Legislative Report Week 9
Legislative Report Week 9
March 14, 2025
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This week the General Assembly convened for 3 legislative days and 1 committee workday, beginning on Monday, March 10th, and concluding the week on Thursday, March 13th. This was the first week after Crossover Day, and both the House and Senate began considering legislation that came from the opposing chamber. With only 9 legislative days left in this year's session, the General Assembly will be working hard to get bills through committee.
Next week, the General Assembly will convene on Tuesday, March 18th for legislative days 32-34. |
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Photo Credits: House Media Services |
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Crop Protection Bill Heads to the Governor's Desk On Thursday, SB 144 by Senator Sam Watson (R-Moultrie) was presented on the House floor by Representative Steven Meeks (R-Screven). This bill protects farmers access to critical crop production tools by reenforcing that manufacturers adequately fulfill their responsibilities as long as they comply with EPA's labeling requirements for registered products.
This bill passed out of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee on Tuesday and passed the full House chamber with bipartisan support, 101-58. We appreciate our friends in the General Assembly who stood alongside the agriculture community on this issue and supported farmers. This bill will now head to Governor Brain Kemp's desk for his approval.
We would like to say a special thank you to Senator Sam Watson and Representative Steven Meeks for carrying this legislation as well as Chairman Robert Dickey (R-Musella) and Chairman Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) for their leadership getting this bill through the committee process. |
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Tort Reform Press Conference Highlights Ag Community Support On Thursday morning, small business owners and industry associations took a stand to highlight the need for meaningful tort reform in Georgia. Leaders from around the state and across all different industries in the business community stood together to urge the General Assembly to act on SB 68 and SB 69 and support Governor Brian Kemp's proposals.
Russ Wilburn, President of Barrow County Farm Bureau and member of the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors, highlighted the need for tort reform for the agricultural community. We appreciate Russ and other Barrow County Farm Bureau members taking the time to attend the press conference. The General Assembly needs to hear from farmers about the importance of this issue to rural communities and agriculture.
We encourage all members to utilize the action alert below to engage with your House members on tort reform. The bill is under consideration in the House Rules Subcommittee on Lawsuit Reform. Click the button below to engage. |
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Hurricane Helene Relief Bill Passes Senate Committee On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee met to consider HB 223 by Representative James Burchett (R-Waycross). This bill is the Governor's Hurricane Helene Relief Package that includes tax relief and a local grant for rural communities. A committee substitute was introduced that includes the language from SB 52 by Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell).
The bill will exempt all agricultural disaster payments for Hurricane Helene from the state income tax, exempt related crop insurance payments from income tax for taxable year 2025, provide a reforestation tax credit for up to $550 per acre for trees used in the production of food or wood, and expand the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption program until the end of 2025 to include building materials for poultry houses, livestock barns, and greenhouses. Additionally, the language from SB 52 will allow counties within the FEMA declared disaster area to receive a grant for the previous three year average of harvest tax revenue as long as foresters in that county were exempt from paying harvest tax the final quarter of 2024 and all 2025.
HB 223 received strong support from committee and will now awaits consideration by the full Senate chamber. |
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Photo Credits: House Media Services |
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On Tuesday, the House considered HB 68 by Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington). This bill is the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and was presented by Representative Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin) who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. The FY26 budget was full of items to help support the progress of the agriculture industry with key investments in the Georgia Department of Agriculture, agricultural education and research, and other important areas. Below, is a list of highlights from the House version of the FY26 budget.
Georgia Department of Agriculture
Department of Natural Resources
University System of Georgia Board of Regents
Department of Education (Agricultural Education)
State Forestry Commission
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On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee considered HB 90 and HR 32 by Representative Chuck Efstration (R-Mulberry). This bill, along with the constitutional amendment, would increase the acreage cap within the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment program, CUVA, from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres.
