Artificial Intelligence (AI). HB 147 by Rep. Brad Thomas (R-Holly Springs) would require the Georgia Technology Authority to conduct an annual inventory of artificial intelligence usage by state agencies and report on it, while also developing related policies.
SB 37 by Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) requires governmental entities to develop AI system usage plans and creates the Georgia Board for Artificial Intelligence.
SB 167 by Sen.
Nikki Merritt (D-Grayson) regulates AI use in commerce to prevent discrimination. It defines key terms, requires developers to prevent algorithmic bias and provide documentation, and mandates deployers of AI to manage risks, assess impacts, and notify consumers about AI-driven decisions.
Automatic Service Renewals. SB 127 by Sen.
Tim Bearden (R-Carrollton) regulates automatic renewal clauses in service contracts with small businesses. It requires sellers to clearly disclose these provisions and notify consumers 30 to 60 days before renewal for contracts of 12 months or more. For contracts exceeding 24 months, sellers must obtain written confirmation before renewal. Presently, banks are exempted in the bill.
Bankruptcy Exemptions. SB 87 by Sen.
Ed Setzler (R-Acworth) proposes to exempt the full value of a debtor's primary residence from levy and sale under state law and for bankruptcy purposes.
Business Taxation. HB 141 by Rep.
Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas) allows businesses and practitioners with locations in more than one taxing jurisdiction to provide affidavits from certified public accountants instead of tax returns for certain tax-related purposes.
Civil Litigation Reform. SB 68 by Sen. John Kennedy (R-Macon) is part of Governor Kemp’s civil litigation reform package. It provides a substantive and comprehensive revision of provisions regarding civil practice, evidentiary matters, damages, and liability in tort actions. SB 69 by Sen. Kennedy, dealing with third-party litigation financing, is also a part of the Governor's legislative package.
Code Revision. SB 153 by Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia) is the Georgia Code Revision Commission's annual bill recommending non-substantive changes to the Georgia code. There are several changes to Title 7, which deals with banking and finance.
Community Development Districts. HR 192 by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) proposes an amendment to the Georgia Constitution to authorize the General Assembly to create and regulate community development districts, subject to local government approval. The enabling legislation is HB 317.
Conservation Use Property. HR 32 by Rep.
Chuck Efstration (R-Mulberry), proposes an amendment to the Constitution that would increase the maximum acreage that may qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property from 2,000 to 4,000 acres.
HB 90 is the enabling legislation.
SR 55 by Sen.
Carden Summers (R-Cordele) proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the maximum acreage for bona fide conservation use property assessment and taxation. The enabling legislation is
SB 43.
SB 59 by Sen. Sam Watson (R-Moultrie) removes the limitation that disqualifies leased property from being considered bona fide conservation use property if it is leased to an entity not entitled to conservation use assessment and meets specific conditions related to ownership, primary purpose, and income derived from bona fide conservation uses.
SR 56 by Sen. Sam Watson (R-Moultrie) proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the maximum acreage for bona fide conservation use property assessment and taxation. The enabling legislation is SB 45.
Convenience Fees for Electronic Payments. HB 241 by Rep.
Trey Rhodes (R- Greensboro) proposes amendments to the state’s contract laws regarding convenience fees for electronic payments.
CPA Requirements. HB 148 by Rep.
John Carson (R-Marietta) revises the education and experience requirements for certified public accountants, updates licensure provisions for accounting firms, and adjusts reciprocity and terminology in related laws.
Criminal Records. HB 162 by Rep.
Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons) provides for the restriction and seal of First Offender Act sentences until such status is revoked.
HB 301 by Rep. Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah) aims to automatically restrict and seal certain criminal records after a specified period following the completion of a sentence for non-violent offenses.
Data Privacy. SB 111 by Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) aims to
protect the privacy of consumer personal data. The bill defines consumers’ rights,
the responsibilities of data controllers and processors and requirements for data
protection assessments. The bill contains industry-requested language from last
year that the bill does not apply to a financial institution or an affiliate of
a financial institution, data or personal information subject to Title V of the
federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.
Development Impact Fees. SR 52 by Sen.
Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) proposes a constitutional amendment to allow local boards of education to impose development impact fees for educational facilities. The enabling legislation is
SB 38.
Discrimination. HB 306 by Rep.
Tanya Miller (D-Atlanta) updates Georgia labor laws to allow employees to sue for workplace harassment and retaliation. It defines key terms, outlines employer liability, and sets a two-year limit for harassment claims and a one- to three-year limit for retaliation claims.
Fiduciary Powers, Trusts & Investments. HB 327 by Rep.
Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) makes several amendments to Title 7 related to banks and financial institutions, particularly regarding fiduciary responsibilities, trust administration, and investment regulations.
