Georgia House Steps Forward for a Stronger and Safer Georgia

"The House worked late into the evening on Crossover Day, passing a record 75 bills and resolutions. These bills are now awaiting consideration in the Senate"

- Representative Charlice Byrd

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The Georgia House of Representatives just wrapped up the busiest week of the 2025 legislative session so far. Thursday, March 6th marked Crossover Day, a critical deadline for legislation to move from one chamber to the other.

The House majority passed key legislation to deliver real results for Georgia families.

These measures will:

• Strengthen school safety to protect our children

• Defend access to IVF and reproductive health care

• Safeguard girls’ sports to ensure fair competition

• Cut income taxes and put more money back in your pocket

• Provide critical recovery funds to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene

The House worked late into the evening, passing a record 75 bills and resolutions on Crossover Day alone. These bills are now awaiting consideration in the Senate.

The amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget prioritized recovery efforts in the wake of catastrophic Hurricane Helene. The widespread destruction prompted an urgent need for recovery. Set by a revenue estimate of $40.5B, including $2.7B in surplus finds, the budget provided a $4.4B increase or 12.2% over the original Fiscal Year (AF) 2025 budget.

These are just a few of the 75 bills brought to the House floor for voting.

HB 52. This bill would expand the homestead exemption for disabled veterans and their families and ensures it will apply to their widow or minor children.

HB 56. This bill would allow spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters and prison guards killed or permanently disabled to receive the same educational grants as their children receive.

HB 79. This bill would offer taxpayers a credit of up to $300 for eligible expenses related to firearm safety training and secure devices. If one uses the tax credit, one’s name is registered with the Department of Revenue.

HB 111. This bill would amend state law relating to individual income tax rates to lower the individual income rate effective on January 1, 2025, from 5.39% to 5.19%.

HB 112. This bill would provide a one-time tax credit of $250/per person; $500 for married couples; and $375 for the head of the household.

HB 171. This bill would ensure accountability for AI-generated child exploitation materials.

HB 268. This bill would expand government control over student records, school safety and behavioral monitoring. It also creates a state-wide database and assessment process; a reduction in parental rights to protect their child’s privacy (including fines and even jail time for failure to comply with record sharing requirements); gives broad discretion to state entities to determine assessments criteria (risking students being unfairly targeted) and more.

HB 225. This bill would remove automated school zone speed cameras with the goal of outright banned unjust citations.

HB 267. This bill would protect women’s sports from biological males; clarifying Georgia code to define sex and replace gender.

HB 296. This bill would clarify language in state law relating to poll workers to denote that a Georgia driver’s license must be in physical format and issued by the Department of Drivers Services.

HB 331. This bill would ban the transfer (sales, adoption, or exchange) of dogs, cats, domestic rabbits in public locations (roadsides, parking lots, sidewalks, parks, outdoor markets).

HB 465. This bill aims to protect missing individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

What did NOT pass? 

HB 686 and HR 450, which would have expanded online sports betting in Georgia, DID NOT reach the House floor for a vote - but the fight isn’t over.

Before voting on any piece of legislation, I ask myself the following questions: 

1. Does it grow government?

2. Does it raise taxes?

3. Does it increase regulations?

4. Does it infringe on personal liberties?

I always ask myself, "Is this the proper role of government?”

In most cases, if a bill fits into one or more of these categories, I vote no.

I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative. You can reply to this email, call me at (404) 656-0213 or email me directly at [email protected].