultry houses and livestock barns.
Representative Burchett brought a committee substitute for the bill which also added crop insurance payments to the income tax exemption and added greenhouses to the eligible structures qualified for the sales tax exemption. Representative Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe) amended the substitute language to include a provision which would allow contractors preforming the rebuild or repair of poultry houses, livestock barns, or greenhouses to take advantage of the sales tax exemption as long as the farmer qualifies.
HB 223 passed out of committee with unanimous support and now heads to the Rules Committee awaiting it's time to be called to the House floor for a vote by the whole body. |
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On Monday afternoon, the Senate Judiciary Committee met to consider SB 68 and SB 69 by Senator John Kennedy (R-Macon). These bills make up the comprehensive tort reform package championed by Governor Brian Kemp. After many hours of debate, SB 68 passed with an 8-3 vote and SB 69 passed with a 10-1 vote.
GFB is proud to support both these measures. For more information on the tort reform legislative package and to engage with your elected officials on the issue, click the button below. We encourage all GFB members to contact your senator by calling, texting, or sending an email through the Action Alert center. Legislators need to hear from you on this issue and why it is important to farmers, farm families, and rural communities. |
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Ag Water Metering Bill Passes Committee On Thursday morning, the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee considered HB 143 by Representative Robert Dickey (R-Musella). This bill is comprised of recommendations from the Environmental Protection Division, EPD, to help reduce the burden of metering on farmers, save farmers money, and give EPD the ability to more efficiently monitor the agricultural water usage across the state.
This bill was favorable reported by both the subcommittee earlier in the week and the full committee on Thursday. The bill was amended to allow EPD to perform maintenance to meters with trained and qualified staff or a contractor. It will move on to the Rules Committee where it waits to be considered by the full House chamber. |
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State Economist Presents to House Committee On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin), met to hear from Dr. Robert Buschman, the State Economist. Typically, Dr. Buschman delivers a presentation to the Joint Appropriations Committee, but this annual address had to be rescheduled. Dr. Buchman echoed Governor Kemp's confidence in our state's budget and the fiscally conservative approach he has took during his two terms in leadership.
Coming off multiple years of robust increased tax revenue, due to high inflation, state revenues are stabilizing with limited growth expected in the coming years. With flat revenues and the anticipation that the legislature will enact income tax cuts, the state is keeping the Fiscal Year 2026 budget flat. Georgia is showing signs of a strong economy with a steady growing GDP and unemployment all the way down to 3.7%, lower than the 4% nationally average. Inflation remains slightly higher than desired, however. Three subcategories of inflation are considered when examining inflation: goods, shelter, and services. Goods inflation has been negative or close to zero, but shelter and service inflation remains high, keeping inflation around 2.5%. Georgia's economy thrives off a robust export market with the coastal ports. Port growth has averaged 8.5% year over year, but this makes Georgia's economy susceptible to effects of international trade policy which is receiving a lot of attention right now under the new Trump administration. |
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As previously discussed, there are multiple bills that would help strengthen the conservation use value assessment program, CUVA. In the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, Senator Sam Watson (R-Moultrie) presented SB 45 and SR 56 which would increase the acreage cap from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres. He also presented SB 59 which would allow certain entities to lease land that is enrolled in CUVA without breaching the covenant. All three pieces of legislation received favorable consideration and will move on to the Rules Committee to wait to be voted on by the full Senate chamber.
Also on Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee met to consider HB 90 and HR 32 by Representative Chuck Efstration (R-Mulberry) which would increase the acreage cap for CUVA from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres. The bill received unanimous support from the committee and moves onto the Rules Committee where it waits to be considered by the full House chamber. |
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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. Passed House Ways & Means Committee (02/12/2025)
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 an 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. Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/12/2025)
Reps. Hong, Gambill, McDonald III, Wade, Williamson, and others This bill intends to reduce the individual income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19% for taxable years beginning in January, 2025. Starting in 2026 the tax rate will be reduced 0.10% annually until it reaches 4.99%, if certain economic metrics are met as to safeguard the state economy. Passed House Ways & Means Committee (02/12/2025)
Reps. McDonald III, Hong, Gambill, Wade, Powell, and others This bill creates a one-time tax credit for any taxpayer who filed for an income tax return in 2023 and 2024. The amount would be $250 for single or married filing separate, $375 for a head of household, and $500 for married filing joint. Passed House Ways & Means Committee (02/12/2025)
Reps. McDonald III, Hong, Gambill, Wade, Powell, and others This bill intends to prohibit the state and its agencies from purchasing certain items from China. This bill provides language to determine what items will be prohibited and gives power to the Technology Authority. Passed House Governmental Affairs Committee (02/13/2025)
Reps. Petrea, Williams, Townsend, DeLoach, and Franklin This bill requires all food service establishments to disclose if shrimp is imported from a foreign country sold at the restaurant. Foreign imported shrimp must be clearly displayed on the menu or a placard. Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/12/2025)
Reps. Dickey, Smith, Yearta, Greene, Cannon, and others This bill will return the responsibility of ag water metering to the State where an amendment, transfer, modification, or assignment is effective on or after April 20, 2018. It will remove the responsibility that farmers install sufficient infrastructure for the installation of state funded meters, following EPD's attempt of a meter installation and its determination of insufficient infrastructure. It will authorize EPD staff to undertake maintenance and new meter installation in specific cases. Passed House Natural Resources & the Environment Committee (02/13/2025)
Reps. Ridley, Ridley, Hagan, Carpenter, Cox, and others This bill intends to require food service establishments to disclose if any food product offered contains cell-cultured meat, plant-based meat alternatives, or both. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/12/2025)
Reps. Huddleston, Efstration, Dickey, Frye, and Ford This bill enhances the Veterinary Loan Repayment Program for veterinarians practicing food animal medicine in rural communities. Participants would qualify for a reimbursement that paid $22,500 per year for four years if selected. Passed House Higher Education Committee by Substitute (2/13/2025)
Reps. Gambill, McDonald III, Hong, Dubnik, and Wade This bill intends to enhance Georgia's education laws and enhance the connection between Georgia's secondary and post-secondary institutions. This bill includes updates to the High-Demand Career List, creates new industry-aligned education programs in collaboration with the TCSG and the USG, expands funding for dual-enrollment and CTAE courses, and expands transferability of credits between the university systems in the state. Assigned to House Education Committee (02/11/2025)
Reps. Burchett, Efstration, Hong, Gambill, and others This bill intends to provide relief for hurricane Helene by exempting federal disaster relief payments for agricultural losses from state income tax, providing a tax credit for eligible timber losses at $400 per acre, and exempting building materials used for repairing poultry and livestock barns or greenhouses from sales tax. Passed House Ways & Means Committee (02/13/2025)
Reps. Camp, Hagan, Gullett, Cameron, New and Others This bill intends to make it unlawful for any person to engage in the transfer of any dog, cat, or domestic rabbit at any roadside, public right of way, parkway, median, public or commercial parking lot or sidewalk, park, recreation area, fair, transient or seasonal flea market, or a similar transient market or outdoor location, regardless of whether such activity is otherwise authorized by any person or entity. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/11/2025)
Reps. Smith, Huddleston, Buckner, and Jenkins This bill adds the definition of 'military instillation' to the ban on foreign possessory interests of certain land. Assigned to House Regulated Industries Committee (02/12/2025)
Reps. Sharper, Hitchens, LaHood, Baker, Cummings, and others This bill adds lighting requirements for vehicles participating in the sale of food or beverages primarily at stops along the road. Four hooded flasher lights, an extendable arm that reads "caution", and a sign on the back that warns of frequent stops. Assigned to House Motor Vehicles Committee (02/12/2025)
Reps. Momtahan, Cannon, Gullett, Earhart, and Bullard This bill authorizes local governing bodies to establish housing management databases to identify foreign ownership. Assigned to House Governmental Affairs Committee (02/12/2025)
Reps. Hagan, Gaines, Dempsey, Camp, Prince, and others This bill intends to allow the sell of non-potentially hazardous food or nonalcoholic beverage intended for human consumption that is produced and packaged at the residential property of the producer. This does not include alcoholic beverages, foods containing cannabis, or raw milk. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/13/2025)
