2025 Gold Dome Bill Tracker

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. 

Politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali, supervising digital news editor Patrick Saunders and the WABE newsroom are tracking many of these bills and are here to keep tabs on why they matter and where they stand. Check back for updates as the session goes on – we’ll do our best to keep this page updated as bills move and change. 

After a bill clears its committee in the House or the Senate, the respective rules committee can move to schedule it for a vote in the full chamber. That process then repeats on the other side of the Capitol before the legislation can head to the governor’s desk. If any changes are made to the bill, it has to go back to the other chamber for another vote.

Typically, legislation must pass either the House or Senate by Crossover Day on March 6 to have a chance at becoming law. 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.”

Click here to see a list of bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day this year. 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 this page.

And yes, we know this bill tracker list isn’t exhaustive. Hear about a bill you want to know more about? Let us know at [email protected].

This page was updated on Tuesday, April 22 at 8:52 a.m.

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Business & Economy

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

– Business & Economy (Full Descriptions below) –

Child Tax Credit (HB 136)

What the bill does: The legislation would expand an existing state tax credit for certain child care expenses and create a new $250 tax credit per child age six and under. It would expand incentives for businesses to cover child care for their employees.

This was previously introduced as SB 89, but lawmakers have made some subtle changes and are now advancing the expansion as HB 136.

What supporters say: Republican Sen. Brian Strickland, who introduced the bill, says 68% of children under six in Georgia are cared for by a single working parent or two working parents. And he says the average cost of child care for a year now exceeds in-state college tuition. 

“While there is more work to be done to help our working moms and dads, Senate Bill 89 recognizes that as a legislature we believe that families shouldn’t have to choose between having a career and being a parent,” Strickland said.

What opponents say:  Democrats support a more expansive child tax credit that would cover children up to age 17. Congress significantly expanding the federal child tax credit during the pandemic is credited with a significant reduction in the child poverty rate. But Republicans and a handful of Democrats opposed renewing the expansion when it expired in 2021.  

Status: Passed the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here.

–Sam Gringlas, WABE Politics Reporter

Click here to see the Business & Economy bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day this year. 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 this page.

Education

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– Education (Full Descriptions below) –

School Safety (HB 268)

What the bill does: Lawmakers drafted this sweeping school safety bill in the aftermath of the deadly mass shooting at Apalachee High School last September. The bill is nearly 60 pages, ensuring records are transferred swiftly when a student changes districts and providing standards for physical safety infrastructure, among other changes.

The latest version of the bill also provides grants for districts to hire officials focused on identifying and treating student mental health issues, requires staff and student behavioral health training and mandates an anonymous threat reporting system. The legislation also provides mobile panic alert systems for teachers and stiffens criminal penalties for students who make terroristic threats.

But after pushback, lawmakers agreed to a plan to create a statewide database for tracking students who might commit violence at school. The proposed system, known as an S3 database, would have allowed for more information-sharing between school systems and state agencies like the Georgia Departments of Education and Juvenile Justice. The bill now scraps S3 and accompanying school system behavioral threat management teams.

What supporters say: Republican House Speaker Jon Burns told reporters in February that the House will leave no stone unturned to protect Georgia children, “enacting measures that will save lives and supporting our students’ well-being at every stage of their academic careers and beyond, all the while protecting the Second Amendment rights of Georgia’s law-abiding citizens.”

What opponents say:  Republican Sen. Bill Coswert, who has helped move the bill in the Senate and presented the latest version, said the database drew pushback across the political spectrum and still needs more work.

“An amazing number of parents were fearful that their child might have a stigma attached to them about having a record about some stupid comment, threat or behavior they had done as a teenager when it was just immature behavior,” Cowsert said.

But others say tracking troubling behavior is critical, noting that officials failed to connect dots that could have allowed them to intervene before a 14-year-old killed two students and two teachers at Apalachee.

“Of course, that’s important for us to find these warning signs,” Cowsert said. “And so we had that balancing act: are we going to keep these records somewhere? If so, how will we keep it safe, will it ever terminate? And it became overwhelming for us to sort that out.”

Some Democrats say the legislation is a good start but does not go far enough. “Out of 65 pages, the number of times a gun or guns is mentioned is zero,” said Democratic Rep. Lisa Campbell.

Status: Passed House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Kemp’s desk for his signature.

Learn more here.

