The last remnants of Friday’s snowfall linger on the State Capitol grounds on Monday morning.
As the last remnants of Friday’s snowfall melted away on Monday, a flurry of activity filled the Georgia State Capitol with the convening of the 2025 Legislative Session. Hallways were filled with the families of newly-elected legislators and the fresh faces of lawmakers and lobbyists not yet frazzled by what is certain to be a frantic session ahead. At least everyone knows what they are getting into with the surprise adoption of the complete 40-day session schedule on Legislative Day 1, and we all circled April 4 for the already-anticipated adjournment Sine Die. You can count on the #GoldDomeReport to be here for you through the 39 legislative days that remain.
The House and Senate focused on the perfunctory business of a new legislative session on Monday, swearing in new members, electing leadership, and adopting resolutions informing each other that the opposite chamber had convened. Both chambers also adopted resolutions inviting Governor Brian Kemp to appear before a joint session on Thursday and deliver his State of the State address. But perhaps most interestingly, the House adopted several new rules for the session, including a longer period for morning orders (15 minutes) and a limit on the number of bills any member may introduce (10 per year). We expect some of the most prolific legislators to be dismayed by the restriction.
In this Report:
- Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker Announce Education and School Safety Priorities
- Legislature Adopts Calendar, Sets Sine Die for April 4
- What’s Next
Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker Announce Education and School Safety Priorities
In a late-afternoon press conference, Governor Kemp was joined by Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Speaker of the House Jon Burns, and members of the General Assembly as he announced his education and school safety priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session. After highlighting his leadership in increasing education funding during his tenure, totaling $3.7 billion in new, ongoing appropriations since taking office, Kemp declared that his budget proposal will include full funding of the Quality Basic Education formula for the sixth straight year. He also announced an additional $10.3 million proposed appropriation for pupil transportation.
School safety is also top of mind for the governor and legislative leaders. Kemp announced an additional $50 million in one-time school safety grants included in his Amended FY25 spending proposal. This funding is in addition to the school safety grants that were annualized during last year’s session and will provide a total of $68,760 per school this year for school safety improvements. Kemp also voiced support for funding a lower student-to-school psychologist ratio and crisis training for school employees.
Lt. Governor Jones echoed support for Governor Kemp’s proposal and also noted that the Senate will again take up “Alyssa’s Law”, which would require local schools to implement mobile panic alert systems like that employed at Apalachee High School. In addition to endorsing Governor Kemp’s proposals, Speaker Burns also revisited his recent proposals to dedicate school safety camera fine revenue to school safety purposes and require participation in a student information sharing system that would allow schools and local authorities to access student mental health and discipline information when students transfer between school districts.
Governor Kemp’s full package of educational proposals is available here.
Legislature Adopts Calendar, Sets Sine Die for April 4
Continuing a new tradition celebrated by lawmakers and lobbyists under the Gold Dome — House and Senate leaders agreed to a schedule for the entire legislature session on Monday. The General Assembly will spread its 40-day session over three months, with Crossover Day set for Thursday, March 6, and adjournment Sine Die slated for Friday, April 4. The complete schedule is as follows:
What’s Next
The General Assembly will reconvene for Legislative Day 2 on Tuesday, January 14 at 11 a.m.