Reps. Gilliard, Crawford, Holly, Tran, Schofield, and others This bill creates a tax credit for doing business with Georgia grown hemp producers and suppliers. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee (02/13/2025)
Reps. Jenkins, Huddleston, Campbell, Ridley, and Byrd This bill intends to prohibit local ordinances that prohibit mobile sawmills on agricultural land and define all the waste from the mobile sawmills as agricultural products. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/13/2025)
Reps. Meeks, Dickey, Burchett, Wade, McDonald III, and others This bill will absolve a chemical manufacturer of liability if the product meets FIFRA standards set forth by the United States EPA, meaning a manufacturer cannot be sued so long as the product meets labeling requirements set forth by the governing body. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/13/2025)
Reps. Kelley, Rhodes, Cannon, Dunahoo, Chastain, and others This bill creates a Georgia Turkey Stamp which will be required, alongside a valid hunting license, to harvest turkey in the state and will cost residents $10 and nonresidents $100. Assigned House Game, Fish, & Parks Committee (02/13/2025)
Reps. Reese, Green, Smith, Gullett, and Olaleye This bill creates a 45 day waiting period for the processing of a deed, mortgage, or lien if someone other than the owner or deed holder on record submits the document. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee (02/13/2025)
Reps. Efstration, Dickey, Hagan, and Buckner This resolution is the enabling legislation for HB 90 and includes the ballot question for the constitutional amendment. Passed House Committee on Ways & Means (02/12/2025)
Reps. Gambill, Hong, McDonald III, Wade, Blackmon, and others This resolution ratifies Governor Kemp's executive order suspending the collection of motor fuel and diesel fuel taxes. Passed House Ways & Means Committee (02/12/2025)
Sens. Hatchett, Gooch, Anavitarte, and Robertson This bill is intended to help stop metal theft by tightening the regulations and punishments of theft. Only registered secondary metal recyclers can buy or advertise for used catalytic converters. Anyone possessing, selling, or transporting detached converters must have proper documentation and if the offender does not have proper documentation then each detached converter is a separate offense. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee by Substitute (2/14/2025)
Sens. Watson, Hickman, Goodman, Anderson, and Kennedy This bill intends to expand the maximum number of acres allowed in a CUVA covenant from 2,000 to 4,000 acres. Passed Senate Finance Committee on (02/13/2025)
Sens. Goodman, Kennedy, Tillery, Gooch, Jones II, and others The Timberlands Recovery, Exemption and Earning Stability Act intends to provide timer owners a tax relief from Hurricane Helene. This tax relief applies to counties in the FEMA designated disaster area and aims to waive the severance tax for the final quarter of 2024 and all four quarters of 2025. Landowners automatically qualify, there is no application. Local governments would be eligible for compensatory state grants equal to the historic three-year average of the severance tax collected in that county. Passed Senate Finance Committee on (02/13/2025)
Sens. Watson, Hickman, Goodman, Anderson, Summer, and others This bill seeks to remove restrictions on certain leased properties that were previously disqualified from entering a CUVA covenant. The leasing entity must be owned by a US citizen, the primary purpose of the land use must be agricultural, 80% of the entity's gross income must come from bona fide conservation use, and one member must own at least 25% ownership in the property for the leased property to remain eligible. Passed Senate Finance Committee on (02/13/2025)
Sens. Kennedy, Gooch, Robertson, Anivatarte, Walker III, and others This bill is part of the Governor's tort reform package. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee (02/12/2025)
Sens. Kennedy, Gooch, Robertson, Anavitarte, Hatchett, and others This bill is the second bill in the Governor's tort reform package. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee (02/12/2025)
Sens. Robertson, Payne, Hufstetler, Williams, Albers, and others This bill intends to ban cock and dog fighting as well as provide punishment for exposing those activities to a minor. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee (02/12/2025)
Sens. Watson, Gooch, Kennedy, Beach, Goodman, and others This bill will absolve a chemical manufacturer of liability if the product meets FIFRA standards set forth by the United States EPA, meaning a manufacturer cannot be sued so long as the product meets labeling requirements set forth by the governing body. Assigned to Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/12/2025)
Sens. Watson, Hickman, Goodman, Anderson, and Kennedy This is the constitutional amendment and statewide ballot question for SB 45. Passed Senate Finance Committee on (02/13/2025) |
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To stay updated on all the bills GFB is tracking, check out our newly updated bill tracker under the Action Center on the Georgia Farm Bureau website. There you will be able to find all the bills that we are following, a summary of the bill, the bill sponsors, and the most recent action. Click the button below to be redirected to our bill tracker. |
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Thank you for taking an active role in staying up-to-date and informed on the developments at our State Capitol. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to any of our Public Policy Department Staff and we will be happy to assist you. Alex Bradford, Director Adam Belflower, State Affairs Manager Raynor Churchwell, Agricultural Programs Manager Renee Jones, Operations Coordinator Amelia Junod, Advocacy and Policy Development Specialist Chase McClure, Governmental Affairs Specilaist Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator Jeremy Taylor, Agricultural Programs Specialist |