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The Georgia General Assembly continued its annual session with committee meetings for House Agriculture, House Natural Resources, House Ways & Means, House Appropriations Subcommittees, and Senate Finance–to name a few. The biggest development this week was the House of Representatives passed its version of the supplemental FY 2025 appropriations bill. The “little budget” is the first of two major funding measures the General Assembly will consider this spring.
In the House’s “little budget” was a line item to add $150 million to the Georgia Development Authority for low interest loans to producers affected by Hurricane Helene. The Governor used emergency powers to allocate $100 million to the GDA loan program, SAFETY 24, in late 2024. According to testimony from Commissioner Tyler Harper (who serves as Ex-Officio chair of the development authority), GDA was able to issue loans for all $100 million initial funds and still had $150 million in unfunded applications left over.
Bills of Interest:
HB 82 - Georgia Guest Worker Act by Reps. Reeves, Martinez, Oliver, Powell, Werkheisier, and Hutchinson.
A bill creating a state-operated guest worker program under GA DOL.
Status: Assigned to House Industry & Labor Committee
HB 90 - CUVA Acreage Cap Increase by Reps. Dickey, Efstration, Hagan, Buckner
A bill to increase the acreage cap from 2,000 to 4,000 for land to be assessed and taxed that qualifies as a conservation use property.
Status: Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee
HB 111- Reduce Individual Income Tax Rate by Reps. Hong, Gambill, McDonald, Wade, Williamson, and others.
A bill to lower the individual state income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19% for tax year 2025 and then reduce it by 0.10% annually until it reaches 4.99% - provided that certain economic metrics are met.
Status: Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee
HB 129 - Remove Limitation on Leased Property Under CUVA by Reps. Cannon, Burchett, Dickey, Corbett, Huddleston, and Ford
This bill would allow non-eligible entities (corporations, LLCs, etc.) to lease property if the owners of the entity meet the individual CUVA qualifications and keep that leased property under CUVA requirements.
Status: Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee
HB 143 - Revise Requirements for Metering of Water Withdrawals in Certain Cases by Reps. Dickey, Smith, Yearta, Greene, Cannon and others.
Returns responsibility to install metering devices and infrastructure on systems associated with certain withdrawal permits to EPD. Previously, permit holders were required to install their own devices to meet EPD standards. This bill would return the responsibility of identifying specific permits and withdrawal permits and installing such monitoring devices to the State.
Status: Assigned to House Natural Resources Committee
HB 164 - Truck Weights by Reps. Meeks, Hagan, Buckner, Dickey, Cannon, and Frye
A bill to remove the sunset provision from 2023 truck weights bill and make increased variance permanent. Also gives local law enforcement the authority to ticket violators using bridges within a county road system or municipal street system.
Status: Assigned to House Transportation Committee
HB 169 - Solar Generation Carveout from CUVA, Restrict by Reps. Cannon, Dickey, Corbett, O’Steen, Huddleston, and others
This bill will restrict carve out provision for removal of land from CUVA for purpose of solar power generation to contracts and obligations prior to July 1, 2025 and would remove the carve out moving forward.
Status: Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee
HB 223 - Excluding Disaster Relief and Assistance Grant Payments from Hurricane Helene from Taxable Net Income by Reps. Burchett, Efstration, McDonald, Hong, Gambill, Wade
Under this bill, income received as payments from a federal disaster relief or assistance grant administered by the state or USDA to address agricultural losses related to Hurricane Helene would not be considered taxable income income for state income tax purposes. It also creates a timber tax credit for timber land impacted by Helene and adds building materials used to repair poultry houses and livestock barns to products eligible for the GATE program for a limited time.
Status: Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee
HB 228 - Creates Separate Dairy License for “Farmsteads” by Reps. Horner, Ja. Ridley, Cannon, Jo. Ridley, Cox, and Kelley
Creates a new “Farmstead” production and manufacturing license for farms that produce milk and process milk into Class II, Class III, or Class IV products. It would exempt farmsteads from milk testing requirements except antibiotic and odor. GMP is watching this bill closely and discussing it with GA Dept. of Ag and House Ag Committee
Status: Assigned to House Agriculture Committee
SB 21 - End Sanctuary Cities by Sens. Tillery, Brass, Walker, Harbin, Burns, and others.
A bill to prohibit counties, municipalities, or other governmental entities from enacting sanctuary policies regarding immigration.
Status: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee
SB 43 - Increase CUVA Acreage Cap by Sens. Summers, Brass, Goodman, Watson, Anderson, and others
A bill that would raise the acreage cap under CUVA from 2,000 acres to 6,000 acres.
Status: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee
SB 45 - Increase CUVA Acreage Cap by Sens. Watson, Hickman, Goodman, Anderson, and Kennedy
Similar to HB 90, this bill would increase the acreage cap under CUVA from 2,000 to 4,000.
Status: Assigned to Senate Finance Committee
SB 59 - Allow Leased Property to Qualify for CUVA by Sens. Watson, Hickman, Goodman, Anderson, Summers, and Echols
Senate companion to HB 129, this bill would allow non-eligible entities (corporations, LLCs, etc.) to lease property if the owners of the entity meet the individual CUVA qualifications and keep that leased property under CUVA requirements.
Status: Assigned to Senate Finance
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