From the State House to the White House
Feb. 14, 2025 – Issue 05

The ground hog wasn’t kidding when he predicted we would have more winter weather. Despite the return of freezing temperatures, the General Assembly heated up as bills are making their way through the committee process and finding passage on the House and Senate Floor. More legislative priorities are being rolled out by leadership, and hundreds of pieces of legislation are in play as 22 days remain until Sine Die.

In this issue:

• The President is still signing EOs
• Tax Cliff update
• Tort reform passes out of committee
• Reducing the state income tax
• Cobb GAC heads to the Gold Dome
• New COS named
• Kennedy addresses school absenteeism
• Democrats unveil education funding legislation
• Senate hears about cell phone usage in schools
• Legislation of interest
• Local level: We love our small businesses
  
  

Update on Presidential Executive Orders

While the President continues to sign Executive Orders (EO) in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a memo summarizing business-related executive orders through Feb. 5, 2025. The Cobb Chamber is a member of and partner with the U.S. Chamber.

The EOs fall into the following broad issue categories:

• Government Operations
• Science & Technology
  
• Finance & Banking
  
• Trade & Foreign Affairs
  
• Energy & Environmental Policy
  
• Employment Policies
  
• Border Security & Immigration
  
• Revocation of Prior Executive Orders

To read the summary, please click here for more information.

Tax Cliff Update

The Cobb Chamber has also signed on to a letter spearheaded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce expressing support for “extending pro-growth tax policies that have raised workers’ wages, helped families weather inflation, and led to more well-paying jobs.”

The Cobb Chamber continues to work with our Congressional Delegation to correct the unintended consequences of the 2017 tax legislation. We firmly believe the individual, business, and estate tax provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) have been instrumental in helping achieve these goals and should be made permanent, avoiding a $4.5 trillion tax increase.

Update on Tort Reform

Introduced by Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy, the Governor’s legislation on tort reform passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. Sen. Kennedy presented substitute language to SB 68, which provided changes to provisions within the bill as introduced on Jan. 30. The bill is in the Senate Rules committee and available for consideration the week of Feb. 17.

• Section 1: Noneconomic Damages
• Allows an attorney to argue the monetary value of noneconomic damages only after the close of evidence, if it is supported by the evidence and does not include references to arbitrary or unsubstantiated anchors.
• Section 2: Answers and Discovery
• Sets deadlines for answers and motions and introduces a potential 90-day stay of discovery after a motion to dismiss is filed.
• A motion to dismiss triggers a potential 90-day discovery stay, requiring the court to rule within that timeframe. This aims to resolve preliminary legal issues before costly discovery.
• Section 3: Dismissal of Actions
• The proposed change would only allow the plaintiff to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit and refile it once. A second voluntary dismissal acts as a final judgement, preventing any further attempts to bring that case.
• Section 4: Attorney’s Fees
• Prevents attorneys from recovering fees multiple times
• Section 5: Seatbelt Admissibility
• Current law bars the admissibility of seatbelt usage as evidence of negligence or causation. The legislation would provide that the failure to wear a seatbelt may be considered as evidence.
• Section 6: Negligent Security
• Currently, business owners can be held liable for the actions of third parties on their premises. The changes would set the standards for when a negligent security claim can be brought, creating differing standards (invitee, licensee, trespasser). The bill mandates the apportionment of fault among all potentially responsible parties, including the property owner/occupier, the third party who committed the wrongful act, and any other contributing factors, in negligent security claims.
• The substitute includes a carve-out for human trafficking victims attempting to bring a claim.
• Section 7: Special Damages
• Adds a new section limiting recoverable medical expenses to those that are reasonable and customary. Sets specific rules for how insured plaintiffs can recover medical expenses. Includes provisions for the recovery of certain insurance premium costs under specific conditions.
• Section 8: Trial Bifurcation
• Currently, juries hear about liability and damages in a single trial. This bill would allow either party to elect to separate these two distinct aspects of trials. If passed, trials could be bifurcated so that juries could consider the liability question first and damages later.
  
  

Accelerating the State Income Tax Reduction

Available for action when the General Assembly reconvenes next week, Governor Kemp’s state income tax reduction and rebate bills have moved out of committee are in House Rules. HB 111 by Rep. Soo Hong would accelerate the reduction in the state income tax from 5.39 percent to 5.19 percent for 2025.  As part of previously passed legislation, the income tax rate will decrease 0.1 percent each year until it reaches 4.99 percent. The other bill, HB 112 by Rep. Lauren McDonald would provide for a one-time tax credit for all Georgia taxpayers who filed returns in 2023 and 2024. Single taxpayers would receive $250, married taxpayers filing jointly would receive $500, and taxpayers filing as heads of household would receive a $375 tax rebate. 

