From the State House to the White House
March 21, 2025 – Issue 10

What do Brunswick Stew, Sugarcane Syrup, Cornbread and companies owned by China have in common? If you are under the Gold Dome, these morsels are suited to fall under Chapter 4 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to holidays and observances and state government and now all live happily in the Senate Substitute to HB 233. Yes, loyal readers, it is that time of the year at the State Capitol where Christmas Trees and Frankenbills are being created left and right, while members of the House and Senate try to get their bills out in year one of the two-year biennium.

What do we mean? Legislative lingo can be tricky so here are a few terms to embrace as you read From the Capitol Steps in the final weeks of the 2025 session as outlined by longtime Capitol reporter James Salzer in his infamous article, How to Speak Like a Georgia Legislator:

Crossover: The day after which, hypothetically, bills are dead for the session if they haven’t passed either chamber. No bill is really dead until the session ends. And even then not always.

Christmas tree: A bill that gets lots of other bills amended to it, generally at the end of the session. Common with tax-break legislation. See: Vehicle. See: Frankenbill

Frankenbill: Stitching together parts of a piece of legislation that did not crossover to one that did. Common late in the legislative session. See: Christmas tree

Vehicle: A piece of harmless legislation used by lawmakers to carry another measure they really want to pass. The bill they want to pass gets amended onto the vehicle. See: Christmas tree.

Now that you are up to speed, let’s get to the newsletter.

In This Issue:

• Calculate your Tax Increase
• Georgia State Senator to Become Next Secretary
• Tort Reform
• New Labor Commissioner
• Weekly Meeting of the Cobb Legislative Delegation
• Legislation of Interest
• Chamber Members Under the Gold Dome
• What’s Next
  
  

FEDERAL UPDATE

Qualified Business Income (QBI) Tax Increase Calculator

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has introduced the Qualified Business Income (QBI) Tax Increase Calculator. This tool helps business owners estimate the potential tax impact if the 20% QBI deduction expires at the end of 2025.

The 20% QBI deduction, part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, significantly reduces the tax burden for pass-through businesses. If it expires, many businesses could face higher taxes, affecting their ability to invest and grow.

The QBI deduction is crucial for over 95% of U.S. businesses, which are classified as pass-through entities. Without action, the top marginal tax rate for these businesses could increase from 29.6% to 39.6% in 2026.

For the past two years, the Cobb Chamber along with the Georgia and U.S. Chambers, has advocated for the permanent extension of the QBI deduction to support business growth and economic stability. We encourage business owners to use the calculator to understand the potential impact.

Calculate Your Tax Increase

Another Georgian Heads To Washington, D.C.

Senate officials announced today the appointment of state Senator Brandon Beach as the next Secretary of the Treasury. Beach will resign his seat, and a special election will be set for SD 21, which includes portions of Cherokee and Fulton Counties. As treasurer, Beach would oversee the U.S. Mint, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the storage of gold at Fort Knox. In this role, he will serve as an adviser to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He does not need U.S. Senate approval to assume the post. Prior to campaigning full-time for the president in 2024, Beach served as the head of the Develop Fulton economic development agency.

STATE UPDATE

Tort Reform Passes with a Few Tweaks

Week 10 of the legislative session brought more testimony and ultimately, the final passage of Governor Kemp’s legislative priority, tort reform. SB 68 limits when businesses can be sued for injuries that occur on their property, with exceptions for some victims of sex crimes. The substitute bill allows  the court to determine if whether someone was wearing his or her seatbelt in a car accident is relevant to a case; provides clarifying an exception for sex trafficking victims under the premises liability section; ensures bifurcated trials are held back-to-back and with the same judge; and creates an exception for trial bifurcation if the case involves a minor suing for a sexual offense, or if the amount in controversy is less than $150,000. 

In addition, Speaker Jon Burns and House leadership filed a resolution to establish a study committee tasked with examining the insurance industry's rate-setting practices and profit margins while exploring strategies to increase competition and reduce premiums

SB 69, the ‘Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act,’ which would regulate third-party litigation financing practices in the state, will receive its first hearing in the Rules Subcommittee on Lawsuit Reform on Tues., March 25.  As a reminder, the measure was unanimously approved by the Senate last month.

How Did the Cobb Legislative Delegation Vote on SB 68?

Governor Appoints New Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner

On Tues., March 18, Bárbara Rivera Holmes was appointed as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor by Governor Brian Kemp and will be sworn into office on April 4th. She will serve the remainder of the term won by Bruce Thompson in 2022, who sadly passed away last November.

"Marty and I are proud to make this historic announcement and to congratulate Bárbara Rivera Holmes on her new leadership role that will benefit our entire state," said Governor Brian Kemp. "As someone who has a proven track record of success in economic development and education, I know she will bring the same level of dedication to this position that she has to the people of Dougherty County and the surrounding area. I wish her continued success, both for her career and office, but especially on behalf of the hardworking people of Georgia."

Currently, Holmes is president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. She is also CEO of the Albany Area Chamber Foundation. Previously, she served as Vice President of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission (ADEDC), overseeing the development of its brand, marketing campaigns, and its successful business retention and expansion program which facilitates existing industry job creation and capital investment in Albany-Dougherty County. Prior to her work at the ADEDC, Holmes was the senior business writer with The Albany Herald, where she earned four Georgia Associated Press awards for excellence in journalism.

