On February 5, 2025, the following five Georgia House of Representatives committees met to discuss bills to potentially advance:
- Banks and Banking voted on HB 15
- Higher Education heard HB 56 and HB 172
- Technology & Infrastructure Innovation heard HB 58 and HB 156 voted on HB 147
- Governmental Affairs voted on HB 137 and HB 155
- Ways and Means voted on HB 92
Select the associated links to read each bill in full.
Banks and Banking
HB 15
This is an annual housekeeping bill designed to update standard language throughout the code to make the code more efficient and to modernize banking processes. Banks chartered in Georgia that need to relocate a branch or make a name change now need to simply notify the state.
The bill passed committee.
Higher Education
HB 56
This bill relates to Georgia Public Security Memorial Grant (GPSMG); it passed committee last year but did not have time to make it to the floor for a vote. The GPSMG provides free college and university tuition for children of law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency technicians, paramedics, and prison guards killed in the line of duty. This grant applies only to full-time students for undergraduate and graduate studies as well as tuition to private institutions. HB 56 seeks to add spouses of these fallen public servants to the grant and also allow them to receive the grant while being part-time students.
The bill received positive feedback and will be brought back to committee at a later date.
HB 172
This bill ran out of time on the Senate floor last session; it relates to a tuition-reimbursement program for large food animal industry veterinarians in Georgia. Currently, program applicants have to apply each year, but HB 172 seeks to allow applicants to apply once every 3 years. Recipients must serve for at least 3 years in counties with fewer than 50,000 residents.
The bill received positive feedback and will be brought back to committee at a later date.
Technology & Infrastructure Innovation
HB 58
This bill would make it unlawful to fly an unmanned aircraft system within or above 400 feet of a ticketed entertainment event. A ticketed entertainment event includes any music, sporting, or performing arts event as well as any public fireworks exhibition or display held in a location with gated entries or barriers that prevent access to the general public. The purpose of this bill is to improve public safety at large gatherings.
The bill was deemed to require additional discussion, and no vote was conducted.
HB 147
This bill would require an inventory of artificial intelligence systems used by state agencies. The inventory includes the name and description of the system, the system’s use, and any impact assessments made prior to implementation. In addition to the inventory, this bill would require policies and procedures be developed concerning the development, procurement, implementation, utilization, and ongoing assessment of artificial intelligence systems used by agencies.
The bill passed committee.
HB 156
This bill would allow for vertiports to be recognized as a general aviation facility. Vertiports are defined as a designated area specifically designed for the landing, takeoff, and servicing of aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing. This designation would allow general aviation facilities to receive federal grants. The additional funding could enable widespread use of air services, like taxis, to improve travel in and around the city.
The bill was read with no vote conducted.
Governmental Affairs
HB 137
This bill increases the Public Works purchasing limit that triggers mandatory bidding from $100,000 to $250,000, which has been in place since 2001 and has never been adjusted. This adjustment is based on inflationary factors. The bill covers municipalities, local governments, county commissions, and state agencies.
The bill passed committee.
HB 155
This bill relates to the annexation-dispute resolution process, specifically issues regarding filling arbitration panels. Many annexations are ending in a non-appointment of an arbitration panel and are being referred to the judicial system. This bill aims to stop that and allow the process to work as intended. As such, the bill permits the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to more easily create these panels by giving the DCA the option to use county managers and administrators as well as city managers and administrators as long as they meet certain qualifications.
Additionally, the bill increases the deadline for creating these panels from 15 calendar days to a total of 20 business days and increases how much the participants are paid. The DCA can now replace members on the panel if the participant must step down.
With an amendment to specify that panel participants will be paid $100 for their service, the bill passed committee.
Ways and Means
HB 92
This bill now contains guardrails concerning the estimated rollback; if levying authorities do not opt-in to the Homestead Exemption, the calculated millage rate will be based on the previous year’s estimate. The opt-out date has been delayed from March 1 to March 31. Local authorities that do not opt-out of the Homestead Exemption will be automatically included, but the option to opt-out will remain open through March 31, 2029. Homesteads are now defined as having at least 5 acres.
The bill passed committee.