–Sam Gringlas, WABE Politics Reporter

Ban Transgender Girls from Girls Sports (SB 1)

What the bill does: Debates about transgender children have become perennial in the General Assembly. Four sessions ago, Republicans pressed the body that oversees school sports in Georgia to prevent transgender girls from playing on girls teams. Now top Republicans want to make that rule into law. This legislation would apply to public schools and the private institutions that compete against them, also extend to state colleges and restrict transgender athletes from locker rooms. 

What supporters say: “This bill is simply about fairness and common sense,” says House Speaker Jon Burns, who along with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has called this legislation a top priority. Burns and Jones attended a White House ceremony with President Donald Trump, who signed his own executive order banning trans girls from girls sports.

“I don’t want any girl in the state of Georgia to be told how much you practice, how much you train, how much you sacrifice, it’s not equal,” says Republican Rep. Josh Bonner.

What opponents say:  Democrats say Republicans are using transgender children for political gain. Democratic Sen. Kim Jackson says if Republicans want to promote equality in school sports, then they should pass her bill, SB 41, ensuring equal access to practice fields, equipment and pay for coaches. 

“If we want to have a real conversation about true fairness and safety in school sports, about a truly level playing field, then let’s talk,” Jackson says. “Let’s talk about how girls’ teams are made to practice late at night or early in the morning when it’s still dark outside. Let’s talk about the severe lack of equipment provided to teams.”

Status: SB 1 has passed the Senate and House and now goes to Gov. Kemp’s desk for his signature.

Learn more here.

–Sam Gringlas, WABE Politics Reporter

Ban Three-Cueing Reading System (SB 93 and HB 307)

What the bills do: SB 93 and HB 307 both seek to ban the three-cueing system of reading in public schools, which helps students identify unknown words by asking them which words make sense in the context of the overall meaning and grammatical structure of the sentence, then asking them to use graphophonic cues. 

This push to ban three-cueing coincides with the state’s broad strategy for promoting literacy. With the passage of the Georgia Early Literacy Act, the state began a shift to “structured literacy,” a systematic way of teaching reading based on a body of research called the science of reading.

SB 93 is a bipartisan bill, whereas HB 307 is sponsored by Republicans. While SB 93 focuses solely on banning three-cueing, HB 307 also includes a proposal for a tiered reading intervention plan for students who are significantly behind on reading or show signs of dyslexia.

What supporters say: Lawmakers and dyslexia advocates say three-cueing makes students more reliant on context clues and does not prepare students to decipher more difficult words later on. More than 10 states have already banned the three-cueing model in schools.

What opponents say: No prominent opponents of banning three-cueing in Georgia as of yet. The push to ban this model is bipartisan.

Status: SB 93 and HB 307 both passed the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here and here.

–Meimei Xu, WABE Digital Editor

Chronic Absenteeism in Schools (SB 123)

What the bill does: This bill would prevent public school students from being expelled solely on the grounds of absences from school. It would also task school climate committees, established by the chief judges of the superior courts of each county, with creating protocol and policy recommendations for combating chronic absenteeism. Additionally, local school systems that have high rates of chronic absenteeism must create attendance review teams to make intervention plans for chronically-absent students.

What supporters say: This bill has enjoyed broad bipartisan support in the Senate. Supporters say chronic absenteeism has been a major issue for all aspects of learning since the beginning of the pandemic. The rate of chronic absenteeism in Georgia was 21.3% in 2024, according to the state Department of Education, compared to pre-pandemic levels of around 12%.

“Addressing chronic absenteeism is not just about improving attendance,” said Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy, lead sponsor of SB 123. “It’s about taking the essential step forward and breaking down the barriers that prevent our students from reaching their full potential.”

What opponents say:  No known critics at this time.

Status: SB 123 passed the House and Senate and now goes to Kemp’s desk for his signature.

Learn more here.

–Meimei Xu, WABE Digital Editor

‘Explicit’ Materials in Libraries (HB 483)

What this bill does: HB 483 originally provided for penalties for assault upon inspectors of code enforcement. The Senate Rules Committee, however, passed a substitute that gutted the bill and replaced it with an updated version of SB 74, a bill that aimed to remove a legal exemption for librarians in a Georgia law prohibiting the distribution of explicit and harmful materials to minors.

HB 483 gets rid of that exemption and lowers the penalty for a broader range of violations, such as selling a minor a ticket to a sexually explicit event and displaying explicit content in a public area where children may be present. Instead of charging violators with a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature, the bill would charge a first-time violator with only a misdemeanor.

What supporters say: Republican Sen. Max Burns, the lead sponsor of the original measure in SB 74, called it “common sense.”
“At the end of the day what it does is that it protects children and it requires all Georgians to follow Georgia law,” he said at a Senate Education and Youth Committee hearing.

What opponents say: Opponents say this legislation could disproportionately target books with LGBTQ characters and subjects and that it could create constitutional problems regarding censorship of speech. Some also say it could be difficult to enforce and for librarians to monitor every book in the library.

Status: HB 483 passed the House but did not make it out of the Senate this year and will need to be taken up again in next year’s session.

Learn more here.

–Meimei Xu, WABE Digital Editor

Restrict Personal Devices in Schools (HB 340)

What the bill does: The Republican bill prohibits public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade from accessing personal devices during the school day. It would require public schools and school systems to establish policies for the enforcement of these restrictions, as well as protocol for off-campus trips and emergencies.

The bill does provide for waivers and exceptions for students with plans or programs that mandate their access to a personal device.

What supporters say: A 2024 survey conducted by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) showed that 52% of Georgia teachers say that cell phone and social media usage are major problems at school. Supporters of the bill say personal device bans help students stay focused at school and curb mental health issues associated with social media addiction.

What opponents say:  Kimberly Dukes, the co-founder and executive director of the education equity nonprofit Atlanta Thrive, said some students need to call parents in case of mental health emergencies. She said she is not in favor of a total cell phone ban.

“How do we innovate the classroom and make this a part of the learning environment?” she said. “So it’s not taking total control away from children, but it’s also a teachable moment, teaching them there’s a time and there’s a place.”

Status: Passed the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Kemp’s desk for his signature.

Learn more here.

–Meimei Xu, WABE Digital Editor

State Funding for Schools and Universities with DEI Programs (HB 127)

What the bill does: HB 127 would withhold state and state-administered funding for public schools and universities with diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies. The original version of HB 127 was intended to raise teacher sick days from three to five. This substitute for HB 127 is an updated version of Senate Bill 120, which failed to cross over to the House earlier this session.

What supporters say: Republican State Sen. Max Burns said that the bill would address “discriminatory practices” that create preferential treatment for individuals based on their identities under DEI policies.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion, DEI, bases decisions for admissions or employment or promotion or work assignments or resource allocation or other fundamental operational decisions in whole or in part on race, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity or sexual orientation,” Burns said before the Senate Committee on Education and Youth. “These decisions should be based on merit, performance and ability.”

What opponents say: Democrats of the Senate education committee issued a joint statement Friday on the committee passage of the bill.

“Let’s be clear: diversity is a strength, not a weakness,” the statement read. “Instead of supporting policies that uplift our students and educators, Republicans have chosen to target programs that guarantee every student, especially those from historically unrecognized communities, has the opportunity to succeed. Georgia’s students deserve an education that prepares them for the real world, one that values different perspectives and fosters an inclusive environment.”

Status: Passed the House and Senate but needed Senate approval of the House’s changes. It did not get a vote by the end of the session and will return in next year’s session.

Learn more here.

-Meimei Xu, WABE Digital Editor

Click here to see the Education bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day this year. 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 this page.

Environment

Click here to see the environment bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day this year. 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 this page.

Elections & Government

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– Elections & Government (Full Descriptions below) –

Regulations on State Regulations (SB 28)

What the bill does: Lt. Gov. Burt Jones says the legislation complements efforts by President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to slash the footprint of the federal government.

SB 28 would require state agencies to review all its rules every four years – and give the legislature more power to block new ones. 

What supporters say: Republican Sen. Greg Dolezal says these changes will protect small businesses from overly burdensome regulations. “What we are doing here is we are trying to get agencies and rulemakers to think about the cost of complying with their rules,” he said.

What opponents say:  But Democrats and some advocacy groups worry that this push will significantly limit the ability of agencies in the executive branch to ensure protections for workers, the environment and public health.

Status: Passed Senate and a House committee but didn’t pass in the House by the end of this year’s session.

Learn more here.

–Sam Gringlas, WABE Politics Reporter

Leave ERIC (HB 397 and SB 175)

What the bill does: Some lawmakers want Georgia to follow other Republican-led states leaving ERIC, the multi-state collaborative used to maintain voter lists.

ERIC, or the Electronic Registration Information Center, is a non-profit founded by states for sharing information to keep voter lists updated. It currently includes 24 states and Washington, D.C. 

These bills would have Georgia leave ERIC by mid-2027. The original bill did not clear the Crossover Day deadline, but the effort has now been resurrected in the final days of session in two other elections bills, one moving through the Senate and another the House.

The measures would also prohibit State Election Board rule changes in the 60 days before an election, after such moves last fall created confusion and spurred court battles. The bills also ban absentee ballots from being returned in-person the weekend before an election, a change pushed by the Georgia GOP.

But the bills no longer require hand counting the number of ballots after polls close, a rule the SEB passed last year, but a judge blocked.

What supporters say: Since 2022, eight Republican-led states have left ERIC, which has become a target of activists making unfounded claims about election fraud. “The states around us are pulling out,” says Republican Rep. Martin Momtahan. “It makes a pretty ineffective system.”

What opponents say:  Georgia election officials, including Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, say ERIC is a crucial tool to keep Georgia’s voter lists accurate. “ERIC is, in my opinion, the most secure and efficient mass voter list maintenance tool,” said State Election Director Blake Evans.

Status:

Learn more here.

–Sam Gringlas, WABE Politics Reporter

Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SB 36)

What it does: The legislation says the government cannot burden the exercise of someone’s religion. It says the government can only do so if it is to further, “a compelling governmental interest” and is the “least restrictive means” of doing so.

A similar bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Nathan Deal in 2016, partially because of opposition from the business community. 

What supporters say: Supporters say the bill would bolster legal protections for religious groups. Republican Sen. Ed Setzler regularly introduces the legislation, but it has failed to advance in the past.

“The version that passed the Senate, that was candidly drafted in concert with our governor,” Setzler said in March.

What opponents say: Opponents like Georgia Equality believe the legislation could be used to justify discrimination against groups like the LGBTQ community. Republican lawmakers declined to add an anti-discrimination provision to the legislation.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Chamber of Commerce say they are opposed to Senate Bill 36 because it would “undermine the state’s strong reputation.”

Status: Passed Senate and House and signed into law by Gov. Kemp.

Learn more here.

—Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporter

Criminalize AI Election Interference (SB 9)

What the bill does: The bill makes it a criminal offense to broadcast or upload “materially deceptive” content, such as a deepfake video or audio generated using artificial intelligence, that is intended to realistically impersonate a political candidate and deceive voters.

What supporters say: SB 9 has bipartisan support. “I believe this is a great bill that helps ensure elections are not riddled with misinformation, distractions and interference,” said Democratic State Rep. Gabriel Sanchez.

What opponents say: Republican State Rep. Charlice Byrd called the bill an “anti-MAGA, anti-American attack on our rights.”

“We already have deception laws for lies that harm. This is silencing dissent, plain and simple. If it passes, Georgia becomes like California, dissenters in handcuffs,” she said.

Status: Passed the Senate and House but needed to return to the Senate to approve the House’s changes. It did not do so by Sine Die.

Learn more here.

-Meimei Xu, WABE Digital Editor

Click here to see the Elections & Government bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day this year. 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 this page.

Health

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– Health (Full Descriptions below) –

State Health Coverage for Gender Affirming Care (SB 39)

What the bill does: This legislation prevents the state health insurance plan — which is used by school teachers, state employees and retirees — from covering gender-affirming care.

What supporters say: “We’re not outlawing that at all,” says Republican Sen. Blake Tillery. “We’re just saying the position that I think is the position of the majority of Georgians that state taxpayer dollars are not going to be used for transgender surgeries.”

What opponents say: Democrats say this legislation is one more example of Republicans targeting the transgender community. “Our communities like our trans community that are being told, you don’t matter, we don’t want you. First, we don’t want you playing sports. Now we don’t want you on our health benefit plan even though you or your family members are contributing to our society, contributing to our government. We don’t want you,” says Democratic Sen. RaShaun Kemp.

Status: Passed the Senate and a House committee but did not make it out of the House by the end of this year’s session.

Learn more here.

–Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporter

Protections for IVF (HB 428)

What the bill does: The bill would enshrine access to in-vitro fertilization treatment into Georgia law.

What supporters say: The bill’s main sponsor is Statesboro Republican State Rep. Lehman Franklin, whose wife has undergone IVF treatment. Proponents say protections for IVF should be codified into Georgia law. An Alabama Supreme Court ruling last year defining frozen embryos as children temporarily led to providers there shutting down. 

What opponents say: IVF typically produces multiple embryos, which can be frozen for later use or destroyed. Anti-abortion-rights advocates maintain the process used for IVF treatments is equivalent to murder, and that life begins at conception. And Georgia’s abortion law H.B. 481 extends “personhood” to embryos, outlawing abortion after around six weeks of pregnancy. But — so far, at least — the bill has seen no active public opposition. 

Status: Passed out of the House and Senate and now heads to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here.

