Sine Die: Georgia lawmakers pass child tax credit, consider ban on diversity programs on last day
Sie Die: Georgia's legislative season wwraps
The papers have been tossed into the air and the infamous "Sine Die" has echoed through both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. So, what passed and what didn't? Here's a breakdown.
ATLANTA - Georgia lawmakers had many decisions to make Friday, the last day of their 2025 legislative session.
It’s the last day for legislation to pass the General Assembly and go to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto.
The backstory:
They agreed to grant a new $250 state income tax credit for parents of children age 5 and under, but had yet to decide whether to ban diversity efforts in public schools and colleges and change how automated speed enforcement cameras work in school zones.
Some top proposals won final passage earlier, including Kemp’s effort to limit lawsuits and a school safety bill that came as a response to last year’s shooting at Apalachee High School. Lawmakers also already agreed to income tax cuts and rebates.
Measures that don’t pass Friday could be considered again next year because 2025 is the first year of a two-year session.
Gov. Kemp addresses House on Sine Die
Gov. Brian Kemp addressed the Georgia House on the final day of the 2025 Georgia General Assembly.
Dig deeper:
Awaiting action Friday
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.
REGULATION RESTRICTION: Senate Bill 28 would give lawmakers more oversight over regulations created by state agencies.
IMMIGRATION: Senate Bill 21 would remove legal protections and let people sue governments and government officials who don’t follow Georgia laws requiring cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
ELECTIONS: 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 397 and Senate Bill 175.
Georgia state Capitol (FOX 5)
Passed
CHILD TAX CREDIT: Parents of children age 5 and under could claim a $250 state income tax credit under House Bill 136, which also expands the state income tax credit for child care expenses.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: State and local governments wouldn’t be able to "substantially burden" a person’s religious freedom under Senate Bill 36, but opponents say it would enable discrimination. Kemp signed the measure Friday.
INCOME TAXES: An already-planned state income tax cut will be accelerated under House Bill 111, giving the state a flat 5.19% income tax rate retroactive to Jan. 1. And Georgians will get income tax rebates between $250 and $500 under House Bill 112.
HURRICANE AID: House and Senate members agreed to spend more than $850 million on aid after Hurricane Helene did billions of dollars of damage in Georgia in September.
LAWSUIT LIMITS: Senate Bill 68 would make it harder to bring lawsuits and win large verdicts while Senate Bill 69 limits who can finance lawsuits.
SCHOOL CELLPHONES: Public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade would be banned from using cellphones during the school day under House Bill 340.
TRANSGENDER RIGHTS: Both Senate Bill 1 would ban transgender girls and women from playing girls’ and women’s sports, while Senate Bill 185 would ban the state from paying for gender-affirming care for prisoners.
AMERICA FIRST LICENSE PLACE: Senate Bill 291 would create an America First license plate for Georgia vehicles.
Did not pass
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 House Bill 127.
PUBLIC RECORDS: A discarded version of Senate Bill 12 would have exempted Georgia state legislators and police departments from some requirements to disclose public records.
LIBRARY CRIMES: Librarians in public libraries, K-12 schools and colleges could have faced prosecution for providing sexually explicit materials to minors under House Bill 483.
GUN TAX BREAKS: House Bill 79 would have offered a four-day sales tax holiday on guns, ammunition and safety devices, while offering income tax credits of up to $300 for paying for gun safety courses.
CLARENCE THOMAS STATUE: The state would have put up a privately financed statue of the U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Georgia native under House Bill 254.
ELECTED OFFICIAL PAY: Lawmakers abandoned a proposal to increase pay for statewide elected officials including paying Gov. Brian Kemp $250,000 a year.
SPORTS BETTING: Georgians would have gotten a chance in 2026 to vote on a state constitutional amendment authorizing sports gambling under House Resolution 450.
The Source: The Associated Press used public records and proceedings of the Georgia General Assembly to create this article.