2025 Georgia Crossover Day Casualties

The Georgia General Assembly’s 40-day session is underway. Lawmakers are weighing hundreds of bills on everything from education and health to criminal justice and housing ahead of “Sine Die” – the final day of the session on April 4. 

Below are the bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day. If the text of any of these bills comes back to life in the form of a zombie bill, we will add it back to the Bill Tracker and give you the latest updates on it through the end of the session.

The WABE newsroom is following many of these bills and providing context on why they matter and where they stand on the 2025 Gold Dome Bill Tracker.

Typically, legislation needed to pass either the House or Senate by Crossover Day on March 6 to have a chance at becoming law this year. But sometimes, the text of one bill can still be glued into another that’s already cleared one chamber, known as a vehicle or a “zombie bill.”

This page was updated on Monday, March 31 at 1:52 p.m.

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Business & Economy (Bills not passed)

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– Business & Economy (Full Descriptions below) –

Name, Image & Likeness Tax Exemption (SB 71)

What the bill does: Georgia lawmakers want to eliminate state taxes on college athletes who are paid for their name, image and likeness to attract more student-athletes to Georgia. Senate Bill 71 aims to help schools recruit athletes making NIL money. 

What supporters say: Republican Sen. Brandon Beach, the bill’s main author, argues that eliminating the tax could help recruit athletes away from states like Texas and Florida, which have no income tax.

“If you want to fill up the stadium, you want to fill up the restaurants, you want to fill up the hotels, you’ve got to put a competitive product on the field. And that’s why I’m trying to make sure that we have the five-star athletes to be competitive and win championships,” Beach said.

What opponents say: Brent Evans, a professor at Georgia College & State University, researches NIL. He says the state could be missing out on tax revenue that can be used in other areas like infrastructure.

“Will it help Georgia athletes? Because, yeah, it probably will. But there’s absolutely a cost that comes from that, too. We could be spending this money on something else,” Evans said.

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

-Marlon Hyde, WABE Business Reporter

Guest Worker Program (HB 82)

What the bill does: HB 82 would require the Georgia Department of Labor to create a “guest worker” program to fill workforce shortages with qualified, documented immigrants. Unlike the H2A visa program, this bill would extend to all industries.

What supporters say: Rep. Matt Reeves authored the bill. He says this could fill critical shortages. 

“I know locally in my area in Gwinnett County, health care has had shortages for quite some time, and so many sectors in the economy have shortages that need more qualified, legal workers, and this is one way to fill those needs when it’s determined,” he said.

Reeves adds that this bill could deter businesses from using undocumented immigrants where there are labor shortages.

“This would allow Georgia to advocate to the feds to send more legal working people rather than having … the under-the-table black market of illegal immigration existing longer in Georgia,” Reeves said. 

What opponents say: Reeves says that some people are concerned that this bill could limit job opportunities for Georgia workers.

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–Marlon Hyde, WABE Business Reporter

Education (Bills not passed)

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– Education (Full Descriptions below) –

Make State Superintendent an Appointed Position (HR 174)

What the bill does: This legislation would shift the state school superintendent from being elected by Georgia voters to being appointed.

Under this proposal, the state school board would pick the state superintendent like local school boards pick theirs, with a search process, rather than by election. Board members are currently appointed by the governor, but that would change to members being elected by the legislature, similar to the state transportation board.

What supporters say: “It allows for election of the state school board members by congressional district. Now they would be elected by congressional district by members of the Georgia House and the Georgia Senate who represent that congressional district,” says Republican Rep. Matt Dubnik.

What opponents say:  In a statement to WABE, State School Superintendent Richard Woods said, “Georgia parents, educators, business leaders and taxpayers expect to have a direct way to weigh in on the state’s educational priorities, issues, quality and direction. Each election, millions of Georgians exercise that fundamental responsibility and state constitutional right at the ballot box – a right that must not be taken away.”

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporter

Environment (Bills not passed)

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Data Center Costs (SB 34)

What the bill does: The large banks of computer servers known as data centers consume extraordinary amounts of power and often need new electric infrastructure – from transmission lines and substations to power-generating turbines – to support them. This bill prohibits Georgia Power from adding the costs of building that new infrastructure to the electricity rates that ordinary residents and small businesses pay. 

What supporters say: Georgia Power rates have increased repeatedly in recent years, and consumer advocates are concerned that new infrastructure will further drive bills up, making ordinary consumers subsidize data centers. The bill’s lead sponsor, Republican Sen. Chuck Hufstetler of Rome, says it will ensure the data centers pay their own way.

What opponents say: The Georgia Public Service Commission already implemented changes to Georgia Power’s billing terms for large customers designed to prevent the kind of cost shift this bill prohibits, with the difference that it singles out data centers. Opponents of the bill argue it duplicates that effort by the PSC, and that power rates should be handled by the commission, not the legislature.