–Jess Mador, WABE Health Reporter

Ban Abortion (HB 441)

What it does: HB 441, also called the Georgia Prenatal Equal Protection Act, would criminalize all abortion with no exceptions and grant “personhood” rights to embryos and fetuses at fertilization. 

The bill would also allow the state to prosecute patients, providers and others for ‘harming’ an embryo or fetus.  

Under current state law, abortion is banned after roughly six weeks of pregnancy with some exceptions. 

What supporters say: The measure is being supported by the most stringent anti-abortion lawmakers, who believe abortion should be banned with no exceptions.

What opponents say: Democrats raised alarms about the measure after it received a last-minute committee hearing, but HB 441 doesn’t have the backing of top Republican lawmakers either, including House Speaker Jon Burns. He has pushed legislation to codify access to in vitro fertilization this session. 

Status: Did not receive a vote in a House committee and failed to advance this year.

Learn more here.

—Jess Mador, WABE Health Reporter

Restrict Puberty Blockers for Minors (SB 30)

What it does: SB 30 restricts puberty-blocking medication for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. 

The move comes after Republicans previously prohibited most gender-affirming treatments for children, but stopped short of banning puberty blockers.

Puberty blockers pause puberty – a first step for young people experiencing gender dysphoria seeking medical treatment so they can align with their gender identity. 

In a compromise, the latest version of the bill will not ban puberty blockers for children experiencing gender dysphoria, but will instead make it much harder to get them. 

Minors would have to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two mental health professionals. The medicine would have to be prescribed by a pediatrician who specializes in adolescent medicine or endocrinology and a parent would have to sign a consent form. 

“I think that this is a true compromise,” said Republican Rep. Sharon Cooper, who pushed against a full ban like the Senate passed.

What supporters say: Republicans point to side effects of extended use of these medications. The bill is one of several this session and in recent years focused on transgender Georgians. 

Republican Sen. Ben Watson, the legislation’s sponsor, still argues the treatment should not be available at all, but he says the compromise was worth it to keep the bill alive. 

What opponents say: Democrats and LGBTQ advocates say the treatment can be life-saving for transgender youth.

In 2023, Republicans banned hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery for transgender children and teens. Families sued, but the courts allowed the law to take effect. 

Status: Passed the Senate and House committee but did not make it out of the House by the end of this year’s session.

Learn more here.

—Sam Gringlas, WABE Politics Reporter

Click here to see the Health bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day this year. 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 this page.

Housing

Click here to see the Housing bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day this year. 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 this page.

Justice, Law & Safety

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

Civil Litigation Overhaul (SB 68 and SB 69)

What the bill does: Kemp has rolled out a sweeping package of proposals to curb civil litigation – and he says he wants a bill on his desk by the end of the legislative session. 

The debate over tort reform has been fraught since Kemp named the effort his top legislative priority, with lawyers, doctors, businesses, insurers and consumers all pressing competing interests. 

“It’s really applicable to all of us,” says Emory University Law Prof. Joanna Shepherd. “We could all do something in the next hour that makes us either a potential defendant in a torts case or a potential plaintiff. The most common things we see are car accidents if somebody’s at fault, medical malpractice, product liability or premises liability, when somebody is hurt on somebody else’s property.”

Kemp is proposing an array of changes, including requiring liability to be established before a jury can hear evidence about a plaintiff’s damages, allowing a jury to know whether a plaintiff wore a seatbelt, narrowing the grounds for “negligent security” cases and requiring special damages for medical and healthcare expenses be based on the actual expense, not the initial bill before insurance.

What supporters say: Kemp says excessive civil litigation has resulted in high insurance premiums for medical providers, small businesses, corporations and individuals who buy health or auto insurance. He argues that reigning in civil actions and the hefty damages insurance companies sometimes have to pay will cause costs to go down.

“Grocery stores, hospitals, road pavers, small business owners, truckers, restaurants, mom and pop stores, retails, gas stations, doctors, childcare facilities and hardworking Georgians across our state are all telling us the same thing: Georgia needs tort reform and we need it now,” Kemp said.

What opponents say: But Democrats and plaintiff’s attorneys dispute whether Georgia’s legal system is to blame for steep premiums and whether insurers would pass any savings to consumers.

“This is a giveaway to the big insurance companies,” Sen. Josh McLaurin said. “Brian Kemp is either lying or being lied to about how and why these premiums have increased and what to do about it.” 

Status: SB 68 and SB 69 passed the Senate and the House and were signed into law by Gov. Kemp.

Learn more here.

—Sam Gringlas, WABE Politics Reporter

Restrict Sovereign Immunity for Cities and Counties (SB 21)

What the bill does: Under sovereign immunity, individuals typically can’t sue governments. Local governments and their employees would lose that immunity if someone can connect failure to follow state immigration laws to harm.

What supporters say: Republican State Sen. Blake Tillery, the bill’s sponsor, claims Georgia’s immigration laws are not being followed and that SB 21 would give a financial threat to follow those laws.

What opponents say:  Democrats believe there will be negative impacts on law enforcement resources like jails, and that it could lead to frivolous lawsuits and scenarios like teachers having to ask students about family’s immigration status.

Status: Passed the Senate and a House committee but did not make it out of the House by the end of this year’s session.

Learn more here.

–Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporter

Protect Pets in Cases of Domestic Violence (HB 177)

What the bill does: HB 177 would allow judges to include pets in temporary protective orders granted in cases of domestic violence.

What supporters say: Republican Rep. Sharon Cooper says Georgia is one of nine states not allowing this. “Pets are often used to control, coerce and intimidate victims of domestic violence, usually to get them to stay and not leave,” Cooper says.

Only 31% of Georgia shelters allow pets. But advocates say that is changing to help victims of domestic violence and keep pets with their families.

What opponents say:  This measure has received overwhelming and bipartisan support.

Status: Passed the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here.

–Sam Gringlas, WABE Politics Reporter

Firearm Sales Tax Holiday and Safe Storage Incentive (HB 79)

What the bill does: HB 79 would create a four-day sales tax holiday for guns, ammunition, safe storage devices and accessories. The holiday would be in October, around deer hunting season, and would waive both state and local sales taxes. The bill would also create a $300 annual tax credit for taking firearm safety classes.

HB 79 originally created a $300 tax credit for purchasing a safe firearm storage device. Originally a bipartisan bill, the legislation was changed significantly in the Senate.

What supporters and opponents say: Supporters of incentivizing safe firearm storage heralded the initial version as a bipartisan win in the push to curb gun theft, suicide risk and pediatric deaths. Gun violence is a leading cause of death for children and teens.

“This will show that there is a way forward on addressing the issue of gun violence in our communities,” said Democratic Rep. Michelle Au. “Incentivizing secure storage and personal responsibility is something we can agree on. It’s something we can get done together.”

But now that the legislation has been significantly changed, eliminating the tax credit for safe storage devices and adding a sales tax holiday for firearms, Democrats are likely to oppose the measure.

Last month, Democratic Sen. Nan Orrock questioned the firearms sales tax holiday in the aftermath of the Apalachee High School shooting last fall.

“Are you all tone-deaf? It’s like taking a knife and sticking it right into the very heart of a parent who’s lost a child,” Orrock said during a contentious debate. 

Republicans say the sales tax holiday for firearms is in the spirit of the Second Amendment. 

Status: Passed House, but didn’t make it past the Senate before the end of this year’s session.

Learn more here.

–Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporters

No Sex Changes in State Prisons (SB 185)

What the bill does: SB 185 would prohibit the Georgia Department of Corrections from allowing prison inmates to receive “sex reassignment” surgeries, hormone replacement therapies and cosmetic procedures designed to alter inmates’ genitalia. 

What supporters say: State Sen. John Albers, who chairs the public safety committee, has called it “very common-sense legislation.” This comes after a transgender woman sued Georgia prison officials in federal court after being denied treatment for gender dysphoria, where a person feels their gender does not match their sex. SB 185 would prohibit treatment for gender dysphoria in prison. 

What opponents say: Critics say sex-transition care is uncommon in Georgia prisons and not costly for the state. They also question whether the bill violates the Eighth Amendment rights of incarcerated individuals, which protects against cruel and unusual punishment. 

Status: Passed the Senate and House and now goes to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here.

–Chamian Cruz, WABE Criminal Justice Reporter

Banning or Regulating School Zone Cameras (HB 225 and HB 651)

What the bill does: One proposal would ban school zone traffic cameras entirely (HB 225). An alternative proposal (HB 651) would add new restrictions, including operating four hours a day (one hour before and after students go in, one hour before and after students go out). State Rep. Alan Powell’s bill (HB 651) would mandate flashing signs with a speed indicator when the cameras operate.

What supporters say: Republican Rep. Dale Washburn says his legislation (House Bill 225) to completely ban the cameras is the only solution at this point.

“I believe that the abuses that are occurring now won’t necessarily stop with some fix-it plan,” he says. “Mostly because our citizens have no recourse if they get a citation.”

What opponents say: Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett defended her city’s use of traffic cameras, citing the number of kids who walk to school. She thinks the cameras help drivers slow down.

“We do only ticket the first hour and before school starts right around the time school starts and then the hour after school,” Garrett told lawmakers. “It’s not running on weekends or holidays, or even when … our schools are out for winter break. We’re not ticketing.”

Status:

Learn more about HB 225 here and HB 651 here.

–Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporter

Refusing to Sign a Citation (HB 283)

What the bill does: Instead of arresting a driver for not wanting to sign a traffic ticket, police officers would be able to write “refusal to sign” and let them go. HB 283 is inspired by the case of church deacon Johnny Hollman, who died in 2023 when an Atlanta police officer used a stun gun while trying to arrest him after he refused to sign a traffic ticket. The legislation would not apply to out-of-state drivers. 

What supporters say: A group of bipartisan lawmakers re-introduced HB 283 this year because they say it gives both police officers and drivers a chance to de-escalate a situation. 

“This bill essentially is designed to do a few things: reduce negative encounters between law enforcement officers and citizens, save taxpayer dollars, free up law enforcement for more high-priority calls and ensure that everyone goes home at the end of the night,” said Democratic State Rep. Yasmin Neal, who sponsored the bill, before the bill overwhelmingly passed in the House on Feb. 21.

What opponents say:  There’s been little to no public pushback on this bill, but during the most recent vote in the House, it did receive six “nay” votes. All were cast by Republicans. 

Status: Passed the House but stalled in the Senate and did not pass this year.

Learn more here.

–Chamian Cruz, WABE Criminal Justice Reporter

State Takeover of Fulton County Jail (SB 7)

What the bill does: SB 7 would force the city of Atlanta to let the Fulton County sheriff use the city jail for no more than the cost of maintaining it. 

This comes after recent state and federal investigations found that detainees at the Fulton County Jail were living in unsanitary and dangerous conditions in violation of their constitutional rights.

At least 32 people have died while in custody at the facility since 2021, according to the sheriff’s office. That includes two deaths in the Atlanta City Detention Center, where the county already uses about 350 beds — half of the total they’re allowed under an agreement with the city. 

What supporters say: Supporters of the proposal, including Fulton County commissioners, say it could ease overcrowding and allow detainees to be separated based on how dangerous they’re considered.

“I cannot legislatively force the sale of the jail,” said State Sen. John Albers, the Roswell Republican who sponsored the bill. But, he said, SB 7 forces “the jail to be leased to the county at a very reasonable rate.”

It passed 5-2 in the Senate, without support from Democrats. 

What opponents say:  Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and other critics say the state shouldn’t intervene in a local matter, especially since the county already entered a court-enforceable agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to improve conditions at the jail and committed millions of dollars to start. 

“I think we are making a grave error and setting a terrible precedent in allowing for any city to have their assets seized by counties,” said State Sen. Sonya Halpern, an Atlanta Democrat who voted against the bill.

Criminal justice advocates also say the proposal ignores mismanagement and malpractice by the county, the sheriff’s office and jail staff. Instead, they suggest police should detain fewer people and divert more cases to programs with mental health and economic resources. 

Status: Passed the Senate but stalled in the House and did not pass this year.

Learn more here.

–Chamian Cruz, WABE Criminal Justice Reporter

Making it Harder to Execute People with Intellectual Disabilities (HB 123)

What the bill does: The legislation would ease the burden of proof for defendants claiming to suffer from an intellectual disability — defined as having an IQ below 70 — in death penalty cases. 

Currently, Georgia is the only death penalty state to have the unusually high standard of having to prove an intellectual disability “beyond a reasonable doubt.” The proposal would make it so they have to prove it “by a preponderance of the evidence.” The determination of whether a defendant in a capital case has an intellectual disability would also now take place following a pre-trial hearing. 

What supporters say: Supporters argue the current standard is impossible to meet and risks executing individuals with intellectual disabilities. 

Just last year, the state put to death Willie Pye, who was convicted in the 1996 kidnapping, robbery, rape and murder of his ex-girlfriend in Spalding County. Pye had an IQ of 68.

What opponents say:  Opponents say the current law is constitutional and works effectively. 

Status: Passed the House and Senate and now heads to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here.

–Chamian Cruz, WABE Criminal Justice Reporter

Work Opportunities for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals (SB 147)

What the bill does: SB 147 seeks to address significant barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face when re-entering the workforce, particularly the requirement to complete resumes and practice job interviews. It would streamline the process for obtaining occupational licenses and certifications. 