The bill passed committee with strong support and will now wait to be considered by the full Senate chamber. We appreciate Representative Efstration's work on this important issue and keeping CUVA most suitable for Georgia's producers. |
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Truck Weights Passes Senate Committee On Wednesday, the Senate Transportation Committee met to consider HB 164 by Representative Steven Meeks (R-Screven). This bill would remove the sunset provision from HB 189 (2023) and permanently raise the gross vehicle weight for trucks hauling agriculture and forest products to 88,000 pounds. Every neighboring state to Georgia can haul at least 88,000 pounds for agriculture and forest products, so this levels the playing field for producers in Georgia.
HB 164 passed committee with strong support and now waits to be considered by the full Senate 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 and Passed Senate Finance Committee (03/11/2025)
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, to safeguard the state economy. Passed House and Passed Senate Finance Committee (03/13/2025)
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 separately, $375 for a head of household, and $500 for married filing jointly. Passed House and Passed Senate Finance Committee (03/13/2025)
Reps. Cannon, Burchett, Dickey, Corbett, Huddleston, and others This bill seeks to remove restrictions on certain leased properties that were previously disqualified from entering into 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% stake In the property for the leased property to remain eligible. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Finance Committee (03/06/2025)
Reps. Meeks, Hagan, Buckner, Dickey, Cannon, and others This bill removes the sunset on the truck weights legislation passed in 2023. It will make the 10% weight variance agriculture and forest products permanent, raising the gross vehicle weight to 88,000 pounds. Passed House and Passed by Senate Transportation Committee (03/12/2025)
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 $30,000 per year for three years if selected. Passed House and Passed Senate Higher Education Committee (03/11/2025)
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 and crop insurance payments for Huricane Helene received in 2025 from state income tax, providing a tax credit for eligible losses of trees used to produce wood or food at $550 per acre, and exempting building materials used for repairing poultry houses, livestock barns or greenhouses from sales tax. This bill also now includes the language from SB 52, the TREES Act. Passed House and Passed Senate Finance Committee by Substitute (03/11//2025)
Reps. Anderson, Rhodes, Meeks, Williams, Huddleston, and others This bill makes some changes to the definition of an "multi-purpose off highway vehicle" and removes the ad valorem tax on said vehicles starting on January 1st, 2025. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Finance Committee (03/06/2025)
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. Passed House and Passed Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (03/13/2025)
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. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee (03/06/2025)
Reps. Hagan, Gaines, Dempsey, Camp, Prince, and Reeves This bill intends to allow the sell of non-potentially hazardous food or nonalcoholic beverage, under a cottage food license, 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. Passed House and Passed Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (03/13/2025)
Reps. Lumsden, Blackmon, Williams, Burchett, Hatchett, and others This bill would create "catastrophe savings" provides deductions from taxable income for contributions by a taxpayer to a catastrophe savings account. Passed House and Passed Senate Finance Committee (03/13/2025)
Reps. Jones, Thomas, and Martin This bill would give local governments the ability to adopt ordinances prohibiting the use of fireworks within 100 yards of an equine facility. Passed House and Passed Senate State & Local Governmental Operations Committee (03/13/2025)
Reps. Efstration, Dickey, Hagan, and Buckner This resolution is the enabling legislation for HB 90 and includes the ballot question for the constitutional amendment. HB 90 would 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 and Passed Senate Finance Committee (03/11/2025)
Reps. Gambill, Hong, McDonald III, Wade, Blackmon, and others This resolution ratifies Governor Kemp's executive order suspending the collection of the motor fuel and diesel fuel taxes. Passed House and Passed Senate Finance Committee (03/11/2025)
Sens. Anivitarte, Watson, Goodman, Echols, Hatchett and others This bill allows licensed practicing veterinarians to provide consultations using telecommunications. To provide telemedicine the veterinarian must be licensed in Georgia and meet all requirements provided in this bill. Passed Senate and Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (03/11/2025)
Sens. Watson, Gooch, Kennedy, Beach, Goodman, and others This bill reinforces that if a manufacturer of pesticides have complied with all federal law and EPA regulation, they have fulfilled their duty to warn the consumer. This bill will protect farmers' access to crop protection tools. Passed Senate and Passed House (03/13/2025) |
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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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Save the Date Southeast Green - June 10-12 |
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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 Specialist Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator |