On February 12, 2025, the following three Georgia State Senate committees met to discuss bills to potentially advance:
- Government Oversight voted on SB 46 and SB 96
- Finance voted on SB 45, SB 59, and SB 89
- Health and Human Services voted SB 30, SB 95, and SB 91
Select the associated links to read each bill in full.
Government Oversight
SB 46
This bill would create a department within the state government that would gather customer experience data and distribute it back to the government as feedback for improvement. Customers in this case are the people of Georgia. The Georgia Technology Authority would lead this department and be responsible for hiring high-level staff. This bill is intended to help establish a means to determine the effectiveness of the government when it works for or interacts with the people.
The bill passed committee.
SB 96
This bill would repeal boards that are inactive or perform duplicative duties. The following would be eliminated or have their responsibilities consolidated in other government entities:
- Environmental Advisory Council
- Jekyll Island Citizens Resource Council
- Stakeholder Advisory Council
- Governor’s Office for Children and Families
- Georgia Volunteer Fire Service Council
- Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council
- Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness
- Board of Homeland Security
- Employment First Georgia Council
- Georgia State Games Commission
- Lottery Retailer Advisory Board
The bill passed committee.
Finance
SB 45
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE) would increase the maximum acreage qualified for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation-use property. The maximum would be increased from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres.
The bill passed committee.
SB 59
This bill would change the assessment of bona fide conservation-use property. Currently, no property shall qualify as bona fide conservation-use property if it is leased to a person or entity which would not be entitled to conservation-use assessment. The bill provides exceptions to this provision. If they meet qualifying criteria, entities such as a corporation, partnership, general partnership, limited partnership, limited corporation, or a limited liability company registered with the Secretary of State could lease land for conservation use. The primary requirement is that the land is used for agricultural production. This bill would allow farmers to partner together, if desired, to reduce the cost of conducting business.
The bill passed committee.
SB 89
This bill will expand two tax credits and create a new one for child care in the state. Qualifying taxpayers can currently receive a tax credit up to 30% of the federal amount for child and dependent care; this bill would increase that to 40%. The tax credit for employers sponsoring or providing child care would be increased from 75% of the operating cost to 90%.
The limit on this tax credit would increase from 50% to 75% of the taxpayer’s income tax liability. The new tax credit from this bill would allow taxpayers with children under the age of 7 to receive a $250 credit.
The bill passed committee.
Health and Human Services
SB 30
This bill would prohibit the prescription or administering of certain hormone therapies and puberty-blocking medications for certain purposes to minors. The purpose in this case is for the treatment of gender dysphoria.
The bill passed committee.
SB 91
This bill prevents the State of Georgia from entering into, executing, or renewing a contract or contracts for state employee health insurance plans with any pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) who owns or has an ownership interest in any retail pharmacy or with any legal entity that contracts with or uses such PBM. PBMs are vertically integrating businesses together, giving them a sort of monopoly on the sale of pharmaceuticals. The bill accepts that PHMs are beneficial, but these individuals should either negotiate rates with a retail pharmacy or choose to be a retail pharmacy, not both.
The bill passed committee.
SB 95
This bill amends the certificate-of-need exemption available to life plan communities to expand their number of available beds. A life plan community will take a person from a townhouse or condominium to assisted living and eventually to a skilled nursing home and hospice.
The bill was heard only and will be voted at a later date.
