UNDER THE GOLD DOME

WEEK 5

THE PACE PICKS UP

This week, my colleagues and I returned to the Georgia State Capitol on Monday, February 10^th to kick off the fifth week of the 2025 legislative session. The Georgia House of Representatives has been hard at work, addressing the issues that matter most to you and advancing important legislation through the legislative process. This week, we passed several bills on the House Floor for the first time this year, making progress on a range of priorities. While this week was certainly our busiest yet, we recognize that the pace will only continue to speed up as we move closer to Crossover Day. With Crossover Day, Legislative Day 28, quickly approaching, it’s a critical time for bills and resolutions to clear their respective chambers and progress through the legislative process. 

NOTABLE BILLS OF THE WEEK

We took an important step in enhancing the safety of our state’s judges and their families—a priority recently highlighted by Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs during his annual State of the Judiciary Address—by unanimously passing House Bill 199. HB 199 would require all state and local government entities to remove or redact any publicly available content that specifically identifies an individual as a judge, justice or judicial spouse. The bill would also mandate that if any publicly available content includes personally identifiable information that does not specifically identify someone as a judge, justice or spouse, it may be removed upon request by the protected person. This legislation is especially important as we have seen an alarming rise in swatting incidents aimed at elected officials and judges.  

On Wednesday, we continued the work initiated by the late State Representative and former House Rules Chairman, Richard H. Smith, through the passage of House Bill 216, the Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Economic Development Act, which would continue his vision of making Georgia a key player in the semiconductor industry. To that end, HB 216 would create a fund to provide grant and loan programs that support workforce education and training for careers in semiconductors, microelectronics and certain laboratories. The goal of this legislation is to build strong partnerships through education and workforce development, enabling Georgia’s residents to pursue high-demand careers in the semiconductor industry, cultivating a skilled, homegrown workforce, reducing reliance on overseas production and strengthening Georgia’s position as a leader in innovation and economic growth.

HELPING OUR SCHOOLS

Keeping on the theme of promoting workforce development through education, House Bill 81 also received passage in the House this week. Developed by the Council of State Governments, the Department of Defense and the National School Psychologists Association, HB 81 would create the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists, which would establish a pathway for school psychologists to obtain equivalent licenses in member states to improve the availability of school psychological services to the public. Currently, barriers to licensure can cause significant shortages of qualified school psychologists, which can lead to students not receiving the quality of services necessary for their academic and emotional well-being. This legislation would enable school psychologists who qualify for an equivalent license to practice in other member states without first satisfying burdensome and duplicative licensing requirements. Additionally, HB 81 also seeks to facilitate the relocation of military members and their spouses who are licensed to provide school psychological services, as we know those individuals and their families are often relocated to different states. School psychologists play a crucial role in supporting students’ mental health, addressing behavioral concerns and providing academic interventions, all of which are essential for a student’s success. By reducing these licensure barriers, HB 81 would ensure that only qualified professionals are authorized to provide essential services to Georgia’s children, addressing the critical shortage of qualified school psychologists and improving the quality of care and support for students.   

SPONSORED LEGISLATION

I am proud to be sponsoring the following legislation. My colleagues and I are working tirelessly on other bills that will support our communities and will make Georgia a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

HOUSE BILL 81 -- PASSED OUT OF HOUSE This bill will allow Georgia to enter into the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. This will cut red tape for school psychologists who move here from other member states. School psychologists are an integral part of our schools, and my hope is that this will help our schools hire more of them to support our students. I will now work with the Senate to shepherd this bill through the process in that chamber.

HOUSE BILL 107 -- PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE This bill will require our licensing boards to provide military spouses with a digital verifiable license which will make it easier for them to prove they have a valid occupational license when they move from state to state. I'm working with the Secretary of State's office on this issue before this bill goes into Rules.

HOUSE BILL 174 -- PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE This bill was brought to me as a unanimous resolution by the Centerville City Council as a piece of local legislation. It will authorize the Municipal Court of Centerville to charge a technology fee. This bill is on it's way to the Senate for consideration.

HOUSE BILL 307 This bill will strengthen SB 48 and HB 538, dyslexia and literacy legislation from previous sessions, and ban curriculum that does not align with the Science of Reading. I am hopeful that this bill will be heard in subcommittee this week.

HOUSE BILL 361 This bill will exempt all retirement benefits of our retired veterans from state income tax. This bill was signed by almost all the House members from our military communities, and is a bipartisan bill. It has been assigned to the Ways & Means Committee.

HOUSE BILL 372 This bill will allow retired teachers who have certificates in certain high needs areas to return to the classroom. It has been assigned to the Retirement Committee.

You can click the button below to follow all the legislation as each bill makes its way through the House and Senate.

LINKS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

The Georgia House of Representatives will reconvene at the State Capitol on Tuesday, February 18^th, after the observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 17^th. With Rules Committee meetings picking up as well, we will continue to see more bills come up for votes on the House Floor.

If your child would like to be a House Page, please click the link below to contact my office. The Page program is open to children ages 12 through 18, and it is a very worthwhile and educational experience.

As the legislative session progresses, I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding the work being done at the State Capitol. Your input is always valued, so please feel free to schedule a call or visit to discuss the issues that matter most to you and your family.