Gold Dome Report - Legislative Day 32 - March 2025

While we spend much of our time watching bills and budgets under the Gold Dome, lawmakers and elected officials spend much of their time honoring constituents and other notable figures. The honors covered the spectrum on Tuesday. On the North Steps, the portraits of 14 Georgians inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame were unveiled in a solemn ceremony attended by family and friends. Inductees are selected for valor, military achievement, or community service, and their portraits hang on the first floor of the Georgia State Capitol. Meanwhile, the Senate vigorously debated but ultimately adopted symbolic resolutions commending President Donald Trump and Secretary of Veteran Affairs Doug Collins. No portraits were hung, but a giant debt/D.O.G.E. clock was displayed.

Let’s get back to business with the bills and budgets in this #GoldDomeReport.

In this Report:

• Floor Action
• Committee Notes
• New Legislation
• What’s Next

Floor Action

The House took up the following measures on Legislative Day 32:

• SB 6 - Controlled Substances; determine whether a controlled substance has been adulterated; authorize the use of testing equipment (Hth-Cooper-45th) Kirkpatrick-32nd - PASSED 170-0
• SB 35 - Property Insurance Policies; notice required to be given a policyholder before the nonrenewal of his or her homeowners' insurance policy; increase the number of days (Ins-Gambill-15th) Walker III-20th - PASSED 168-0
• SB 55 - "Dignity and Pay Act"; enact (I&L-Cooper-45th) Hickman-4th - PASSED 163-2
• SB 88 - Douglas Judicial Circuit; a fourth judge of the superior courts; provide (Judy-New-40th) Bearden-30th - PASSED 171-0
• SB 109 - Life Insurance; a policy of group life insurance from excluding or restricting liability for certain deaths occurring while an individual is an active duty service member; prohibit (Ins-Lumsden-12th) Harbison-15th - PASSED 172-0
• SB 145 - Augusta Judicial Circuit; a sixth judge of the superior courts; provide (Judy-Newton-127th) Burns-23rd - PASSED 172-0
• SB 276 - Recovery of Medical Assistance from Third Party; certain provisions to comply with federal law; revise (Ins-Gambill-15th) Echols-49th - PASSED 168-2

The Senate took up the following measures on Legislative Day 32:

• HB 89 - Public Health, Department of; require healthcare providers, facilities, and pharmacies to provide the Maternal Mortality Review Committee with psychiatric or other clinical records (H&HS-50th) Cooper-45th - PASSED 50-1
• HB 223 - Revenue and taxation; exclude from the calculation of taxable net income certain disaster relief or assistance grant program payments for agricultural losses suffered due to Hurricane Helene (Substitute) (FIN8th) Burchett-176th - PASSED 50-1
• HB 90 - Revenue and taxation; increase maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property (FIN11th) Efstration-104th - PASSED 47-3
• HR 32 - General Assembly; increase maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property - CA (FIN-11th) Efstration-104th - ADOPTED 50-1
• SR 148 - Taiwan; recognize (Substitute) (RULES-33rd) - ADOPTED 47-5
• SR 245 - Collins, Doug; commend (VM&HS-51st) - ADOPTED 37-10
• SR 246 - President Donald J. Trump; commend (RULES-51st) - ADOPTED 31-18

Committee Notes

Senate Appropriations Committee - Health and Human Development Subcommittee

In an early morning discussion, Chairman Ben Watson (R-Savannah) hosted a Health and Human Development Subcommittee meeting. He began today’s discussions by reading a memorandum issued by Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Blake Tillery’s (R-Vidalia), instructions that agencies needed to propose 1%reductions to their budgets. Chairman Tillery has been challenged, in part, by actions taken by the House on the FY 2026 Budget (HB 68) by moving some cash items to bonds in an effort to allow for more items to be funded that had been brought forward. After reading the memorandum, the subcommittee heard from these agencies:

• Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
• Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Department of Community Health
• BoardsGeorgia Composite Medical Board
• Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
• Department of Human Services
• Council on Aging
• Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
• Department of Public Health
• Department of Veterans Services

Few questions were raised. However, the NOW and COMP disability waivers received the most discussion. They questioned the capability of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to issue more of these waivers (many individuals remain on the state’s planning list for these services). Department of Community Health Commissioner Russel Carlson complimented the provider rate study which the House included in its recommendations ($1 million in funding attached). During the discussion by Commissioner Candice Broce, with the Department of Human Services, she was asked about the status of the Kenny A Consent Decree which the department has been under since 2005. Broce indicated that the state has made strides to address the services and filed a motion to exit the decree last fall. She further noted that the state had spent $43 million to defend the action and of that $17 million was expended in legal fees.