Foreclosure - Homeowner/Tenant Revisions. HB 403 by Rep.
Eric Bell (D-Jonesboro) contains various revisions to homeowner and tenant laws. Of interest to bankers, the bill prohibits nonjudicial foreclosures on mortgages for individuals aged 65 or older and wards of the state.
Foreign Ownership. HB 358 by Rep.
Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain) adds a definition for "military installation" to the law restricting certain foreign entities from acquiring land interests.
Guest Worker Program. HB 82 by Rep.
Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) proposes the creation of a Department of Labor-administered guest worker program to address labor shortages by allowing citizens of other nations to work in the state for limited periods of time.
Hairstyles. HB 135 by Rep.
Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) prohibits discrimination in housing and employment based on hairstyles associated with race, color, or national origin. It includes definitions for "protective hairstyles" and expands the definition of "race" to include traits such as hair texture and protective hairstyles.
Hemp. SB 33 by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta) sets limits on the total THC concentration of consumable hemp products.
Homestead Exemption. HB 92 by Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) would postpone the date from March 1, 2025 to May 1, 2025, by which local governing authorities can opt out of base year homestead exemption.
HB 370 by Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens) requires property tax bills for school districts opting out of the state-wide base year homestead exemption to display the district's total reserve funds as of January 1 of the tax year in bold. If a political subdivision opts out without offering an equal or better exemption, the bill must include a bold statement noting the decision, the vote date, and a contact number for concerns.
HB 260 by Rep. Matt Reeves (R- Duluth) raise the state homestead exemption from $2,000 to $5,000.
Hurricane Helene Relief. HB 223 by Rep. James Burchett (R-Waycross) proposes financial relief measures for agricultural and timber producers affected by Hurricane Helene.
Manufactured Homes. HB 134 by Rep. Beth Camp (R-Concord) revises and expands a sales tax exemption for manufactured homes.
SB 119 by Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) provides limited exceptions for when a manufactured home becomes real property and preserves the rights and remedies of prior lien or security interest holders in such homes.
HB 377 by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) updates Georgia law on manufactured and mobile homes, setting rules for when they can become real property. It ensures prior lien holders keep their rights, outlines requirements for filing a Certificate of Permanent Location, and details the recording and notification process.
Medical Cannabis. HB 227 by Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella) proposes amendments to state laws regarding medical cannabis, including the renaming of low THC oil to medical cannabis and clarifies regulations and penalties related to its use and distribution.
Pawnbrokers. HB 110 by Rep. Josh Bonner (R-Fayetteville) would prohibit title pawn transactions involving a motor vehicle or motor vehicle title with active or reserve duty military personnel and their dependents.
HB 300 by Rep. Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville) excludes motor vehicle certificates of title from pawn transactions and generally aims to regulate pawnbroker practices more strictly, particularly concerning motor vehicle transactions.
Property Owners’ Associations. HB 62 by Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) would establish requirements for condominium and property owners' association board members. It addresses vote allocation, proxies, quorums, residency, board size, elections, filings, certification, and contesting election results. The bill also proposes an annual registration requirement.
HB 190 by Rep. Marvin Lim (D-Norcross) prohibits condominium and property owners' associations from retaliating against property owners for specific actions against the association.
HB 389 by Rep. Eric Bell (D-Jonesboro) would prohibit property owners’ associations from preventing property owners from installing solar energy devices on common roofs or roof structures.
Property Recording. HB 427 by Rep. Teddy Reese (D-Columbus) introduces a requirement for a 45-day waiting period before recording a deed, mortgage, or lien presented by someone other than the property owner or deed holder.
Public Notary. HB 189 by Rep. Marvin Lim (D-Norcross) prohibits notaries public from performing legal services, acting as immigration consultants, making certified copies of public documents, engaging in false advertising, and using certain titles unless they are licensed attorneys.
Public Records. SB 12 by Sen. Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville) would revise the state’s Open Records Request statutes pertaining to documents and records in the possession of private persons or entities and the judicial enforcement of such requests.
Real Estate Conveyance. HB 305 by Rep. Phil Olaleye (D-Atlanta) restricts partnerships, corporations, or real estate investment trusts with significant assets or holdings from acquiring single-family dwellings in Georgia. The bill excludes not-for-profit organizations and homebuilders from this prohibition.
Red Tape Roll Back Act. SB 28 by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Alpharetta) provides for the preparation and submission of small business impact analyses for proposed legislation, rules, and regulations.
Remote Notary. SB 90 by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) provides for electronic notarization of certain notarial acts. GBA is concerned with included language relating to the Unauthorized Practice of Law, which would impose strict statutory obligations on closing attorneys, witnesses and notaries for commercial and residential real estate closings and considerable fines and penalties for any violations.
