Tax Relief + Protecting Girls' Sports
It’s been a great week under the Gold Dome as the House has worked tirelessly to make progress on several priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session including protecting girls’ sports and delivering tax relief for hardworking Georgians.
House Passes Tax Relief for Georgians
On Tuesday, the House passed several key measures that would provide much-needed financial relief to Georgia’s hardworking taxpayers. These measures include property tax relief, motor fuel tax relief, and tax relief related to hurricane recovery efforts throughout Southeast Georgia.
HR 42 - House Resolution 42, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Gambill (R-Cartersville), ratifies executive orders issued by Governor Kemp between September 24, 2024, and October 16, 2024, related to the suspension of the collection of motor fuel and diesel fuel taxes.
HB 92 - House Bill 92, sponsored by Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), extends the deadline for local governments to participate in the base year homestead tax exemption to March 31, 2025, which would protect Georgia homeowners from excessive property tax increases. Last November, this exemption passed overwhelmingly on the ballot in all 159 counties throughout Georgia. HB 92 provides local governments that are considering opting out of this local tax relief with reasonable time to reconsider.
HB 223 - House Bill 223, sponsored by Rep. James Burchett (R-Waycross), excludes federal disaster relief payments, federal assistance grants, and federal crop insurance related to Hurricane Helene recovery from counting towards taxable net income for tax years 2024 through 2029. The bill also provides a tax credit for timber losses and a sales tax exemption for building materials used to repair or replace greenhouses or structures used for the production of animals.
Riley Gaines Act Passes House Education Committee
Today, the House Education Committee passed the Riley Gaines Act, bringing us another step closer to protecting integrity and fairness for female athletes across the state.
We were proud to be joined by Riley Gaines as she shared her story, and we’ll continue to work alongside her to champion this legislation and ensure no young woman is ever forced to face a biological male on the field, on the court, or in the locker room here in Georgia.
Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
It was great to join the members of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and members of the Georgia House on Thursday to celebrate the contributions of the Hispanic community to our state and broader business environment.
Our state has never been more diverse than it is today, and as Georgia continues to grow and thrive, the House is committed to championing policies that uplift every small business owner, entrepreneur, and community in every corner of our great state.
With members of the General Assembly at the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Legislative Breakfast
It has been a great week for the House, and an even better week for the state of Georgia. Check out some more highlights below:
Meeting with Mike Griffin, who leads legislative efforts for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, to discuss the House’s family-first legislative priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session.
Welcoming Congressman Mike Collins (GA-10) to the House floor to address our members. We’re grateful for Congressman Collins’ leadership at the federal level to deliver hurricane relief and champion the Laken Riley Act
Dayle and I welcomed some very special guests to the House floor on Friday. Two of our grandchildren, Jon David and Ava, joined us at the Capitol to serve as Pages along with their fellow students Diana MBakwe, Ebube MBakwe, Hannah Grace Greeson and Blakely Wright.
As always, it’s an honor and a privilege to serve the people of our great state as Speaker of the Georgia House. I hope to hear from each of you about the issues and policies we’re considering here at the Capitol as we continue our work on your behalf.
My best,
Speaker Jon Burns