Senate Children and Families Committee

Chairman Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta) and the Children and Families Committee took up the following measures:

• SR 310, authored by Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta), creates a Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care. This study in part will look at foster care youth who receive a high school diploma as a 2021 study found that among 21-year-olds only 79% had received a high school diploma whereas their peers in the general population had 92% receiving diplomas. This study will be conducted by five members of the Senate and will stand abolished on December 1, 2025. This Resolution received a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the Senate Rules Committee.
• HB 253, authored by Representative David Clark (R-Buford), is to be known as “Ethan’s Law.” it amends Titles 15 and 19 to provide limitations on ordering a child to be sent to a family reunification program. The substitute considered today eliminated the juvenile courts. The substitute to the proposal received a DO PASS recommendation (no additional testimony was allowed today). Senator Chuck Payne (R-Dalton) will carry the measure forward in the Senate.
• HB 340, authored by Representative Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), is the legislation eliminating cell phone use from “bell to bell” in K-8 schools in O.C.G.A. 20-2-324.8. This legislation does not address cell phones used by students in high schools. There is an exception in the legislation for students who have an IEP that requires such personal electronic devices. This will be known as the “Distraction-Free Education Act.” Margaret Cicarelli, from PAGE, spoke in support of the measure on behalf of the teachers in her organization. Michael O’Sullivan also rose in support of the measure nothing that schools should be places of learning. Miranda Williams with ExcelinEd in Action also supported the measure as it protects and preserves instruction time. 19 other states have legislation or rules on cell phone use. This measure allows districts to decide how to implement those systems and will determine how to implement appropriate monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance. Representative Hilton noted that he had conversations with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget and was given a “green light” that the School Safety Grants could be used by systems to lock up these devices (there are three such companies making locking devices and an additional free App that can be used). The committee gave this legislation a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the Senate Rules Committee. Senator Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) will carry the effort forward in the Senate.
• HB 433, authored by Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton), is the Department of Human Services legislation, written into O.C.G.A. 35-3-37, to allow the Department and its Division of Family and Children’s Services access to criminal records in the GCIC. Presently other states can access all records but the state of Georgia cannot fully access records from GCIC. The legislation received a DO PASS recommendation, moving the bill forward to the Senate Rules Committee. Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta) will carry the legislation in the Senate.
• HB 677, authored by Representative Katie Dempsey (R-Rome), is the legislation addressing placement procedures when youth are left at psychiatric residential treatment facilities and psychiatric hospitals. This Title 31 effort was on the agenda but was pulled as the substitute for the initiative was not ready.

House Education Committee

The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Chris Erwin (R-Homer), met on Tuesday afternoon to consider the following measures:

• SB 17, authored by Senator Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas), amends Titles 20 and 38 to require Georgia schools to implement a panic alert system and detailed school mapping data to enhance emergency response coordination. Specifically, the legislation mandates that by July 1, 2026, all public and private schools in Georgia must implement a mobile panic alert system, known as "Alyssa's Alert," to facilitate real-time coordination between various state and local first responder agencies during school security emergencies. This system is required to integrate with existing emergency services technologies, including Next Generation 9-1-1, and must be compatible with school mapping data. Schools are also required to procure detailed school mapping data, which includes building information, floor plans, and aerial imagery, to assist emergency responders. The legislation provides immunity from civil liability for schools and related entities concerning the creation and use of school mapping data, except in cases of gross negligence or bad faith.

