Guest Column: Legislative update from Ga. Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe)

Dear Friends, 
The 2025 Legislative Session is underway—it’s hard to believe we are already six weeks in. This is my introductory newsletter, recapping all that has happened so far at the Capitol. From here on out, I will provide a weekly newsletter about all the exciting developments taking place under the Gold Dome. If you know anyone who would also be interested in receiving this newsletter, please forward this email or have them contact my office to be added to our email list. 
The House is scheduled to address many issues this session, including relief for Georgia farmers and timber producers affected by Hurricane Helene, tort reform, tax relief, investments in school safety, protection of girls’ sports, and improvements in healthcare and mental health services. 
As for myself, I am pleased to report that I have been elected by my colleagues to serve as the House Majority Caucus Chairman for the 2025-2026 term. In this role, I will oversee the operations of the House Majority Caucus by presiding over caucus meetings, managing incumbent re-elections, leading candidate recruitment efforts, and other key responsibilities.
Now onto the News!

State of the State Address
Governor Kemp delivered his State of the State Address to a joint session of the House and Senate. In this address, he recapped all the challenges our state has faced over the past six years, including  COVID-19, a recession, hurricanes, tornadoes, unrest, and threats to public safety. Throughout these challenges, Georgians have risen to meet them. Governor Kemp stated in his address, “Tough times don’t last-tough people do. The state of our state is not only strong; it is resilient!”
Highlights from the Address: Relief for Georgia farmers and timber producers recovering from Hurricane Helene.Lower the state income tax AGAIN from 5.39% to 5.19%, saving Georgians 7.5 billion over 10 years.Address tort reform to keep Georgia the #1 state to do business.Invest in school safety.Continue the work of the GRACE commission in stopping the exploitation and trafficking of humans.Improve the quality of healthcare and mental health services.

Governor Kemp Unveils Tort Reform PackageTort reform is a term used to address lawsuit abuse. Georgia must address its legal environment to remain the #1 state for business. This tort reform package will level the playing field in our courtrooms, stabilize insurance costs, and ban foreign governments from influencing our legal proceedings.

Here is a partial list of reforms:

• Reevaluates the Standard for Negligent Security Liability, ensuring businesses are only held liable for what they can control.
• Truthful Calculation of Medical Damages in Personal Injury cases, requires plaintiffs to only seek damages in the amount that is actually paid, with no inflated costs.
• Eliminated the Ability to Arbitrarily Anchor Pain and Suffering Damages to a Jury: prohibits the use of anchoring tactics by attorneys so the jury can use their own discretion. 
• Bans foreign adversaries from using our litigation system to undermine our security and interests.

Governor Kemp Unveils Tort Reform Package

Speaker Burns Unveils Comprehensive School Safety Plan The House has unveiled its package to address a comprehensive school safety plan. The Georgia House is committed to ensuring that a tragedy like the one that occurred at Apalachee High School never happens again. House Bill 268 takes steps to require communication between state agencies, law enforcement, and local school systems. It provides recurring school safety grants, and increases mental health resources.

HB 268 Highlights:

• Requires the sharing of records between school systems and agencies.
• Requires a transferring student to provide all academic and disciplinary records before enrolling.
• Requires a “qualified mental health coordinator” and grants for local school systems to hire them.
• Requires students in the 6th grade and above to have an hour of suicide awareness and prevention training as well as one hour of youth violence prevention training annually.
• Requires that schools adopt the use of an anonymous reporting app.
• Provides a structured, multidisciplinary process to identify, assess, and mitigate potential threats while supporting the safety and well-being of students and staff.
• Increases penalties for terroristic threats.

The Riley Gaines Act The Riley Gaines Act, or the “Men Don’t Belong in Women’s Sports Act, ” is a top priority for Speaker Burns and the House. This act guarantees fairness for girls who have devoted countless hours, days, and years of their lives to excelling in their sport. This act will ensure girls are never forced to compete against a biological male on the field, court, or in the locker room. We also appreciate President Trump signing an executive order to protect girls’ rights in sports, thereby protecting Title IX. This legislation is currently working its way through the committee process.

The House Passed an Amended 2025 State BudgetThe House passed the amended state budget for 2025. House Bill 67 provides a one-time investment in the state’s infrastructure and Hurricane Helene relief. 
Here are some highlights:

• The governor’s Emergency Fund will be increased by $145 million to continue the state’s emergency response efforts related to Hurricane Helene.
• Provides additional $250 million in disaster relief for farmers and timber producers impacted by Hurricane Helene.
• Gives a pay raise to federal eligibility caseworkers, the folks tasked with responding when there is a natural disaster.
• Provide $250 million to the Georgia Fund for low interest loans for local communities’ water and waste infrastructure development
• Provides additional $114 million to the Department of Education for the increase in students over last year.Provides $50 million for school security grants.
• Includes $500 million to shore up the State Employees Retirement System.Provides additional funding for dual enrollment programs.
• Provides $333 million for the Department of Corrections to upgrade infrastructure safety, security, and technology.
• Includes $250 million for the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant for the Local Roads Administration program. Helping to fund local road projects

Additional Legislative Highlights

Banking and Finance Clean-up Bill Passes the House: My banking and finance bill, HB 15, was recently passed by the House and is currently under consideration in the Senate. This legislation serves as the annual clean-up bill to update terminology, revise procedures related to the incorporation of credit unions, and amend auditing procedures for mortgage lenders, among other things.
Interstate Compact for School Psychologists Passes the House: House Bill 81 will enable school psychologists to secure equivalent licenses for providing psychological services in any member state. Consequently, qualified psychologists can practice in different member states without having to meet onerous and repetitive requirements beforehand. By joining this compact, we will be able to find and hire more school psychologists, which will help identify students with learning disabilities and assist those with mental health issues.
House Champions Protection for IVF Treatments: House Bill 428, introduced by Representative Lehman Franklin, who has a personal IVF story, will ensure the right to preserve in vitro fertilization. The AJC covered his story. Georgia bill would add protections for IVF, backed by a personal story.
Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Economic Development Act Passed by the House: Named after former State Representative Richard Smith, HB 216 establishes a commission involving public and private stakeholders in Georgia’s semiconductor manufacturing industry to focus on education, research and development, and the production of computer chips right here in Georgia! Bringing this industry home mitigates the risks associated with relying on foreign-produced computer chips.

Georgia leads on addressing the illegal immigration crisis

Majority Leader Chuck Efstration pens an op-ed on how Georgia is working to help fix the immigration crisis.
Read: AJC Article, Georgia leads on addressing the illegal immigration crisis