Georgia lawmakers went home in a flurry of ripped paper — as is custom at the end of the 40-day legislative session.
The shreds floating through the House and Senate chambers included some of the 2,241 bills introduced during the biennial assembly that began last year, along with more than 3,000 resolutions.
Here’s a look at some of the measures that passed — and those that failed — as legislators finally left the Gold Dome after midnight on April 3, about an hour past Sine Die, the last scheduled day of the session.
Some bills found bipartisan support, while others were pushed through by Republican majorities in each chamber. Gov. Brian Kemp has already signed a few measures, but most still await his approval.
Consumers
The federal government plans to stop producing pennies because they cost more to make than they are worth. House Bill 1112 would require cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest nickel.
Another proposal sought to move Georgia east on the time zone map. House Bill 154 would have kept clocks on the same standard time year-round, eliminating the need to change them twice a year. It did not pass.
Culture
The killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk inspired Senate Bill 552, which would make it illegal for public schools that allow student meetings on campus to discriminate based on political or ideological content.
Other ideologically driven measures sparked hours of partisan debate but ultimately failed.
Senate Bill 74 sought to remove librarians’ criminal immunity under a law prohibiting the distribution of “harmful” materials to minors.
Senate Bill 499 and House Bill 1324 aimed to ensure gun silencers remained legal in Georgia. Republicans argued silencers protect hunters’ hearing, while Democrats countered they could make it harder to locate school shooters. “This body surely is aware that earplugs exist,” said Rep. Michelle Au, D-Johns Creek, before Democrats — aided by the absence of 11 Republicans — voted the bill down.
The House also rejected Senate Bill 175, which sought to protect Confederate monuments.
Education
House Bill 1193 aims to improve early reading instruction, allocating $70 million annually to place 1,313 literacy coaches in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms.
House Bill 1009 would ban cellphones in public high schools beginning in the 2027–28 school year, citing concerns over academic distractions.
College students were included in Senate Bill 556, a wide-ranging education measure that passed late on April 2. Lawmakers amended the bill heavily, adding provisions such as a $325 million need-based scholarship program that had failed to pass separately.
House Bill 328 would raise the annual cap on tax credits for donors supporting private school tuition programs from $120 million to $150 million.
Senate Bill 513, which would have suspended driver’s licenses for chronically absent high school students, did not pass.
Elections
House Bill 369 would require Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties to hold nonpartisan elections for certain local offices. Democrats criticized the measure as an attempt to maintain Republican influence in changing districts, while supporters argued it would improve governance.
Republicans agreed on that measure but failed to reach consensus on replacing QR code-based vote tallying before a self-imposed deadline. The technology will become illegal July 1, raising concerns among election officials ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Health
House Bill 1138 would allow pharmacists to dispense contraceptives without a doctor’s prescription. Lawmakers also approved Senate Bill 220, increasing allowable THC dosages for certain patients.
Housing
Senate Bill 406 would limit the authority of homeowners associations to impose fines and foreclose on properties. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 463 — aimed at addressing corporate ownership of rental homes — failed to pass.
Insurance
House Bill 1344 would increase penalties for insurance violations while targeting uninsured motorists and fraud. The bill includes multiple provisions developed by a study committee and was a priority for House leadership.
House Bill 506 would shield insured patients from excessive ambulance charges.
Policing
Senate Bill 443 would raise fines for blocking roadways during protests to $5,000 and allow civil lawsuits against demonstrators.
Senate Bill 542 would make it illegal for clergy to engage in sexual relationships with individuals under their counsel, expanding laws addressing power imbalances in professional relationships.
House Bill 1409 would modernize mandatory child abuse reporting laws, including the creation of a secure online reporting system.
House Bill 1187, known as Trey’s Law, would prohibit nondisclosure agreements in settlements involving sexual abuse. The measure is named after Trey Carlock, an abuse survivor who later died by suicide.
Taxes
House Bill 463 would gradually lower Georgia’s income tax rate from 5.19% to 3.99%.
Senate Bill 33 would limit increases in taxable property values for owner-occupied homes and allow local governments to adopt a one-cent sales tax to offset property taxes.
Both measures passed after midnight on April 3, following failed efforts to pass broader tax overhauls. Senate Republicans had sought to eliminate income taxes entirely, while House Republicans aimed to abolish property taxes.
Gov. Kemp had proposed reducing the income tax rate to 4.99%, but that plan did not pass.
However, taxpayers will receive rebates under House Bill 1000, already signed into law. Individual filers will receive $250, heads of household $375, and married couples $500. Kemp also signed House Bill 1199, temporarily suspending the state gas tax until voters head to the polls on May 19.
Transportation
The amended budget, House Bill 973, includes nearly $2 billion for infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to Interstate 75 south of Atlanta and State Route 316 connecting metro Atlanta to Athens.