In 2018, she was appointed by former Governor Nathan Deal to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and served as co-chair of the Georgia Innovates Task Force to help design the state’s innovation blueprint. Earlier this year, Governor Brian Kemp appointed Holmes to the House Rural Development Council.

A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Holmes is fluent in Spanish and is the first Latina in Georgia to serve in a constitutional office.

Cobb County Legislative Delegation Update

Multiple leaders from Cobb County presented at the Cobb Legislative Delegation meeting this past Tues., March 18, including Cobb County Sheriff, Craig Owens, who gave an update on the Sheriff’s Department and provided updates on the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

Katie Pearson, Chief Operating Officer at Northside Hospital – Cherokee, presented to the delegation about Northside Hospital – Cherokee and emphasized the importance of the services that Northside Hospital – Cherokee provides to the residents of Cobb County.

Elaine Armster with LinkScape360 joined the delegation and gave happy Women’s History Month remarks and advocated on behalf of women-owned small businesses within Cobb County.

Legislation of Interest:

SB 6 by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick
Legislation which authorizes that drug analysis testing equipment used to determine whether a controlled substance or its packaging has been adulterated is not considered a drug related object.
Passed out of the House

SB 28 by Sen. Greg Dolezal
This bill is known as the “Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025” and establishes a new requirement for small business impact analyses for proposed legislation, mandating that state agencies evaluate the potential economic consequences of new bills on small businesses
Passed out of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee by Substitute

SB 36 by Sen. Ed Setzler
Known as the “Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act”, this bill would prohibit a government, from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion. This bill did not pass out of the House Judiciary Committee, however a motion to reconsider was approved meaning the bill currently still sits in the House Judiciary Committee.
Currently in House Judiciary Committee

SB 109 by Sen. Ed Harbison
Legislation which prohibits a policy of group life insurance from excluding or restricting liability for certain deaths occurring while an individual is an active-duty service member.
Passed out of the House (172 – 0) without changes

SB 180 by Sen. Clint Dixon
Legislation relating to the High Demand Apprenticeship Program. This bill provides opportunities for apprenticeship sponsors to enter into apprenticeship program contracts with the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia.
Passed out of the House Higher Education Committee

SB 193 by Sen. Matt Brass
Legislation which authorizes the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to establish the adult workforce high school diploma program.
Passed out of the House Higher Education Committee by Substitute

SB 207 by Sen. Brian Strickland
Legislation which creates a preclearance process in the licensing of individuals with criminal records who make applications to or are investigated by certain licensing boards and commissions.
Passed out of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

SB 236 by Sen. Kenya Wicks
Legislation which would provide that certain students whose parents or guardians are on active duty in the United States armed forces are eligible for enrollment in the public school of the attendance zone in which they intend to reside regardless of whether they have entered into a lease, purchased a house, or otherwise secured housing within such attendance zone. The House Education Committee provided a friendly amendment to the legislation which provides that the students or parents are now given a 90-day provisional period to provide a written notice that the student or parent is intending to establish residency.
Passed out of the House Education as Amended

HB 108 by Rep. Josh Bonner
Legislation which is known as the “Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act or SAVE Act” and provides certain protections for veterans and other eligible persons applying for benefits.
Passed out of the Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee

HB 148 by Rep. John Carson
Legislation which updates Georgia's Public Accountancy Act by revising several key provisions related to certified public accountant (CPA) certification, licensure, and practice requirements. The bill introduces more flexible pathways for obtaining CPA certification.
Passed out of the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee

HB 216 by Rep. Vance Smith
Legislation which establishes the Georgia Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Advanced Technology Commission.
Passed out of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee

HB 266 by Rep. Steven Sainz
Legislation which exempts from state income tax income received as personal compensation for full-time duty in the active military service of the United States. The prior language of HB 266 stated that the exemption would not exceed $35,000 for the taxable year beginning on Jan. 1, 2027 and then would increase by $5,000 annually until the amount reached $65,000. Last week, the Senate Finance Committee passed a substitute version of the bill which changed the language to reflect that of SB 31 by Sen. Greg Dolezal. This new version of HB 266 exempts ALL income received as retirement benefits derived from service in the armed forces of the United States or the reserve components.
HB 266 Substitute was Engrossed and Passed out of the Senate (53 - 2)

HB 340 by Rep. Scott Hilton
Known as the “Distraction Free Education Act”, this legislation would mandate that no public school student in kindergarten through grade eight will be permitted to access personal electronic devises during the school day, beginning July 1, 2026, and require each local school system to adopt related policies and procedures.
Passed out of the Senate Children and Families Committee

Members Under the Gold Dome

City of Mableton Day at the State Capitol

The City of Mableton held their “City of Mableton Day at the State Capitol” this Thursday, March 20th. City of Mableton leadership, including Mayor Michael Owens, business leaders, community leaders, and residents had the opportunity to hear from lawmakers, visit both the House and Senate chambers, and advocate on behalf of the City of Mableton to legislators while at the State Capitol.

Next Week at the Capitol

Mon., March 24 – Recess Day
Tues., March 25 – Legislative Day 35
Wed., March 26 – Committee Work Day
Thurs., March 27 – Legislative Day 36
Fri., March 28 – Legislative Day 37

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.