Senator Anavitarte presented the bill to the committee. Representative Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville) asked why private schools are included in the mandate, to which Senator Anavitarte noted that it is important to have consistency across all types of schools to protect Georgia children. Senator Anavitarted confirmed that an amendment to remove private schools would not be viewed as friendly. In response to a question from Representative Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper), Senator Anavitarte confirmed that the bill also does not limit the vendors who can provide solutions to meet the bill’s requirements. Representative Sandy Donatucci (R-Buford) also expressed concern about the costs to private schools, and Representative Brent Cox (R-Dawsonville) asked how much is being budgeted for K-12 school safety by the State.

Representative Dubnik offered an amendment to remove all references and requirements on private schools in the bill. A representative of GEMA spoke against the memo, testifying that consistency across all types of schools is important and it can be as inexpensive as $3,500 for schools to comply. Representative Dubnik, noting that he is a trustee on a private school board, responded that it costs “exponentially more” to fund these safety systems. The amendment was adopted, and the Committee recommended the bill DO PASS by Committee Substitute and be sent to the Rules Committee.

• SB 44, authored by Senator Sam Watson (R-Moultrie), amends Title 20 to reduce the minimum millage rate for Georgia's local school systems to qualify for equalization grants. Specifically, the bill revises the definition of the term "qualified local school system" by reducing the minimum required millage rate or effective millage rate from 14 mills to 10 mills. Additionally, the legislation stipulates a 25% reduction in equalization grant awards for local school systems that do not meet the new minimum millage rate requirement.

Senator Watson presented the bill to the committee, and Representative Todd Jones (R- South Forsyth) asked about the principle of allowing local districts to reduce millage and still receive equalization. In response to a question from Representative Doreen Carter (D-Austell), Chairman Erwin clarified that the calculation of equalization is separate and apart from QBE and the Five Mill Share calculations. The committee recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the Rules Committee. Representative Chas Cannon (R-Moultrie) will carry the bill in the House.

• SB 154, authored by Senator Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia), amends Titles 20, 35, and 43 to revise or remove references to the United States Department of Education from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Specifically, the bill updates references to the United States Department of Education by adding the phrase, "or its successor," to ensure continuity in the event of departmental changes.

Senator Hatchett presented the bill to the committee as a substitute which clarifies that Sections 1 and 2 only take effect if and when the U.S. Department of Education is disbanded by an Act of Congress. Representative Karen Lupton (D-Atlanta) asked how this legislation might affect Section 504 and other protections under the federal IDEA, to which Matt Cardoza of the Georgia Department of Education explained those protections are statutory and will remain unless repealed. The committee recommended the bill DO PASS by committee substitute and be sent to the Rules Committee. A House sponsor has not yet been identified.

House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee - Hong Subcommittee

The Hong Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, chaired by Representative Soo Hong (R-Lawrenceville), met on Tuesday morning to consider the following measures:

• SB 61, authored by Representative Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), amends Titles 15 and 20 to expand superior court jurisdiction over certain offenses by minors, introduce new school-related terroristic offenses, mandate annual school threat assessments, and revise school safety plan requirements. Specifically, the bill expands superior court jurisdiction to cover terroristic acts involving schools and attempts or conspiracies to commit specific serious crimes by minors. It repeals a provision that limited superior court jurisdiction over aggravated assault cases involving firearms against public safety officers. The legislation introduces new criminal offenses related to terroristic threats and acts upon schools. Additionally, the bill mandates annual site threat assessments for public schools, which must inform school safety plans. It also revises the requirements for school safety plans, emphasizing the need for input from various stakeholders and coordination with local law enforcement. The legislation provides state funding assistance for school safety improvements, contingent on local matching funds unless a substantial hardship is demonstrated.

Senator Dolezal presented the bill to the subcommittee. Representative Esther Panitch (D-Sandy Springs) expressed concern about further criminalizing minors and sending them to prisons “where they learn to be better criminals” rather than be rehabilitated. Mikayla Arciaga of the Intercultural Development Research Association spoke in opposition to the bill, as did Morgan Bridgman of the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice. The Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers spoke in opposition to the bill, specifically Sections 1 and 4. Kaitlin Ward of the Carter Center also appeared in opposition. Herb Cranford, District Attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit, spoke in support of the bill. Representative Panitch moved to amend the bill by striking Sections 1 and 4, but the motion failed. Representative Shea Roberts (D-Atlanta) reiterated her opposition to the measure, noting that the bill does not address open access to guns and “will only exacerbate” the school-to-prison pipeline. Representative Panitch called the bill "just bad." Representative Clint Crowe (R-Jackson) reiterated that guns do not commit crimes and that there are broader social issues at play. The subcommittee recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the full Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

• SB 218, authored by Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), amends Titles 15 and 16 to provide that the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission shall be assigned for administrative purposes only to the Administrative Office of the Courts and shall be funded by funds appropriated or otherwise available to the judicial branch of state government. The bill also introduces provisions for appeals from the commission's hearing panels and revises the timeline for barring certain misconduct complaints.

