Under the Gold Dome: April 1, 2025

This year, ACPC is keeping an eye on the Georgia General Assembly. Each week, we will highlight selected bills, report on critical topics, and preview the schedule for the upcoming week.

What just happened?

As the Georgia legislature hurtles to the end, this is the time to expect shenanigans, surprises and hot tempers. Last Friday, a small election bill—HB 397, allowing municipalities to choose whether or not to hold Saturday voting—suddenly morphed into a much larger bill that would further limit access to dropboxes for absentee ballots, give more power to the State Election Board, take authority away from the secretary of state’s office, and allow Georgia to leave the multi-state voter Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) database sharing system, which has a proven record of helping keep voter rolls updated. This new substitute bill passed out of the Senate Ethics Committee on Friday and will likely be voted on by the full Senate this week. 

Another highly controversial move by the Republican Senate this week is an example of a “zombie” or gutted bill. HB 127 was voted out of the House, with only three no votes. The bill originally provided additional personal leave days for teachers and other school personnel. Thursday, the Senate Committee on Education and Youth voted to approve a substitute to HB 127, taking language from SB 120 that prohibits references to diversity, equity and inclusion in state schools. SB 120 had been tabled in an earlier Senate committee. The substitute HB 127 also omitted the original provision to provide additional personal leave for teachers. You can watch the committee hearing by selecting the video for March 27. The Current provided a good description of the HB 127 discussion. 

Another skirmish in the GOP’s years-long war against public schools occurred Friday. HB 68 contains all the budget appropriations for the new fiscal year beginning in July. After the House passed its version, the Senate increased the state’s voucher program amount from $45 million to $141 million.  At the same time, the Senate reduced the amount going to low-income schools by $26 million. The difference will have to be worked out in a conference committee this week.  

What’s coming up next? 

Buckle up because this week will be a legislative rollercoaster ride before the last day, Sine Die—a Latin phrase meaning a meeting is adjourned without a day to return. With only three legislative days and two committee days, a long list of bills, including many of the most controversial, wait in the wings for consideration. 

For Monday alone, the House calendar listed 128 House bills or resolutions and 55 additional bills that have cleared the Senate. Some of these Senate bills are controversial and will garner lengthy and passionate debate on the House floor, including: 

• SB 36, the so-called Religious Freedom Act, could also be used to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals and other minorities. 
• SB 21 would waive immunity for local and county officials if they violate the state prohibition on sanctuary cities. 
• Two anti-trans bills are also on the House calendar for Monday: SB 1 (the Riley Gaines Act) and SB 30, which would prohibit minors from using hormone therapy and puberty blockers.
• SB 28, dubbed the Red Tape Rollback Bill, would require state agencies to review their rules every four years. Environmental advocates, such as the Georgia Water Coalition, are concerned that this bill would give state legislators the power to block regulations that implement the state’s laws. The bill passed out of the House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee and may be up for a House vote this week. 

On the Senate side, HB 268 was on Monday’s calendar to be debated on the floor. This bill attempts to make schools safer. It called for a statewide database of students who had the potential for violent acts, but this has been dropped. Yet, the bill does nothing to implement gun safety measures, one of the largest school safety concerns. 

Georgia is one of 27 states that allow the death penalty for certain crimes, and legislators have had little interest in doing away with it. Yet, HB 123 would make it less likely that someone with an intellectual disability might receive a sentence of death. This bill would enable defense attorneys to present evidence in pretrial motions of their client’s intellectual disability instead of waiting until the penalty phase of a death penalty trial. HB 123 passed unanimously out of the House and the Senate Judiciary Committee and may be voted on by the full Senate this week. 

HB 61 will likely be debated by the full Senate. Last week, the Senate Committee on Public Safety offered substitute language for this bill and renamed it the Georgia Anti-Squatters Act of 2025. This bill would allow a person who stays in a residential property, car, or motel without the owner’s permission to be charged with a misdemeanor and be required to pay the property owner based on the property’s fair market value. Housing advocates strongly oppose the bill. 

Advocacy Days 

Few groups have announced Advocacy Days, yet last-minute advocacy for bills can still be important. The Georgia Youth Justice Coalition is hosting an All Day, All In: Youth at the Capitol. Georgia Equality called its supporters to come to the Capitol any day this week, and find their staff on the third floor. Also, watch for Action Alerts from organizations you follow. They may ask for emails, phone calls, and visits to the Capitol on particular issues. 

Sen. Sally Harrell, in her most recent newsletter, offered the following Calls to Action for several legislative items: 

Call or email the Speaker Jon Burns’ office and ask him to keep the following bills off the House floor: jon.burns@house.ga.gov, 404-656-5052.

• Religious Freedom Bill (SB 36) which offers a license to discriminate based on religious views.
• Anti-Transgender Legislation (SB 30 & 39). One bans treatment for trans youth, and the other bans some health insurance coverage on state plans for gender afferming care. 

Call Lt. Governor Burt Jones’ Office and ask him to keep the following bills off the Senate floor: 404-656-5030 

• The elections bill HB 397 which bans the use of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) to help keep voter registration lists up-to-date, and limits absentee ballot drop-off the weekend before Election Day.
• The anti-DEI bill, (HB127) that would ban Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) programs in schools, and would ban school clubs and resource centers that offer speciallzed support for various groups. 

Call the Chairman of Senate Appropriations, Blake Tillery, to ask him to fund direct support for low-income schools rather than school vouchers: Send a message or call 404-656-5038