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

-Emily Jones, WABE/Grist Climate Reporter

Revive Consumer Utility Counsel (SB 94)

What the bill does: Most other states have a consumer advocate for issues relating to utilities, but Georgia eliminated its Consumer Utility Counsel amid sweeping budget cuts during the 2008 financial crisis. This bill would reestablish the office under the Attorney General. The CUC would be able to intervene on behalf of Georgia consumers before the Georgia Public Service Commission as well as before federal regulators, and could represent consumers in court.

What supporters say: Again citing high power bills and repeated rate hikes, sponsor Sen. Chuck Hufstetler argues that consumers need a more powerful advocate on their side. Other supporters note that the CUC’s abilities would go beyond those of nonprofit advocacy groups and the public advocates already working within the PSC.

What opponents say: The PSC already has staff dedicated to public interest advocacy that represents the interests of consumers in PSC proceedings. Representatives of the agency have argued that this staff, coupled with the wide array of other groups that intervene before the PSC, are sufficient to advocate for consumers.

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

-Emily Jones, WABE/Grist Climate Reporter

Okefenokee Protection Act (HB 561)

What the bill does: This bill proposes prohibiting mining activities on Trail Ridge, a geologic feature at the edge of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. 

What supporters say: Supporters say this bill is critical to protect an important Georgia natural resource — the largest blackwater swamp in North America — from harm. The state of Georgia is considering a permit for this kind of mine already; supporters argue this permit application is riddled with scientific inaccuracies and could lead to major damage to the swamp and don’t want the mine to expand in the future. 

What opponents say:  Opponents say this bill would be a taking of private property rights by prohibiting landowners to use their land as they see fit and within state law. Opponents argue this bill would illegally impede landowners from making a profit off their land 

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–Marisa Mecke, WABE Environment Reporter

Okefenokee Mining Moratorium (HB 562)

What the bill does: This bill proposes a five-year moratorium on the state accepting new applications or requests to modify existing permits for surface mining near the Okefenokee Swamp in South Georgia. 

This bill plays off of one that made a quick appearance at the very end of the legislative session in 2024, which proposed a three-year moratorium that environmentalists staunchly opposed, arguing that, given how long it takes for these permits to be approved, it wouldn’t change much at all.

What supporters say: Supporters say this bill will slow down mining applications to allow for better scientific studies on the potential effects of mining. They say this bill is a compromise between environmentalists who want no mining near the swamp and opponents who believe that prohibition is an illegal taking of private property rights. 

What opponents say:  Opponents say this bill is bad for businesses and prevents nearly inevitable permit approvals. Some environmentalists have also said they don’t think moratoriums are a solution at the Okefenokee, and given how long the current Twin Pines Minerals permit has taken these moratoriums don’t do much to protect the swamp from potentially harmful development. 

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–Marisa Mecke, WABE Environment Reporter

PFAS Receiver Shield Act (HB 211)

What the bill does: PFAS is a broad class of chemicals that are commonly used for waterproofing and fire retardants. They’re called “forever chemicals” because they are extremely slow to break down in the environment. They’ve been linked to health problems like cancer.

This bill shields some businesses from lawsuits related to PFAS pollution. It calls these businesses “PFAS receivers,” which it defines as a broad category of people or businesses that use or apply PFAS while manufacturing goods or in agriculture, obtain goods that contain PFAS, or receive industrial or household waste that contains PFAS.

What supporters say: Supporters say this bill would protect manufacturing and Georgia jobs, and that these companies used PFAS when the government considered them safe and are unduly burdened by all the litigation that’s advancing. This bill doesn’t mean the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or Georgia Environmental Protection Division couldn’t come after those businesses for environmental law violations.

What opponents say: Opponents say this bill lets industrial sources off the hook instead of holding industries, like Northwest Georgia’s carpet businesses, accountable for pollution. They say this bill disincentivizes these businesses from cleaning PFAS from their wastewater. Additionally, this bill lumps the industry together with municipal wastewater operators, which environmentalists say shouldn’t be put into the same category since, unlike city and county water departments, industrial businesses purchased PFAS products to make a profit.

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–Marisa Mecke, WABE Environment Reporter

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Business-Economy | Education | Environment | Elections & Government | Health | Housing | Justice, Law, Safety | State Budget

Health (Bills not passed)

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– Health (Full Descriptions below) –

Fully Expand Medicaid (SB 50)

What the bill does: The PeachCare Plus Act of 2025 is a bill to fully expand Medicaid to cover low-income Georgia adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty line using a private insurance model. It would also establish an advisory commission for the program.

What supporters say: Proponents say the program would cover more Georgians in the insurance gap by expanding Medicaid to adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty line — $15,650 for a single person, or $32,150 for a family of four. Unlike previous Democratic attempts at full Medicaid expansion in Georgia, this plan would use a private model, where the state would use federal funding to purchase plans for eligible adults through Georgia’s health insurance marketplace.

What opponents say:  The bill has lost some Republican support in recent weeks. It remains an overwhelmingly Democratic bill. Gov. Kemp continues to back the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program, which offers Medicaid to some low-income adults with incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level who document 80 hours per month of work, education or volunteering activities, over full expansion.

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–Jess Mador, WABE Health Reporter

Housing (Bills not passed)

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– Housing (Full Descriptions below) –

Removal of Extended Stay Hotel Occupants (HB 183)

What the bill does: The legislation would change Georgia’s innkeeper laws to make clear that a non-paying guest is subject to removal and outlines a process for law enforcement to eject that person within several days. It also includes a line defining a hotel occupant as a “guest” no matter their length of stay.

What supporters say: Hotel operators say that law enforcement has become reluctant to remove non-paying occupants, instead directing owners to eviction court. Hotel owners argue this is leading occupants to take advantage of the law and stay in their rooms without paying for significant periods. 

What opponents say: Housing advocates have argued that some hotel occupants should have the rights of tenants. Those without other housing options, for example, may end up living in extended stay hotels for months or years.

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–Stephannie Stokes, WABE Housing Reporter

Allow Property Owners Tax Refunds If Local Governments Don’t Clear Homeless Encampments (HB 295)

What the bill does: It creates a process for property owners to seek compensation if they demonstrate their local government’s lack of enforcement around urban camping, along with other issues, has caused a decline in their property values. The legislation is mirrored after a law that Arizona voters approved last November. It would also put more pressure on local governments to crack down on panhandling and loitering, and to comply with federal immigration authorities.

What supporters say: The six Republican lawmakers sponsoring the bill say cities and counties’ lack of enforcement around issues like urban camping and panhandling is coming at the expense of the broader public. “Our hope is local governments simply do their job and enforce the laws of our state and our local governments,” said State Rep. Houston Gaines of Athens.

What opponents say:  The bill faced significant opposition among advocates for people who are homeless. They argued it could land more unhoused people in jail while doing little to ameliorate the issue. “My problem is this bill doesn’t address the causes of homelessness, it doesn’t address the solutions to homelessness,” said Brad Schweers of Intown Cares, which does outreach in Atlanta. 

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–Stephannie Stokes, WABE Housing Reporter

Justice, Law & Safety (Bills not passed)

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– Justice, Law & Safety (Full Descriptions below) –

Process for Compensating the Wrongfully Convicted (HB 533)

What the bill does: A bipartisan group of state lawmakers is once again pushing to overhaul the process of compensating Georgians who have been wrongly convicted, jailed and then exonerated. 

The current process requires individual legislation to pass for each person wrongfully convicted to get their compensation. Under the new legislation, the state would compensate the exonerated $75,000 for each year spent in prison.

“These claims will be heard by administrative law judges,” says Democratic Rep. Scott Holcomb. “We already have them in our state. They can review the evidence, apply the law and what the standard requires, and this is important, it requires that they actually prove innocence.”

What supporters say: Lee Clark served 25 years for a crime he did not commit. He returned to the Capitol after he watched an effort to overhaul the process, along with his own compensation bid, fail to pass on the final day of the last legislative session.

“This needs to pass,” he says. “This should have been passed a long, long time ago. It’s sad to think that a man walks out of prison and walks out here into nothing.”

What opponents say:  The legislation overwhelmingly passed the House last year with bipartisan support, but did not make it through the Senate.

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporter

Use of Creative Expression in Criminal Proceedings (HB 237)

What the bill does: This bill would provide protections for the art or creative expression of artists [in the state]. The bill would require courts to conduct a three-prong test to determine whether the expression is admissible, or allowed, in criminal proceedings.

The three prongs: the defendant intended to adopt the literal meaning of the work as the defendant’s own thought or statement; there is a strong factual nexus indicating that the creative or artistic expression refers to specific facts of the crime alleged; or there exists relevance to an issue of fact that is disputed.

What supporters say: The sponsors say this bill would be a solution to “a lot of cases across the United States and a trend that needs to be curtailed.”

What opponents say: Opponents say the House bill is not needed because current judicial laws consider relevance and assess whether the unwarranted prejudice substantially outweighs the probative value.

Status: The bill did not pass out of at least one chamber by Crossover Day on March 6. Therefore it is likely dead for the year, unless the text of it is attached to a bill that has passed in one chamber.

Learn more here.

–DorMiya Vance, WABE Southside Reporter