What supporters say: Some lawmakers and advocacy groups say the bill could help fill labor shortages in various sectors, ultimately benefiting the state’s economy. 

What opponents say:  There hasn’t been a lot of public pushback.

Status: Passed the Senate and House and now heads to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here.

–Chamian Cruz, WABE Criminal Justice Reporter

Compensating the Wrongfully Convicted and Paying Trump’s Legal Bills (SB 244)

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.”

The legislation did not pass by the Crossover Day deadline, but has now been added to SB 244, a controversial bill that would have taxpayers reimburse defendants for legal expenses if the district attorney is disqualified from the case.

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,” Clark said in February. “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.”

Republican Sen. Brandon Beach says his initially separate proposal to compensate defendants in cases where the DA is disqualified would allow President Donald Trump and his co-defendants to have their legal fees reimbursed because Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis has been removed from the Georgia election interference case over allegations of misconduct. 

What opponents say:  Legislation to change the process for how the wrongfully convicted are compensated overwhelmingly passed the House with bipartisan support, but did not make it through the Senate last year. This year, the legislation failed to pass either chamber before Crossover Day.

Now it has been revived, but by including it in a very controversial bill, passage is again uncertain. 

Democrats, who have supported overhauling the process of compensating the wrongfully convicted, oppose the rest of the bill it has been inserted into. They say Fulton County taxpayers should not have to pay the legal fees of Trump and his co-defendants.

Status: Passed the Senate and House and now heads to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here.

—Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporters

Regulate Car Booting (HB 551)

What it does: The Georgia Department of Public Safety would regulate booters like they do tow companies.  

HB 551 would ban parking lot monitoring and payments from booters to property owners for the ability to operate on-site. 

What supporters say: “Booting companies are allowed under state law to monitor lots and sit and wait and so they just wait for people to walk into a store and sometimes they boot people that are legally parked but they do it because they know people aren’t gonna fight it they just pay the $75 and move on,” says Democratic Sen. Josh McLaurin. “That’s why you hear all these horror stories and everyone’s so mad about it.” 

“If your car gets booted within five minutes of you parking somewhere or if it gets booted in an apartment complex where you live, it’s a pretty safe bet that there’s a booting company sitting there monitoring it, and you can ask, you can figure out were you monitoring or did somebody place a phone call if somebody placed a phone call, who was it? Let me talk to that person. So you have a way of figuring out if they violated the law,” McLaurin says.

What opponents say: The legislation has received overwhelming bipartisan support.

Status: Passed the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here.

—Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporter

Click here to see the Justice & Safety bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day this year. 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 this page.

State Budget

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

– Housing (Full Descriptions below) –

Amended Fiscal Year 2025 Budget (HB 67)

What the bill does: The amended budget makes changes to the state budget currently funding the state government through June 30. Gov. Brian Kemp added $4.4 billion, bringing the total fiscal year 2025 budget to $40.6 billion. Much of that increase comes from the state’s $16 billion in rainy day and other surplus funds. The amended budget includes $615 million in hurricane aid and more than a billion for infrastructure projects. The House shifted another $197 million and the Senate $125 million toward storm recovery efforts.

What supporters say: State lawmakers are trying to move this budget quickly so hurricane relief can be pushed out after the governor signs it into law.

What opponents say:  While most Democrats will still vote for the budget, many question the governor’s use of surplus dollars for one-time expenses rather than investing in more transformative initiatives like a full expansion of Medicaid.

Status: Passed the House and Senate and signed into law by Gov. Kemp.

Learn more here.

–Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporter

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget (HB 68)

What the bill does: This is the proposed $37.7 billion budget that would take effect July 1, 2025. Some of the items highlighted by the governor’s office include $141 million for the state’s controversial new school voucher program called the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act and $76 million for capital projects on University System of Georgia campuses. There is also a bump in funding for the Department of Corrections including money for 330 additional correctional officer positions.

What supporters say: Most Republicans are backing Kemp’s priorities, including not spending the billions in surplus dollars the state has. Democrats continue to push for funding their priorities, including full federal Medicaid expansion.

What opponents say: Education advocates continue to criticize the use of state funds for the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act. In general, most Democrats will vote for the budget, but take issue with the governor’s priorities.

Status: Passed the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Kemp’s desk.

Learn more here.

–Rahul Bali, WABE Politics Reporter

– Jump to Category –
Business-Ecomony | Education | Enviromnent | Elections & Government | Health | Housing | Justice, Law, Safety | State Budget

Click here to see the State Budget bills that didn’t pass either chamber by Crossover Day this year. 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 this page.