SENATE FIRST READERS THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2025 THIRTY-SIXTH LEGISLATIVE DAY SB 356. By Senator Anavitarte of the 31st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Polk County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of the greater of 50 percent or $60,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 65 years of age or older, in the amount of the greater of 75 percent or $80,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 70 years of age or older, and in the amount of the full assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 77 years of age or older, all with a temporary cap on the annual aggregate exemption amount; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. SB 357. By Senators Harrell of the 40th and Watson of the 11th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to 4 amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide for challenging the qualifications of a person applying to register to vote or any person whose name appears on the list of electors; to provide for grounds; to provide for required documentation relating to such challenges; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Ethics Committee. - 1 - SB 358. By Senators Jones of the 10th, Harrell of the 40th, Mangham of the 55th, Anderson of the 43rd, Parent of the 44th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act revising, superseding, and consolidating the laws relating to the governing authority of DeKalb County and creating a chairman and board of commissioners of said county, approved March 8, 1956 (Ga. L. 1956, p. 3237), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 9, 1981 (Ga. L. 1981, p. 4304), an Act approved March 20, 1990 (Ga. L. 1990, p. 3900), an Act approved April 13, 1992 (Ga. L. 1992, p. 6137), an Act approved May 12, 2015 (Ga. L. 2015, p. 3811), and an Act approved July 29, 2020 (Ga. L. 2020, p. 4069), so as to revise administrative procedures related to verification of ethics complaints; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. SB 359. By Senators Jones of the 10th, Davenport of the 17th, Strickland of the 42nd and Williams of the 25th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide for a new Board of Commissioners of Henry County, approved March 28, 1974 (Ga. L. 1974, p. 3680), as amended, so as to revise and restate provisions regarding the code of ethics; to revise provisions related to the chairperson of the board of commissioners and county manager; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. SB 360. By Senators Harrell of the 40th, Esteves of the 35th, McLaurin of the 14th, Jackson of the 41st, Parent of the 44th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to provide for a public option buy-in program to provide healthcare coverage to individuals not eligible for Medicaid coverage or enrollment through a health exchange; to provide for definitions; to provide requirements for the program; to provide for any necessary state plan amendments or waivers; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee. - 2 - SB 361. By Senators Brass of the 6th and James of the 28th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property owners' associations, so as to provide for authorization of liens and use of assessments; to provide for registration of property owners' associations; to provide for rules and regulations regarding administrative hearings and escrow of funds; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Rules Committee. SR 454. By Senators Beach of the 21st, Dolezal of the 27th, Brass of the 6th, Cowsert of the 46th and Kennedy of the 18th: A RESOLUTION recognizing Mr. Cary Williams, Jr., and dedicating a road in his honor; and for other purposes. Referred to Transportation Committee. SR 455. By Senator Tillery of the 19th: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending QuikTrip for its incredible contributions to Hurricane Helene relief across Southeast Georgia; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 456. By Senator Harbison of the 15th: A RESOLUTION recognizing April 5-11 as the Week of the Young Child; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 457. By Senator Harbison of the 15th: A RESOLUTION recognizing June 15-21, 2025, as Greg Street Week in honor of DJ Greg Street's 30th radio anniversary at WVEE-V103 FM; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. - 3 - SR 458. By Senators Wicks of the 34th, Rahman of the 5th, Harrell of the 40th, Mangham of the 55th, James of the 28th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Michael S. "Killer Mike" Render; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 459. By Senators Wicks of the 34th, Rahman of the 5th, Harrell of the 40th, Mangham of the 55th, James of the 28th and others: A RESOLUTION honoring and recognizing Edith Marie McGuire; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 460. By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Payne of the 54th, Harbison of the 15th, Setzler of the 37th, Anderson of the 43rd and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Veterans of Foreign Wars upon its 125th anniversary; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 461. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st and Bearden of the 30th: A RESOLUTION congratulating the Haralson County High School game day cheerleading team for winning the 2024-2025 Georgia High School Association Game Day State Championship for Region 1A; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 462. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st and Bearden of the 30th: A RESOLUTION commending and recognizing Ava Andrews of North Paulding High School for her outstanding achievements in basketball and for her contributions to athletics in the state of Georgia; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. - 4 - SR 463. By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Strickland of the 42nd, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Anderson of the 24th, Robertson of the 29th and others: A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Trooper Chase Winston Redner and dedicating an intersection in his memory; and for other purposes. Referred to Transportation Committee. SR 464. By Senators Mallow of the 2nd, Anderson of the 24th, Burns of the 23rd, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the 34th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Dr. Jermaine Whirl, the incoming President of Savannah State University; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 465. By Senators Jones of the 10th, Harbison of the 15th, Mangham of the 55th, Sims of the 12th, Harrell of the 40th and others: A RESOLUTION commending and congratulating Calvin George Kemp Sr.; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 466. By Senator Mallow of the 2nd: A RESOLUTION commending and congratulating Ja'Karil Fegans; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 467. By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Kemp of the 38th, Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Reverend Darion Hutcherson upon being named the 2025 Counselor of the Year by the Atlanta Public School System; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. - 5 - SR 468. By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Kemp of the 38th, Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th and others: A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Lottie Watkins; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 469. By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Harbison of the 15th, Rahman of the 5th and others: A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Gene Ferguson; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 470. By Senators Hickman of the 4th and Hodges of the 3rd: A RESOLUTION recognizing March 26, 2025, as Executive Function Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 471. By Senators Rahman of the 