Government Affairs Committee Day at the Capitol

On Mon., Feb. 10th, the Cobb Chamber Government Affairs Committee (GAC) held its first official day at the Capitol. Led by GAC Chair Bert Reeves, 30 members of the GAC met at under the Gold Dome and had the opportunity to sit on the House floor, and to interact with various lawmakers from Cobb County and the State, including Chairwoman of the House Public and Community Health Committee Sharon Cooper; Chairman of the House Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Committee Don Parsons; Rep. Joseph Gullett; Rep. Devan Seabaugh; Rep. Mekyah McQueen, Governor Kemp’s Floor Leader, Rep. Matthew Gambill; and Senator Jason Esteves. Additionally, Scott Johnson, GAC member and chair of the Governor’s Council on Literacy, gave an update on current literacy rates in Georgia and about the work the council is doing.

Along with hearing from lawmakers, the Cobb Chamber GAC was honored with an afternoon order in the House Chamber by Rep. Seabaugh, and a point of personal privilege in the Senate by Chairwoman of the Senate Children and Families Committee, Kay Kirkpatrick. Both of those orders can be viewed at the following links: House Afternoon Order – Senate Point of Personal Privilege (scroll to the 1:14:01 mark).

Thank you to our lawmakers for taking time out of their demanding schedules to spend time with our group and thank you to the Cobb Chamber GAC members for their participation and representation of the Cobb County business community.

Chris Riley Named Interim Chief of Staff to
Speaker Jon Burns

This past weekend, the General Assembly and the State of Georgia learned that Terry England, Chief of Staff to Speaker Jon Burns, was injured in a heavy machinery accident. The Speaker announced on X that Terry had undergone a successful procedure to repair a serious spinal cord injury. Our thoughts and prayers are with Terry and his family as he recovers.

In Terry England’s absence, Chris Riley, former Chief of Staff to Governor Nathan Deal, will take over as Chief of Staff to the Speaker for the rest of the 2025 legislative session. While we are saddened by the circumstances, the Cobb Chamber congratulates Chris on his interim position and looks forward to working with him in his new role.

Senate President John Kennedy – Legislation to Combat School Absenteeism

On Wed., Feb. 13th, Senate President Pro-Temp John Kennedy released legislation aimed at tackling Georgia’s chronic school absenteeism issue. SB 123 will prohibit schools in Georgia from expelling students based solely on absenteeism, require local school districts to adopt policies that aid in and provide support to students struggling with absenteeism, and compel schools to establish attendance review teams that will report their efforts and progress to the General Assembly.

In a statement provided by Georgia Senate Press Office, Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy stated, “For far too long, absenteeism has affected our communities and inhibited Georgia students from reaching their full potential,”  “This legislation will enable local school districts to identify and implement protocols that directly address this issue, get our chronically absent students back in the classroom and ensure they have the necessary resources to build a foundation for future success.”

Sen. Jason Esteves and Rep. Phil Olaleye – Invest in Georgia Public Schools

This week, Cobb Delegation member Sen. Jason Esteves and Representative Phil Olaleye held a press conference regarding the current Georgia Public School Funding. Currently, Georgia Public Schools are funded based upon the Quality Basic Education Act (QBE), which was passed in Georgia in 1985.

Democrats Sen. Esteves and Rep. Olaleye stated that they believe the current QBE formula is an outdated way to fund schools in our state “because it does not account for poverty when funding schools.” In coordination with the press conference Sen. Esteves dropped SB 128, which would provide grants to eligible local units of administration for students living in poverty. The bill was assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee, where it awaits further action.

Photo credited to WABE

Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick – Cell Phone Usage in K-12 Schools Public Hearing

On Thurs., Feb, 11th, chaired by Cobb Delegation member Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, the Senate Children and Families Committee heard presentations from different organizations discussing phone use in schools and potential ways to limit distractions during school hours. Of the entities that presented to the committee, Marietta City Schools Superintendent Grant Riviera gave a look into what measures Marietta City Schools have used to limit cell-phone distractions in its middle schools.

Currently, the general assembly is looking at ways to limit cell phone distractions in Georgia schools. On Thurs., Feb.6th, Rep. Scott Hilton introduced HB 340, titled the “Distraction-Free Education Act.” The legislation would require local school systems and public schools to enact policies and procedures for the use of personal electronic devices at school and school sponsored events by students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Legislation of Interest:

SB 89 by Sen. Brian Strickland
Legislation which increases the amount of a tax credit based on the federal tax credit for certain child and dependent care expenses to 40 percent of such federal tax credit, and revises a tax credit for employers providing child care, decreases the number of children who use the facility that are required to be children of employees to qualify for such credit, and increases the amount of the credit. This legislation has been introduced on behalf of Lt. Governor Burt Jones as one of his session priorities.
Referred to the Senate Finance Committee

SB 124 by Sen. Shawn Still
Legislation which requires the State School Superintendent and the state Department of Education to take necessary steps to implement guidance documents from a federal agency including, but not limited to, directives related to expanding educational freedom and opportunities for families. Additionally, legislation makes promise scholarship accounts available to all students whose parent is an active-duty military service member stationed in Georgia.
Referred to the Senate Education and Youth Committee

