Crossover Day 2025: Kemp signs amended budget, school security bills pass

ATLANTA - Georgia lawmakers are racing against the clock at the State Capitol as today marks Crossover Day, the crucial deadline for legislation to pass either the House or Senate to remain under consideration this session. Lawmakers are expected to work late into the night, debating and voting on dozens of bills before time runs out.

Several high-profile bills are on the line, including legislation on sports betting, boxing regulations, and a measure that would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in Georgia schools.

PREVIOUS STORY: Crossover Day 2025: What bills to watch before crucial deadline

Gov. Kemp Signs Amended 2025 Budget

What we know:

Earlier in the day, Gov. Brian Kemp held a press conference to sign the amended 2025 budget, which includes funding for Hurricane Helene relief efforts, tax cuts, and another tax rebate for Georgia taxpayers. Kemp emphasized that the goal of the budget is to help Georgians navigate economic challenges, support businesses, and create job opportunities.

By the numbers:

Here's a by-the-numbers look from the Associated Press:

$4.4 billion: State government will spend $4.4 billion more of its own money, thanks to tax collections exceeding Kemp's earlier estimate, as well as dipping into $11 billion in accumulated surplus. The state will spend nearly $75 billion this year, including $40.5 billion in state funds and $75 billion overall once federal money and other funds like college tuition are included.

$862 million: The spending plan adds  $862 million for Hurricane Helene relief after the storm caused billions of damage when it cut across the eastern half of the state in September. That includes another $185 million for low-interest loans to farmers and to remove downed trees from private lands so they don't become a fire hazard. There's also $25 million in grants to nonprofits that are supposed to go to help individuals. 

The state will spend more money to cover the state and local share of debris removal, provide grants to rural hospitals in Helene-affected areas, pay to replace damaged materials and equipment in public libraries and cover the nearly $100 million in lost transportation tax revenue after Kemp declared  a gas tax holiday . 

$250, $375 and $500
The budget sets aside $1 billion for another round of state income tax rebates, but before they can go out the Senate must pass House Bill 112, after the House passed it 175-0 on Thursday. If the bill passes as expected, individual taxpayers would get back up to $250 from their state income tax payments, while single people who head households could get back up to $375 and married couples could get back up to $500. No one could get back more income tax than they paid, which means some low-income taxpayers would get less. The rebates would come automatically if the bill becomes law.

5.19%
Georgia's state income tax rate  would drop to 5.19% , retroactive to Jan. 1, under House Bill 111, which passed the House 110-60 on Thursday and moves on for Senate debate. 
Georgia's flat income tax rate dropped to 5.29% on Jan. 1. A 2022 law ended the old system of tax brackets and called for annual 0.1% cuts  until reaching 4.99% . Kemp and Republican lawmakers - citing  consistent surpluses thanks to a strong economy and limits on spending - have  pushed larger cuts ahead of the yearly schedule, and now the governor wants again to double this year's reduction, going down to 5.19% for all income earned in 2025. 

State government would forgo an estimated $149 million in revenue in the budget year ending June 30, and then $744 million a year going forward, administration officials estimate. The impact would be small for most taxpayers - a single person making $44,000 a year would pay about $30 less.

Democrats fought the decrease, saying it's starving state government of needed revenue for services while mostly delivering benefits to the richest Georgians.
"We are giving a massive, wasteful tax cut for the wealthiest Georgians and not investing in programs that serve everyone in this state," said Rep. Gabriel Sanchez, a Smyrna Democrat.

$346 million
Spending would rise for $346 million for  Georgia's prison system , which Kemp and legislative leaders say will help improve prisons troubled by inmate violence and deaths, contraband smuggling and a critical lack of prison guards. That would include $50.9 million for new correctional officer positions because fewer guards are quitting after salary increases in recent years. There's also $80 million to buy and set up four 128-bed modular prison units to let the state shift inmates out of current prisons to renovate them and install secure locks on cells.

School Security Bills Pass Senate Amid Safety Concerns

What we know:

In the wake of the recent Apalachee High School shooting, the Georgia Senate passed three school security bills Thursday morning. One of the key measures would require all Georgia public schools to install mobile panic alarms, which would be directly linked to law enforcement and emergency responders.

Lawmakers in favor of the bill argue that early alert systems can save lives in the event of a school emergency, citing the recent shooting as an example of how critical response times can be.

As the legislative session continues, lawmakers will be working to push through as many bills as possible before the Crossover Day deadline. More updates are expected throughout the day as major votes take place under the Gold Dome.

Status of Bills:

This is the status of the bills as of 1:30 p.m. 

Advanced

INCOME TAXES: An already-planned state income tax cut would be accelerated under House Bill 111, setting a flat 5.19% income tax rate retroactive to Jan. 1. Additionally, House Bill 112 would provide income tax rebates between $250 and $500 for Georgians.

HURRICANE AID: House and Senate members agreed to allocate more than $850 million in aid after Hurricane Helene caused billions of dollars in damage across Georgia in September.

LAWSUIT LIMITS: Senate Bill 68 would make it harder to bring lawsuits and win large verdicts, while Senate Bill 69 would limit who can finance lawsuits.

TRANSGENDER RIGHTS: Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 267 would ban transgender girls and women from competing in girls' and women's sports. Senate Bill 39 would prohibit the state and its health plans from covering gender-affirming care, while Senate Bill 185 would ban state funding for gender-affirming care for prisoners. Senate Bill 30 would prevent physicians from prescribing puberty-blocking drugs to transgender youth.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: Senate Bill 36 would prevent state and local governments from "substantially burdening" a person's religious freedom, but opponents argue it could enable discrimination.

IMMIGRATION: Senate Bill 21 would remove legal protections and allow people to sue governments and government officials who fail to enforce Georgia’s laws on federal immigration cooperation.

GUN TAX BREAKS: Senate Bill 47 would establish an 11-day sales tax holiday for guns, ammunition, and safety devices, while House Bill 79 would provide income tax credits of up to $300 for purchasing gun safety devices or attending gun safety courses.

SCHOOL CELLPHONES: House Bill 340 would ban public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade from using cellphones during the school day.

SPEED ZONE CAMERAS: Georgia would either ban automated speed enforcement cameras in school zones under House Bill 225 or further regulate them under House Bill 651.

LIBRARY CRIMES: Senate Bill 74 would allow librarians in public libraries, K-12 schools, and colleges to be prosecuted if they provide sexually explicit materials to minors.

Did Not Advance

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION: Georgia's public schools and colleges would be banned from having any programs or activities that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion under Senate Bill 120. 

SPORTS BETTING: Georgians would get a chance in 2026 to vote on a state constitutional amendment authorizing sports gambling under House Resolution 450. 

STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: Georgians would decide in 2026 if the state school superintendent should become an appointed position after 2030 under House Resolution 174. 

VOTING: Georgia's secretary of state would be required to leave a bipartisan group that lets officials share data to keep voter rolls accurate under House Bill 215. 

CONSUMER PROTECTION: The state would reestablish a lawyer's office to argue on behalf of utility consumers before the state Public Service Commission under Senate Bill 94. 

CLARENCE THOMAS STATUE: The state would put up a privately financed statue of U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Georgia native Clarence Thomas at the state Supreme Court building under Senate Bill 242. 

MEDICAID: House Bill 97 and Senate Bill 50 would have required Georgia to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income adults.

GUNS AND KIDS: House Bill 1 would have required people to secure firearms from children.

DATA CENTERS: Senate Bill 34 would have prohibited Georgia Power Co. from passing costs related to serving computer data centers onto other customers.

DNA SAMPLES: Senate Bill 116 would have required local law enforcement to collect DNA samples from jailed individuals subject to immigration detention orders.

OKEFENOKEE MINING: House Bill 561 would have banned mining on a ridge bordering the Okefenokee Swamp, while House Bill 562 would have halted new mining permits and changes to existing permits in the same area for five years.

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