HB 289 by Rep. Joseph Gullett (R-Dallas) allow for remote online notarizations and the appointment of remote online notaries public. The bill includes provisions for the electronic execution and notarization of deeds and other real estate documents, however the bill specifies that remote online notarization cannot be used for notarial acts related to the creation and execution of wills, codicils, or testamentary trusts.
Rental Housing Database. HB 374 by Rep. Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas) allows local governing bodies in Georgia to establish housing management databases for residential rental properties. Of interest to bankers, property owners with at least five rental units must register their properties.
Rent Control. HB 299 by Rep. Rhonda Taylor (D-Conyers) allows local governments to begin establishing rent control.
SB 106 by Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta) allows local governments to begin establishing rent control.
Squatter Protection. HB 415 by Rep. Todd Jones (R-North Fulton) allows property owners to file a rental intention affidavit with the superior court clerk, stating their intent not to rent, confirming ownership, and requesting removal of unlawful tenants within a day of confirmation.
Tax Code. HB 290 by Rep. John Carson (R-Marietta) is the annual bill incorporating various new provisions in the federal tax code into the Georgia tax code.
Tax Credit – Hemp. HB 407 by Rep. Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah) introduces a tax credit for taxpayers who do business with Georgia-grown hemp owners and suppliers.
Tax Credit – Historic Structure. HB 360 by Rep. Chuck Efstration (R-Mulberry) allows taxpayers who have been preapproved for tax credits for certified structures (excluding historic homes), and who obtain a certificate of occupancy, to claim the tax credits in the first taxable year starting on or after Jan. 1, 2026.
Tax Credit - One-Time Individual Refund. HB 112 by Rep. Lauren McDonald (R-Cumming) provides for a one-time tax credit ($250 for single or married filing separately, $375 for head of household, and $500 for married filing jointly) for individual taxpayers who filed income tax returns for the 2023 and 2024 taxable years.
Tax Credit - New Construction Home Sale. HB 230 by Rep. Yasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro) provides for a 20 percent tax credit on eligible construction expenses for taxpayers who construct and sell single-family residential homes for no more than $200,000.
Tax Credit - Qualified Business Investment. HB 8 by Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia) would renew and revise an income tax credit for certain investments in qualified businesses, remove the requirement that a qualified investor make the investment, establish an aggregate cap, allow the credit to be transferred, and introduce a reporting requirement and sunset.
Tax Credit – Rural Hospital. SB 80 by Sen. Carden Summers (R-Cordele) adds freestanding emergency departments to the definition of a rural hospital organization, eligible to receive tax credits.
Tax on Tips. SB 2 by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) would exclude tips from state taxation and require reporting by employers.
Tax on Overtime. HB 375 by Rep. Tyler Paul Smith (R-Bremen) would exclude overtime compensation from state income taxation and require reporting by employers.
Tax Rate Reduction. HB 111 by Rep. Soo Hong (R-Lawrenceville) would reduce the 2025 state income tax rate from 5.39 percent to 5.19 percent for businesses and individuals.
Third-Party Litigation Financing. SB 69 by Sen. John Kennedy (R-Macon) is part of Governor Kemp's civil litigation reform package. It regulates third-party litigation financing in Georgia, including registration requirements, definitions, and compliance measures for litigation financiers.
Timber. HB 151 by Rep. Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas) provides a deduction from Georgia taxable income for casualty losses of timber based on the diminution of value, with specific conditions and limitations.
TREES Act. SB 52 by Sen. Russ Goodman authorizes local governments to offer temporary tax relief for timber in FEMA-declared disaster areas.
Trigger Leads. HB 240 by Rep. Noel Williamson (R-Cordele) prohibits unfair or deceptive practices in consumer transactions related to mortgage trigger leads.
Veteran’s Benefits. HB 108 by Rep. Josh Bonner (R-Fayetteville) aims to protect veterans by regulating compensation and services related to veterans' benefits. It prohibits compensation for referrals, requires written agreements for paid services, mandates clear disclosures, and enforces data protection and background checks for persons handling veterans' information. Violations are deemed deceptive and unfair practices.
SB 73 by Sen. Chuck Payne (R-Dalton) aims to protect veterans by regulating compensation and services related to veterans' benefits. It prohibits compensation for referrals, requires written agreements for paid services, mandates clear disclosures, and enforces data protection and background checks for persons handling veterans' information. Violations are deemed deceptive and unfair practices.
Veterans Day Paid Leave. HB 22 by Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex), would require employers to provide veteran employees with paid leave on Veterans Day and also provide those employers with an income tax credit for amounts paid to such veteran employees on account of the paid leave.