Senator Robertson presented the bill to the subcommittee, which recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the full Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

• SB 244, authored by Senator Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta), amends Title 17 to provide for the award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs in a criminal case to the defendant upon such defendant making a successful motion to disqualify the prosecuting attorney for misconduct in connection with the case. If such disqualification leads to the dismissal of the case, the defendant is entitled to all reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred. The awarded fees and costs will be paid from the treasury of the county where the case was initiated.

Senator Beach presented the bill to the subcommittee, which took no action on the bill.

• SB 268, authored by Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), amends Title 16 to establish the crime of interference with a first responder. The offense occurs when a person, after being verbally warned by a first responder, knowingly and willfully approaches or remains within 25 feet of the responder with the intent to impede their duties, threaten them with physical harm, or harass them. A conviction under this provision results in a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

Senator Robertson presented the bill to the Subcommittee, which recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the full Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

House Higher Education Committee

Chairman Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) and members of the House Higher Education Committee took up a few measures this morning:

• SB 85, authored by Senator Matt Brass (R-Newnan), is an initiative written into O.C.G.A. 20-3-670 et seq. It establishes a grant program to provide grants to former foster youth who meet eligibility requirements, subject to specific appropriations. A new substitute LC 610231S, was considered at today’s meeting. Deven Rudy Johnson, with Multi-Agency Alliance for Children and its EmpowerMEnt program, testified in support of the legislation, expressing their SB 193 gratitude for the data collection. She noted that only 98 youth are using the ETV vouchers at USG institutions and 14 use that funding at private schools. The legislation will help these foster youth to disrupt the cycle of poverty by allowing them to get an education. Eshontee Williams, a youth advocate and former foster youth, also supported the legislation. Changes in the substitute were around the cap on the cash allowed of $30,000 stacked on with other aid. The legislation also establishes guardrails on who can use the grants — it is only allowing youth seeking bachelor’s degrees to access the funds and otherwise aligns the law with the HOPE scholarship requirements. The legislation received a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the House Rules Committee. Representative Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown) will carry this bill in the House.
• SB 149, authored by Senator Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro), addresses O.C.G.A. 20-3-411 and tuition equalization grants to private colleges and universities. This will specifically assist South College (which is focused on healthcare programs). There were questions on whether this legislation would be beneficial to Morris Brown; it is accredited by a different accrediting body than the South. Thus, this bill will not impact Morris Brown. The committee gave this legislation a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the House Rules Committee. Representative Houston Gaines (R-Athens) will carry the bill forward in the House.
• SB 193, authored by Senator Matt Brass (R-Newnan), seeks to add a new Article 9 in Chapter 4 of Title 20 to authorize the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to establish the adult workforce high school diploma program. A new substitute (LC 51 0181S) was provided for consideration at today’s meeting (addressing the sunset date), and the legislation received a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the House Rules Committee. Representative Houston Gaines (R-Athens) will carry this legislation forward in the House.

House Regulated Industries Committee

Chairman Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) and the Regulated Industries Committee had a full agenda earlier. It took up these efforts:

• SB 40, authored by Senator Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia), is a bill addressing secondary metals recyclers in Chapter 1 of Title 10. Today, the legislation taken up was 55 0593S. It cleans up current law to help prosecutors crack down on metal thefts. It has a new definition for catalytic converters; addresses what can be paid in cash on a daily basis (two payments of $100 per day); and addresses the $200 fee paid (which will be split with $100 kept by the local government and $100 sent to the state). The legislation received a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the House Rules Committee. Representative Lauren McDonald III (R-Cumming) will carry the legislation forward in the House.
• SB 125, authored by Senator Larry Walker, III (R-Perry), is a Title 43 bill addressing requirements for the licensing of professional engineers. It decouples the time that engineers may sit for the professional engineering examination so that they are not required to complete their field experience prior to taking the exam (now, field experience may take between 4-16 years). This legislation received a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the House Rules Committee. This bill will also be carried by Representative McDonald.
• SB 131, authored by Senator Mike Hodges (R-Brunswick), seeks to establish a database on licensed healthcare providers in the state. This database in O.C.G.A. 49-10-8 will be housed with the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce. 28 professions are involved across 15 licensing boards. State licensing boards will work with the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce on this data which is to capture the month/year of birth (based on the amendment made today), gender, proficiency in English or other language, location of practice (city, county and zip code based on amendment made today), and license type. There was some pushback from members of the committee concerning obtaining and sharing personally identifiable data which could be dangerous (Representative Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta)). Representative Casey Carpenter (R-Dalton) also challenged how consumers would find this beneficial (especially the age of the provider), and Representative Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain) also raised concerns about age as she did not want a perception of discrimination based on age. Despite pushback on the amendment around the “age” portion of personally identifiable information, the amendment passed 7-5 and the legislation as amended received a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the House Rules Committee. Representative Rick Townsend (R-St. Simons Island) will carry the measure forward in the House.

House Public and Community Health Committee

The House Public and Community Health Committee, chaired by Representative Sharon Cooper (R-Marrietta) met on Tuesday afternoon to hear two Senate bills. The one sailed through, while the other had the committee mired in contentious discussion.

• SB 30, by Senator Ben Watson (R-Savannah), prohibits prescribing or administering hormone therapies and puberty-blocking medications to minors for the purpose of treating gender dysphoria. Senator Watson said that this bill is a continuation of SB 140 (2023), which prohibited surgery for gender dysphoria for minors but did not include puberty blockers. Senator Watson pointed out that Norway, Denmark, Finland, and the UK have also taken this step along with 21 other states in the US. Adolescents under the age of 16 can’t consent to sex, and people under the age of 18 cannot consent to getting a tattoo or certain piercings. Senator Watson outlined the side effects of using puberty blockers characterizing them as not being benign drugs.

Representative Michelle Au (D-Johns Creek), went through the bill questioning Senator Watson over language in the legislation that she believes may have unintended consequences regarding doctors being able to use these drugs for any reason, saying that the bill “introduces confusion.” For instance, a female pediatric patient being treated for galactorrhea (lactating outside of the normal timeframe around giving birth). Senator Watson referred to Line 117, believing it to be sufficient to permit all usage other than for treating gender dysphoria. He said that he was happy to consider adding language that makes the bill more clear. Rep Au said that she is not in favor of legislating the practice of medicine. The other Democrats on the committee echoed Representative Au’s concerns and asked similar questions. Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) argued that this legislation does not go along with the committee’s practice of enacting evidence-based policy. She also shared a personal anecdote: her six-year-old daughter has an adrenal gland disorder and she is worried that she might not be able to get treatment under this bill. Senator Watson reiterated that his bill relates to using hormone therapy for gender dysphoria only and he is happy to accept friendly amendments to make the language more clear.

In favor of the bill, Representative Mike Cheokas (R-Americus) noted that people under 18 aren’t allowed to smoke cigarettes, even with parental consent, because it’s dangerous.

Chairman Cooper voiced a concern about implementing anything retroactively. She is worried about young folks who have already chosen to begin a transition with puberty blocker treatments, and then be told now that they have to stop their treatment. What will it do to them psychologically to have it yanked out from them? Senator Watson said that when you stop puberty blockers, they gradually wear off, and then a natural process of undergoing puberty will happen eventually, not an abrupt change.

This meeting was for a hearing only, and at the time of our publication deadline, the committee was at ease so that several of its members could attend a Rules Committee meeting. Public testimony had not yet been heard.

• SB 233, by Senator Matt Brass (R-Newnan), expands the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission from 24 members to 30 members. The Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House will each appoint two more members. There was no discussion or testimony, and the committee recommended the measure DO PASS.

New Legislation

The following new legislation of interest has been introduced: