On March 11, 2025, the following Georgia State Senate committees met to discuss bills to potentially advance:
- Retirement Committee voted on HB 78
- Children and Families heard HB 253 and voted on HB 175 and HB 181
- Higher Education HB 38 and HB 172
- Regulated Industries and Utilities voted on HB 34, HB 51, HB 219, HB 314, and HB 416
Select the associated links to read each bill in full.
Retirement Committee
HB 78
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), aims to allow the Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia to increase alternative investments from 5% to 10% to give employees more flexibility to diversify their portfolio. It also raises the Firefighter’s Retirement System from 15% to 20%.
The bill passed committee.
Children and Families
HB 175
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), aligns Georgia code with federal requirements regarding background checks and expands the entire ecosystem by which background checks will be applied.
The bill passed committee.
HB 181
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), aims to assist Georgia families engaging in international adoptions and facilitate the easiest and most streamlined process for these families by eliminating some duplicative requirements that make adoption more expensive and more difficult.
The bill passed committee.
HB 253
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), seeks to ban the practice of forcing children to attend out-of-state reunification camps with parents deemed unfit to have custody. Many of these children are cut from all support systems they have in Georgia and are forced to remain at these camps for an indeterminate amount of time with potentially physically and emotionally abusive parents. This bill will ensure children are not forced to cut contact with their custodial parent. Judges will still be allowed to order in-state counseling to work toward reunification but will no longer be permitted to order children to attend these out-of-state camps.
The bill was heard and will return to committee at a later date.
Higher Education
HB 38
This bill amends the Georgia College Completion Grant Program, a 3-year program that will be ending this year. To be eligible, students must currently be enrolled in a University System of Georgia (USG), Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), or participating private postsecondary institution and must have completed a certain percentage of their degree; this percentage depends on the type of degree program. HB 38 also extends the program’s sunset clause to 2029.
The bill passed committee.
HB 172
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), relates to a tuition-reimbursement program for large food animal industry veterinarians in Georgia. These veterinarians can receive up to $90,000 in reimbursement, with no more than $30,000 per year. This bill will allow the veterinarians to apply once and remain in the program instead of reapplying each year so long as they meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
The bill passed committee.
Regulated Industries and Utilities
HB 34
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), aims to establish a system for professional licensing boards to electronically track continuing education compliance to streamline the process and help with some of the licensure issues Georgia is facing. This system will provide enhanced efficiency, improved compliance, cost savings, and public protection.
The bill passed committee.
HB 51
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), clarifies that the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) can offer low-interest loans to municipalities for expanding natural gas distribution similar to what has been offered for water and wastewater systems. These loans would alleviate concerns that rural counties would have to turn down capital investment opportunities due to a lack of available natural gas.
The bill passed committee.
HB 219
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), creates a system that allows healthcare providers to voluntarily give up their licenses due to impairment, receive counseling and treatment, and earn their license back.
The bill passed committee.
HB 314
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), is designed to protect Georgians from unlicensed people acting as athletic trainers. Athletic trainers and physical therapists must have certification.
The bill passed committee.
HB 416
This bill, discussed previously (see HERE), creates an Enterprise Zone, which are locations that have been chronically underdeveloped for 20 years or more and in which there is a proposed redevelopment project with a minimum of $400 million capital investment.
The bill passed committee.