SB 129 by Sen. John Albers
Legislation which increases the amount of a state-wide homestead exemption for certain totally disabled veterans and creates new state-wide homestead exemptions for certain partially disabled veterans and partially or totally disabled first responders.
Referred to the Senate Finance Committee

HB 108 by Representative Josh Bonner
Known as the “Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act” (SAVE Act), this legislation provides protections for veterans or veteran families seeking assistance on veterans’ benefits matters. The legislation sets up requirements for those seeking compensation for providing services such as advising, assisting, or consulting on veterans’ benefits matters.
Passed out of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee

HB 317 by Rep. Ron Stephens
Entitled the Workforce and Residential Infrastructure District (WRID) for Georgia Act, this is the reintroduction of legislation from the previous term that would provide for establishment of community development districts. A constitutional amendment would also need to pass before the creation of said districts could occur.
Referred to the House Committee on Governmental Affairs

HB 341 by Rep. Mark Newton
Legislation which creates a tax credit for certain employers that offer individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements to employees.
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee

HB 353 by Rep. Devan Seabaugh
Legislation which enacts the “Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act” and creates the Georgia Music Office.
Referred to the House Creative Arts and Entertainment Committee

HB 357 by Rep. Lehman Franklin
Legislation which provides for tax credits for certain contributions made by taxpayers to certain mortgage loan originators.
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee

HB 360 by Rep. Chuck Efstration
Legislation which revises a tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic structures and authorizes the credit to be claimed in the taxable year, the year a certificate of occupancy is obtained for certain preapproved rehabilitations.
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee

HB 361 by Rep. Bethany Ballard
Legislation which exempts from taxation all income received as retirement benefits derived from service in the armed forces of the United States or the reserve components thereof.
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee

HB 365 by Rep. Rick Jasperse
Known as the Strategic Industrial Development Enhancement (SIDE) Tax Credit Act. Legislation which creates a temporary income tax credit for certain expenditures relating to projects promoting industrial infrastructure enhancement and connectivity.
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee

HB 370 by Rep. Houston Gaines
Legislation which requires the property tax bill for any school district that opts out of the state-wide base year homestead exemption to state the total amount of the school district's reserve funds and requires a statement on the property tax bill regarding certain political subdivisions that do not have in effect a base year homestead exemption.
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee

HB 375 by Rep. Tyler Paul Smith
Legislation which would exclude overtime compensation from taxation and require reporting by employers.
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee

HB 376 by Rep. Scott Hilton
Legislation which increases the amount of tax credits available for the rehabilitation of certified structures.
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee

HB 396 by Rep. Lisa Campbell
Legislation which amends an Act to reincorporate and provide a new charter for the City of Acworth.
Referred to the House Intragovernmental Coordination Committee

HB 400 by Rep. Spencer Frye
Known as the Community Housing Options Increase Cost Efficiency (CHOICE) Act. Legislation which provides for a system whereby certain local governments may seek certifications from the Department of Community Affairs upon the enactment of certain policies that can be used to receive priority in grant and loan applications submitted to state agencies, as well as provides that the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority give priority to certified local governments when awarding grants and loans.
Referred to the House Governmental Affairs Committee

HB 402 by Rep. Spencer Frye
Legislation which provides for the establishment of renewable energy sources and renewable energy portfolio standard goals by the Public Service Commission for electric service providers, provides for the inclusion of existing or planned renewable energy resources in integrated resource plans, and authorizes the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to finance and perform certain duties in connection with projects relating to renewable energy facilities.
Referred to the House Regulated Industries Committee

HB 425 by Rep. James Burchett
Legislation which provides for a tax credit for the purchase of an emergency power generator and related components to convenience stores and grocery stores.
Referred to TBD

HB 431 by Rep. Todd Jones
Legislation which provides for a limitation on interchange fees charged by payment card networks for credit or debit card transactions at retailers.
Referred to TBD

HR 251 by Rep. Kimberly New
Legislation which proposes an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that all probate judges shall be elected in nonpartisan elections.
Referred to TBD

Next Week at the Capitol

Mon., Feb. 17 – No Session – President's Day
Tues., Feb. 18 – Legislative Day 18
Wed., Feb. 19 – Legislative Day 19
Thurs., Feb. 20 – Legislative Day 20
Fri., Feb. 21 – Legislative Day 21

Local Advocacy: We Love Our Small Businesses Event

The Cobb Chamber along with SelectCobb was happy to collaborate with the Town Center CID and Town Center Community Alliance to host a special breakfast for the small businesses located in and around Town Center Mall. Partnering with the Small Business Development Center at Kennesaw State University, the office of economic development within Cobb County Government and Greater Wealth Works, the Valentine’s Day breakfast provided small businesses with resources they might not have known about prior to this outreach. To watch the presentation, click here. In addition, a collaboration website was created to provide online resources to small businesses.

If you have any questions about the Cobb Chamber Government Affairs Committee, the Cobb Chamber legislative priorities or legislative advocacy in general, please reach out to Amanda Seals, Executive Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations.