GA's 2025 Legislative Session Final Stretch
"My commitment is to serve and protect the people of Georgia and not political interests and/or agendas."
- Representative Charlice Byrd
As of today, Georgia Representatives have completed 35 legislative days. With over 700+ pieces of legislation considered, we’re (hopefully) in the final stretch of the 2025 session.
HB 68 makes and provides appropriations for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026.
SB 68 serves as a massive overhaul of tort in Georgia. It appeared to be Governor Kemp’s top legislative priority for 2025. There was an “E” (excused) by my name on Thursday for family business. However, I did address a letter to the Clerk of the House to reflect my vote as a NO in the journal.
A Flawed Bill
The bill will not lower insurance rates; it did not address unfair cancellation/non-renewal policies; it weakens existing protections; it harms Georgians who suffered real injuries and deserve to be made whole, and it carved out sex trafficking victims. Is one life more important than another? If Georgia is the #1 state to do business, why are companies supposedly leaving?” Overall, SB 68 is preventing the little guy from holding the bigger guys accountable.
SB 144 provides liability protections for the use of fertilizers, plant growth regulators, or pesticides. It states a manufacturer cannot be held liable for failing to warn consumers of health risks above those required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency with respect to
Pesticides. If EPA approved the label for the pesticides, then the manufacturer cannot be held liable.
A Bad Idea
This bill allows corporations to poison the citizenry and get off without consequences and without accountability. The question for each Representative to ask themselves: do your constituents trust the government? Do they “trust science?” Do they trust EPA?
Government Overreach & Privacy Violations
HB 268 does a number of concerning issues, including:
Institutes big brother surveillance on Georgia’s children via a state-wide database and assessment process.
Reduces a parents right 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 assessment criteria, risking student being unfairly targeted, as what behavior exactly warrants scrutiny is left to the state to determine.
Expands state entities control over local schools.
Takes over safety policies that very well could be handled by the local system as whether a window needs to be locked or whether a teacher should be punished for not locking their classroom door.
I believe solutions for school safety are necessary. Much more straightforward steps could be taken to ensure safety, like more law enforcement. In the process of ensuring the safety of our children, we must also ensure that the rights of children and their parents remain intact. We should be proactive instead of reactive. This bill fails at all these things while taking away parental control and the privacy of students.
Protecting Girls and Young Women
HB 267 known as the “Riley Gaines Act”. would protect women’s sports from biological males; clarifying Georgia code to define sex and replace gender. HB 267.
My commitment is to serve and protect the people of Georgia and not political interests and/or agendas. And please do not underestimate the power of grassroots’ efforts – calling, texting, visiting.
IN THE NEWS
WABE PRESS CONFERENCE
It's been four years and sadly, it's still not over. I recently joined other lawmakers and community leaders to speak at a press conference commemorating the fourth anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings on March 13, 2025.
AJC BEST DRESSED
One might think there's a great deal of important news on which to report, but the AJC still finds time to assemble their 2025 list the best dressed GA lawmakers. I'm honored to have made the list, but my #1 priority is always serving the citizens of GA.
PICTURES FROM AROUND THE GOLD DOME
Pastor's Day at the Capitol
Reinhardt Day at the Capitol
Georgia Freedom Caucus Lunch with Guest Speakers Mark Meadows, former Chief of Staff for President Trump and Congressman Ralph Norman (SC)