5th, Kemp of the 38th, Mallow of the 2nd, Wicks of the 34th, Harbison of the 15th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 472. By Senators Rahman of the 5th, Kemp of the 38th, Mallow of the 2nd, Wicks of the 34th, Harbison of the 15th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Aligarh Alumni Association of Atlanta (AAAA) and its contributions to education, community service, and Atlanta's largest Muslim community gathering on Eid-ul-Fitr; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. - 6 - SR 474. By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Dixon of the 45th, Harbison of the 15th, Burns of the 23rd and Harrell of the 40th: A RESOLUTION creating the Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability; and for other purposes. Referred to Rules Committee. HB 747. By Representatives Cummings of the 39th, Parsons of the 44th, Wilkerson of the 38th, Carson of the 46th, Campbell of the 35th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the State Court of Cobb County, approved March 26, 1964 (Ga. L. 1964, p. 3211), as amended, so as to change the compensation of judges of the State Court of Cobb County; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 755. By Representatives Ballinger of the 23rd, Ridley of the 22nd, Thomas of the 21st, Jones of the 47th, Scoggins of the 14th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the governing authority of Cherokee County to levy an excise tax pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 48-13-51 of the O.C.G.A.; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 758. By Representatives Mathiak of the 82nd and Camp of the 135th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Spalding County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in a graduated amount on the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 65 years of age or older and based upon their income, excluding certain retirement income; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. - 7 - HB 759. By Representatives Camp of the 135th and Mathiak of the 82nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a board of elections for Spalding County, approved March 19, 1987 (Ga. L. 1987, p. 4432), as amended, so as to update provisions related to the terms of board members; to revise provisions related to holding meetings of the board; to rename the elections supervisor as the elections director; to revise duties of the elections director; to authorize the board to hire its own legal counsel; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 760. By Representatives Sainz of the 180th, Townsend of the 179th and DeLoach of the 167th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a board of commissioners of Glynn County, approved February 11, 1937 (Ga. L. 1937, p. 1336), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 13, 2001 (Ga. L. 2001, p. 3914), so as to change the annual salary of the chairperson and members of the board; to provide for withholding of compensation for certain meeting absences; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 761. By Representatives Clark of the 108th, Lim of the 98th and McClain of the 109th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a homestead exemption from all City of Lilburn ad valorem taxes for city purposes, including but not limited to taxes to retire bonded indebtedness in the amount of $5,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for certain residents of the City of Lilburn and in the amount of $10,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for certain other residents of the City of Lilburn who are 65 years of age or over or who are disabled, approved March 22, 1990 (Ga. L. 1990, p. 4469), so as to provide an additional homestead exemption in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the prior year assessed value of such homestead by more than 8 percent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. - 8 - HB 762. By Representatives Gilliard of the 162nd, Petrea of the 166th, Hitchens of the 161st and Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide for the creation of the Savannah Music Commission; to provide for a short title; to provide for findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for membership, terms of office, and vacancies; to confer powers and impose duties on the commission; to provide for bylaws; to provide for a quorum; to provide for audits; to provide for venue; to provide for tax exemptions from levy and sale; to provide for liberal construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 763. By Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Petrea of the 166th and Franklin of the 160th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to create and establish the Richmond HillBryan County Airport Authority, a new airport authority in and for the County of Bryan and the City of Richmond Hill; to provide that no liability or debt against the aforementioned city or county shall be incurred in the exercise of any powers granted by this Act; to make the bonds, securities, or obligations of the authority exempt from taxation; to authorize the issuance of refunding bonds, securities, or other obligations; to provide that such bonds, securities, or other obligations be validated as authorized by the "Revenue Bond Law"; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 764. By Representative Jasperse of the 11th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for a new charter for the City of Nelson, approved April 7, 1992 (Ga. L. 1992, p. 5615), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 9, 1993 (Ga. L. 1993, p. 5181), so as to provide for appointments to vacancies in the office of the mayor or city council member; to provide for special elections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. - 9 - HB 766. By Representative Cheokas of the 151st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to create and establish the Sumter-Americus County Unification Commission; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for the membership of said commission; to provide for the certification of the election results; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 771. By Representatives Thomas of the 21st, Ridley of the 22nd, Scoggins of the 14th, Jones of the 47th, Jasperse of the 11th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing a homestead exemption from Cherokee County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes for the full value of the homestead for certain residents of that school district who have annual incomes not exceeding $16,000.00 and who are 62 years of age or over, approved March 10, 1988 (Ga. L. 1988, p. 3677), as amended, particularly by an Act approved February 19, 2024 (Ga. L. 2024, p. 3552), so as to extend the homestead exemption to surviving spouses without regard to the five-year residency requirement; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 782. By Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Petrea of the 166th, Gilliard of the 162nd and Hitchens of the 161st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Chatham County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the base year assessed value of such homestead; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide a short title; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. - 10 - HB 783. By Representatives Richardson of the 125th, Newton of the 127th, Clifton of the 131st and Leverett of the 123rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Columbia County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $8,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 784. By Representatives Richardson of the 125th, Newton of the 127th, Clifton of the 131st and Leverett of the 123rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Columbia County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of $8,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. - 11 -