A tax cut, a bill launching a new scholarship program and a fiscal budget that addresses mental health crisis and other measures are among new pieces of legislation Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law this week.
Kemp had until Tuesday to either sign or veto bills passed by the Georgia General Assembly.
Last week, he inked his signature on 30 new laws. This week, he added 16 more to the cluster.
The massive $38.5 billion budget expands the HOPE scholarship program, funds 988 hotline to help with the mental health crisis and aids farmers and foresters still recovering from Hurricane Helene damage. (See the full budget.)
Before signing, Kemp had to first reduce the budget by $300 million, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
"When I introduced my balanced budget recommendation in January, it was based on a general fund revenue estimate of $36.6 billion. With the tax cuts the General Assembly passed, and I signed into law yesterday, the state must now address a reduction in revenue for this coming fiscal year of nearly $1 billion, and that’s assuming we don’t have an economic downturn. That’s money that has to be accounted for in a balanced budget, because as long as I’m governor, Georgia will not follow in the steps of Washington, D.C. where too many politicians refuse to make the tough decisions necessary to keep spending in check."
Gov. Brian Kemp
Here's every bill Kemp signed into law this week in Georgia:
“When Georgians across the state made clear that affordability was the number one issue they faced, Republican leadership delivered real, meaningful relief that allows hardworking taxpayers to keep more of their money where it belongs - in their pockets,” Speaker of the House Jon Burns said in a news release.
“From another historic income tax rebate and rate reduction to property tax relief and lower costs at the pump, the Georgia House was proud to champion measures delivering results when and where they were needed most.”
HB 1129, sponsored by Rep. Devan Seabaugh, was a legislative priority of Kemp. It creates guardrails for state-designated enterprise zones.
HB 1185, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Efstration, was another priority for the Kemp Administration. It modernizes complex corporate litigation policies and revises some standards around the Georgia Statewide Business Court.
SB 33 was a priority of Speaker Jon Burns. It enacts broad property tax reform by establishing a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax aimed at providing homeowner tax relief and improving local fiscal management.
SB 111 was supported by Rep. Angie O'Steen and expands the eligibility criteria for rural hospital organizations to include rural freestanding emergency departments and lowers indigent care thresholds, ultimately broadening access to tax-credit-eligible contributions for rural healthcare providers in Georgia.
HB 328, sponsored by Rep. Kasey Carpenter, increases the tax credit for student scholarship organizations, expands student eligibility and increases accountability measures for program providers.
HB 445, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Martin, expands the right of business owners in Georgia to appeal tax reassessments of certain high-value tangible personal property to a hearing officer and establishes new qualifications and procedures for officers handling appeals.
HB 463 lowers Georgia's state income tax rate from 5.19 percent to 4.99 percent, beginning Jan. 1. It includes provisions for further annual reductions of the state income tax rate, as well as increases of the standard deduction. It raises the retirement income exclusion to $70,000 beginning in 2027 and introduces temporary tax exclusions for qualified overtime compensation and cash tips through 2028. It also repeals some tax credits and sales and use tax exemptions. This legislation fulfills Kemp's promise to accelerate the largest state income tax cut in state history, reaching a rate below 5 percent three years ahead of schedule.
HB 987, sponsored by Rep. Todd Jones, codifies a voluntary framework for independent contractors to receive portable benefits through dedicated accounts, allowing contributions without affecting their employment classification.
HB 1209, sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens, establishes a limited sales and use tax exemption for construction materials used in specific developments near certain state-owned convention facilities.
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"I am proud to support our continued efforts to grow and support Georgia's workforce," Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said in a news release. "We've made tremendous progress over the last few years in ensuring that every student, whether they are college bound or wanting to pursue a trade, has great opportunities to choose the best path forward for them."
SB 556, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Payne, was a legislative priority of Kemp and codifies the Georgia DREAMS Scholarship program under the Georgia Student Finance Commission. It also allows fine arts courses to count towards a student's HOPE GPA; establishes a scholarship program for medical students; requires TCSG and USG institutions to maintain a supply of opioid antagonists subject to community funding sources; increases the cap on contributions to 529 Plans and allows for a $2,000 tax credit for contributions to out of state 529 Plans until 2030; removes the requirement for part-time, work study students at TCSG institutions to make retirement contributions; and requires Georgia Lottery reserves to be held at whichever is greater of net proceeds and base lottery spend. This bill includes priorities of Speaker Jon Burns, USG, TCSG, and GSFC and was supported by Rep. Chuck Martin, Sen. Max Burns, Rep. Lee Hawkins and Rep. Carter Barrett.
HB 1328, sponsored by Rep. Will Wade, allows for additional candidates to receive a University of North Georgia military scholarship subject to available funding.
HB 541, sponsored by Rep. Katie Dempsey, expands the Tuition Equalization Grant program to students pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing at a proprietary institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and has a National Council Licensure Examination four-year average pass rate if at least 80 percent.
SB 432, sponsored by Sen. President Pro Tempore Larry Walker, is legislation supported by USG and TCSG that prevents tuition, technology fees and other certain funds from lapsing annually through 2030.
SB 553, sponsored by Sen. Bo Hatchett, reflects Kemp's priority to improve Georgia's regulatory environment by establishing clear pathways to licensure for certain construction industry professions.
HB 1254, sponsored by Rep. Matt Reeves, also builds on the Kemp administration priority of regulatory reform, moving a number of licensing boards to the Secretary of State.
HB 1302, sponsored by Rep. Matt Gambill, was a priority of Kemp and is the culmination of his Top State for Talent Initiative. Known as the Education and Workforce Strategy Act, it renames the Governor's Office of Student Achievement to the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy and empowers the office to coordinate with relevant state agencies on workforce development initiatives. It also attaches the State Workforce Development Board to GOEWS, requires combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Perkins plans, designates TCSG as the State Apprenticeship Agency, and creates one unified state workforce plan following the development of the statewide high-demand career list by HB 982 in 2024.
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