The Georgia General Assembly is in the midst of its 2025 legislative session, which began in January and is expected to conclude by late March or early April.
As of this writing, a slew of bills have already passed both legislative bodies in Georgia and have been signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp.
What Bills Are Due To Take Effect in Georgia This Year?
Bills passed during this session that are signed will typically take effect on July 1, 2025, unless specified otherwise in the legislation.
However, since the session is ongoing and the governor has 40 days after the session ends to sign or veto bills, it’s not yet fully determined which bills will officially become law in 2025.
Below is an overview of notable bills that have either already taken effect on January 1, 2025, or are currently advancing through the legislative process with a strong chance of becoming law by July 1, 2025, based on available information and legislative progress.
Bills Already in Effect as of January 1, 2025
Several laws passed in previous sessions took effect at the start of 2025, such as these:
- Amendment 1 (HB 581): Approved by 62.92% of voters in November 2024, this constitutional amendment limits property tax increases by adjusting the statewide homestead exemption. Local governments can opt out via a specific process. It includes broader property tax changes outlined in HB 581.
- Amendment 2: Passed with 51.89% voter approval, this establishes the Georgia Tax Court to handle tax disputes, moving jurisdiction from the Department of Revenue to the judicial branch. Administrative setup begins January 1, 2025, with the court fully operational by August 1, 2026.
- HB 1072: Provides tax exemptions for donating drugs to a state drug repository program, effective January 1, 2025.
- SB 19: Requires superior court clerks and probate judges to disclose passport fee collections quarterly to county governments, addressing past concerns about clerks retaining these fees.
- SB 232: Updates probate court fees for various filings, including legal documents, weapons carry licenses, and marriage licenses.
- HB 1339: Includes a tax credit provision for rural hospital organizations, effective January 1, 2025.
- HB 880: Allows spouses of military servicemembers stationed in Georgia to practice their occupations without a state-specific license.
- SB 341: Amends legislative privilege rules for General Assembly staff communications with the Office of Legislative Counsel, aligning them with existing member privileges.
- SB 366: Reforms the process for introducing and formalizing the state budget (general appropriations bill).
Bills Advancing in the 2025 Legislative Session
The following bills are currently under consideration in the 2025 session and have either passed one chamber or are gaining traction. Their fate depends on passage by both the House and Senate and the governor’s approval:
- Tort Reform Package (Announced January 29, 2025): Governor Kemp unveiled a package to stabilize insurance costs and reform litigation. Key provisions include:
- Limiting premises liability to what property owners directly control.
- Requiring medical damages in personal injury cases to reflect actual costs paid, not inflated amounts.
- Allowing bifurcated trials (separating liability and damages phases).
- Permitting evidence of seatbelt non-use in auto accident cases.
- Banning double recovery of attorney fees and reforming third-party litigation funding to exclude hostile foreign entities.
- SB 65: Mandates kindergarten attendance, under consideration in the Senate.
- HB 566 and HB 556: Address AI and deepfakes—HB 566 protects artists’ likenesses, while HB 556 curbs AI misuse. Both are being reviewed in the House.
- SB 303 and HB 215: Aim to protect voter roll integrity and election processes, highlighted as critical by some observers on X.
- Transgender Athletes Ban: A bill to prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls’ school sports has been advancing, per StateAffairsGA.
- Gun Safety and Death Penalty Reforms: Bills on gun safety and banning the death penalty for intellectually disabled individuals are moving forward, as noted by GeorgiaRecorder.
- SB 233 (School Voucher Law): Already passed in a prior session, this law expands in 2025, offering $6,000 vouchers to students in the bottom 25% of schools under Georgia’s academic ratings.
- SB 189: Changes voting registration for homeless individuals, requiring them to use county election offices for mail, effective in 2025.
The Georgia Assembly 2025 Legislative Session
- Crossover Day: March 6, 2025, is Crossover Day, the deadline for bills to pass one chamber to remain viable this session. Bills not passing by this date may still be revived via attachment to other legislation.
- Budget: Lawmakers are crafting a $40.5 billion state budget, the largest in Georgia history, which must be finalized and signed into law.
- Past Session Insight: In 2024, Kemp signed over 700 bills, suggesting a high volume of legislation could again become law in 2025.
Since the legislative session is ongoing, the final list of laws effective July 1, 2025, will only be confirmed after the session ends (likely late March) and the governor acts by mid-May.
Final Word
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