“Sine Die” ends the Georgia legislative session
The Sine Die deadline is here after Georgia lawmakers stayed past midnight to pass some key measures and reject others at the end of the term.
ATLANTA – This year's legislative session came to an end with the cry of “Sine Die”.
This session officially ended early Friday morning. As always, a number of last-minute bills landed on Gov. Brian Kemp's desk, while many others failed and will have to wait another year to become law.
Lawmakers have taken a number of measures that could impact your bottom line. They voted to reduce the state income tax by 0.1%, from 5.49% to 5.39%. Further gradual tax cuts are planned until the tax rate reaches 4.99%, assuming state coffers remain full. The parents get a break. Assuming Kemp signs the bill, the federal child tax credit will increase from $3,000 to $4,000 per child.
Property tax assessments are a major concern for some homeowners. Lawmakers passed a bill capping those increases at 3% per year. However, these caps do not have much effect as local governments can waive them if necessary.
A lot of people will get raises. The $36.1 billion state budget includes pay raises for 300,000 workers and educators. Teachers' salaries will increase by $2,500. The money will also be used for increased security on school grounds, including hiring resource officers.
Not all measures were about finances. After the murder of nursing student Laken Riley in February, Republicans pushed to tighten immigration laws in Georgia. One of those bills, HB1105, passed. It forces local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. It also penalizes sheriffs who fail to check the immigration status of inmates in their jails. Another immigration-related bill failed to make it across the finish line. HB301 would have allowed citizens to sue local governments, and if these places were declared sanctuaries, they could be deprived of federal funding. This bill did not receive the required Senate approval.
Another bill that failed again concerned sports betting. That means voters won't be able to vote on the measure in November.
Also missing out was a so-called “Frankenbill,” which dealt with school-related, socially conservative issues. It was originally a House mental health bill, but was hijacked by the Senate. They added a number of red meat initiatives, such as banning students born as biological males from participating in girls' high school sports, preventing sex education from being taught to grades 5 or below and requiring schools to inform parents when their children access books from the school library. This bill never came up for a vote again in the House of Representatives. House Speaker Jon Burns called the social issues important and said some of them were supported by House Republicans, but added that the timing was not right to advance the bill.
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At the conclusion of the session, Speaker Burns praised the efforts of House members. He told reporters that they addressed issues that matter most to people in the state: lowering taxes, improving education, strengthening public safety and improving the quality of life of “every single Georgian.”
Kemp has 40 days after the end of the session to sign, veto or allow legislation to become law without his signature. In the meantime, many lawmakers will be focused on re-election, with all 56 Senate seats and 180 House seats up for vote this year.
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Here's a look at some of the top measures that ended up on Kemp's desk or didn't make it to the state Capitol:
Bills awaiting Gov. Brian Kemp's signature
PROPERTY TAXES: Future increases in the taxable value of a home could be limited by House Bill 581, while House Resolution 1022 is a companion constitutional amendment. House Bill 1019 could increase the state homestead exemption by up to $4,000. [READ MORE HERE]
IMMIGRATION: House Bill 1105 would require local law enforcement to assist federal officials in enforcing immigration law.
ELECTIONS: Senate Bill 189 would create new rules for challenging voter qualifications, potentially allow more candidates to qualify for Georgia's presidential election and ban the use of QR codes to count ballots after 2026. House Bill 1207 allows for a reduced number of voting machines.[READMOREHERE}[READMOREHERE}[HIERMEHRLESEN}[READMOREHERE}
INCOME TAXES: A previously planned state income tax cut would be accelerated under House Bill 1015, giving the state a flat 5.39% income tax rate retroactive to Jan. 1.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Senate Bill 351 would require social media companies to obtain parental permission before allowing children under 16 to create accounts. It will also ban the use of social media via school computers and the internet and introduce new anti-bullying rules.
CASH BAIL: Senate Bill 63 would require cash bail for 30 additional crimes, including some misdemeanors, and establish new rules for nonprofit bail funds.
UNION ORGANIZATION: Companies receiving federal economic incentives would be prohibited from recognizing unions without a secret ballot under Senate Bill 362.
HEALTH CARE APPROVAL: Some expansions of health care facilities would be permitted without state approvals under House Bill 1339.
FOREIGN FARMLAND: Senate Bill 420 would ban agents of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Russia from owning farmland in Georgia or any country within 10 miles of a military base.
WATER RIGHTS: House Bill 1172 would change the law regarding the use of Georgia's waterways for boating, fishing and hunting. Proponents say it strikes a balance between public use and private property rights.
LIMITS TO SUIT: Senate Bill 426 would limit the ability to sue an insurance company immediately after a truck accident
Georgia's anti-Semitism law has been put into effect
Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 30, defining anti-Semitism in the state of Georgia.
Invoices that did not meet Sine Die's deadline
MEDICAID: The House and Senate debated expanding Medicaid health insurance to lower-income adults, but Republicans want to address the issue instead.
SPORTS BETTING Senate Bill 386 and Senate Resolution 579 could legalize online sports betting, but only if voters approve a state constitutional amendment in November.
SCHOOL POLICY House Bill 1104 would ban transgender girls from playing high school sports with other girls, ban sex education in fifth grade and below, and establish a system for notifying parents of any item a child receives in a school library. prescribe.
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JUDGES' COMPENSATION: Senate Bill 479 would establish guidelines for increasing and standardizing judicial salaries and could be accompanied by a constitutional amendment, House Resolution 1042.
LIBRARIES: Senate Bill 390 would prohibit the use of public funds for contributions or programs related to the American Library Association.
Lawmakers want to cut ties with the American Library Association
Some Georgia lawmakers want to cut the state's ties to the American Library Association because they believe it will indoctrinate librarians into promoting controversial content for young children.
OKEFENOKEE MINING: Georgia would suspend future permits to expand a mine near the Okefenokee Swamp for three years under Senate Bill 132.
Film Tax Credit: House Bill 1180 would require greater use of Georgia-based employees and contractors to receive the top 30% income tax credit for film production.
FALSE CONVICTIONS: Senate Bill 429 would create a commission that could recommend that people who are incarcerated and later cleared of wrongdoing receive at least $60,000 for each year they are incarcerated.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: Supporters say Senate Bill 180 would protect religious freedom, while opponents say it is a license to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people in the name of religion.
IMMIGRATION: House Bill 301 would cut funding and remove elected officials from governments that harbor people who entered the country illegally.
ELECTIONS: House Bill 976 would create new rules for challenging voter qualifications, while House Bill 974 would require audits of more than one statewide election and release ballot images.
Georgia's anti-Semitism law has been put into effect
Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 30, defining anti-Semitism in the state of Georgia.
2024 laws that have already come into force
ANTISEMITISM: Kemp signed House Bill 30 in January, which defines anti-Semitism for use in hate crimes and anti-discrimination cases. Opponents warn that it is being used to censor free speech and equate criticism of Israel with hatred of the Jewish people.
DISCIPLINE FOR PROSECUTORS: Senate Bill 332 revived a commission with the authority to discipline and fire prosecutors. Democrats warn that the move is aimed at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' prosecution of former President Donald Trump. Kemp signed the bill into law earlier this month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
