Legislative Report Week 6
Legislative Report Week 6
February 20, 2026
In this Issue:
- Week 6 Under the Gold Dome
- Property Rights Bill Surfaces in the Senate
- House Ways and Means Committee Update
- Senate Natural Resources Committee Approves State Water Plan Changes
- House Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development
- House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee Update
- Senate Passes AFY26 Budget
- Georgia Farmland Conservation Program Goes Live
- Fields of Opportunity: Exploring Careers in Agriculture
- Action this Week
- Bill Tracker
- Save the Date
Photo Credits: House Media Services
On Tuesday, February 17th, the General Assembly convened for week 6 of the legislativesession, starting on day 19 and concluding on Friday, February 20th, for day 22. With the conclusion of this week, the legislature is over halfway done with the 2026 session and only two weeks away from Crossover Day. The days are getting longer with committee meetings and more bills making their way to the floor for votes as both chambers work to get legislation to the other side before the deadline on March 6th.
The General Assembly will come back next week for 1 committee work day and 3 legsialtive days. For the adjournment resolution, HR 998, click here.
Property Rights Bill Surfaces in the Senate
On Wednesday, the Senate Transportation Committee, chaired by Senator Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) heard SB 511 by Senator Shawn Still (R-Suwanee). This bill would allow public access on all non-navigable waterways in the state and give the public access to private property. We strongly oppose this legislation and believe it is an infringement on private property rights.
The committee meeting was only a hearing for the bill, and we do not expect it to get any traction this year. It is imperative to protect water and private property rights from anything that may erode a landowner's ability to control their resources.
House Ways and Means Committee Update
The House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) has been busy this year. This week, two bills of significance passed through committee. HB 1085 by Representative Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah) makes the Georgia Jobs Tax Credit and the Georgia Investments Tax Credit transferable for forest manufacturers. This will be a strong incentive to help bring new investment to Georgia after the closure of many pulp mills.
HB 1159 by Representative Matthew Gambill (R-Cartersville) will make payments received from the Farmer Bridge Payment program under the United States Department of Agriculture exempt from the state income tax. An important measure to keep more assistance in the pockets of farmers who need it.
Senate Natural Resources Committee Approves State Water Plan Changes
The Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee held its first meeting on Thursday, February 19. Chairman Lee Anderson (R-Grovetown) presided over the passage of two pieces of legislation closely followed by Georgia Farm Bureau. HR 1008 by Representative Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) would ratify proposed changes to the statewide water plan proposed by the State Water Council. These changes would reduce the number of appointments to the councils by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House, helping streamline and expedite the process of filling vacancies on the regional water councils. The goal is to alleviate situations in which councils cannot meet due to a lack of quorum, which clogs the policy-making process. This change would also require that each council have a representative from each of the four major water-use sectors, including agriculture. Water is our state's most important resource, and we believe these changes will strengthen agriculture's position at the policy-making level and help create common-sense solutions for our shared natural resources. Click here for the full redlined copy of the amendments.
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development heard testimony from numerous state agencies regarding the budget request for the fiscal year 2027 budget. Chairman Steven Meeks (R-Screven) heard testimony from Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Public Service Commission, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and Georgia Forestry Commission.
All the requests were either additions to or explanations of the Governor's budget recommendations. The House will continue its work on the fiscal year 2027 budget, and a comprehensive summary of changes to the Governor's recommendations will be provided once the bill comes out of committee.
House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee Update
On Wednesday, the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, chaired by Representative Robert Dickey (R-Musella), considered HB 947 by Representative Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas). This bill deals with the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, and attempts to reign in fraud and abuse of the program. The current version that passed out of committee removed any language regarding restricting food items from purchase and focused the bill on eliminating fraudulent users of the program.
Wednesday afternoon, the Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, chaired by Representative Brent Cox (R-Dawsonville), met to consider multiple bills regarding consumer protections. None of these bills addressed agriculture.
On Friday, the Senate heard HB 973 by Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington), the amended fiscal year 2026 budget, presented by Senate Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia). The bill that was heard was the Senate substitute to the House version of Governor Kemp's recommendations. The bill passed with resounding support, but was disagreed to by the House and a conference committee was appointed between the House and Senate to decide on a compromised bill.
Below, you will find changes the Senate made to the House edits. One edit that was reflected through the Senate changes not listed below, the Senate changed the $2,000 raise for alll state employees by lowering it to $1,250. After the conference committee report is passed we will provide a comprehensive summary of all items relevant to agriculture.
Georgia Department of Agriculture
$250,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza response efforts.
$2,150,000 - Increase funds for one-time agricultural improvements.
$300,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding for facility improvements. (Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority)
Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
$55,000,000 - Add funds to establish a state financing and assistance program for natural gas infrastructure improvements.
$30,000,000 - Increase funds for rural infrastructure for economic development.
Georgia Forestry Commission
$8,900,000 - Increase funds for the Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative in partnership with Georgia Tech to support the timber industry's expansion into emerging markets through research, product testing, and private partnerships.
Department of Natural Resources
-$250,000 - Removed funds to establish a new center to promote the conservation, preservation, and protection of the Altamaha River and Coastal Georgia.
$2,000,000 - Increase funds for land acquisitions to expand wildlife management areas, statewide.
University System of Georgia
$838,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding for operational and equipment needs to support blueberry breeder research.
$7,000,000 - Increase funds for Research and Education Center infrastructure and facility upgrades, statewide.
Georgia Farmland Conservation Program Goes Live
This morning, Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced the opening of applications for the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund. This program will be a vital tool for protecting farmland in Georgia and ensuring farmland stays in production forever. As competing interest create pressure on landowners and farmers to turn their farmland into other uses, this program will incentivize farmers to utilize conservation easements to ensure the land continues in agricultural use.
For more information, click the button below to visit the Georgia Department of Agriculture website with information on how to apply. The first round of applications will be accepted through May 20. To read the full press release with statements from Commissioner Harper, Governor Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Jones, Speaker Burns, GFB President Tom McCall and other members of the Council, click here.
Fields of Opportunity: Exploring Careers in Agriculture
Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) are partnering to host a virtual educational event to highlight emerging trends and career opportunities within Georgia's number one industry, agriculture. "Fields of Opportunity: Exploring Careers in Agriculture" will be held on Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. Participants will discuss the importance of developing the next generation of agricultural leaders and how organizations are fostering meaningful career pathways that ensure the long-term success of Georgia's farm and forestry communities.
Leaders from both organizations will discuss how GFB and ABAC work together to connect advocacy, workforce development, hands-on education, and leadership and networking opportunities for farmers and future farmers. Topics will include the role of precision agriculture tools play in improving planting, crop management, and livestock efficiency, as well as the expanding opportunities for growth across Georgia's diverse agricultural landscape.
Presenters will also highlight the importance of agricultural education in building a strong workforce pipeline. The conversation will spotlight career paths that extend beyond production agriculture, including environmental horticulture, turfgrass and golf course management, timber and forestry, agribusiness, sales, marketing, distribution, and business leadership programs within ABAC's Stafford School of Business. The goal is to broaden awareness of the many high-demand careers that support Georgia farms from field to consumer.
Reps. Momtahan, Cannon, Tarvin, Powell, Jones, and others
This bill strengthens the state's oversight of SNAP eligibility, verification, and rule enforcement to help fight fraud within the program. The bill would strengthen Georgia's fraud investigation capabilities, protect the state from lawsuits, and phase in major verification changes over time.
Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee by substitute (02/18/26)
Reps. Camp, O'Steen, Cannon, Dickey, Ford, and others
This bill would require landowner consent for a drone operator to land a drone on agricultural land.
Passed House Technology and Infrastructure Committee by substitute (02/19/26)
Reps. Burns, Jones, Efstration, and Hatchett
This bill is the budget for the fiscal year 2027, totaling $76.5 billion.
Passed Senate by substitute (02/20/26)
Reps. Hagan, Cannon, Meeks, and Burchett
This agency legislation would exempt certain prescribed burns for silvicultural purposes from permit and notice requirements.
Assigned to Senate Natural Resources & Environment Committee (02/17/2026)
Reps. Petrea, Burns, Cannon, Burchett, Buckner, and others
This bill would allow the transfer of existing job and investment tax credits to new forestry manufacturers investing in Georgia over the next 5 years. A forestry manufacturer is defined as any company that manufactures: wood products, paper or wood, kitchen cabinet and countertop manufacturing, biomass electric power generation, ethyl alcohol manufacturing, cyclic crude, intermediate, and gum and wood chemical manufacturing, all other basic organic chemical manufacturing, wood office furniture manufacturing, custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing.
Passed House Ways & Means Committee by substitute (02/18/26)
Reps. Gambill, Seabaugh, Wade, Blackmon, Williamson, and others
This bill exempts payments from the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program from state income tax if they are received on or before March 31, 2026.
Passed House Ways & Means Committee by substitute (02/18/26)
Reps. Rhodes, Leverett, Ridley, Williams, and Corbett
This bill would prohibit the storage of any soil amendment derived from industrial by-products within 100 feet of any property line and prohibit loading or unloading any soil amendment derived from industrial by-products within a public road.
Assigned to Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee (02/19/26)
Reps. Meeks, Rhodes, and Ridley
This bill would allow engines exceeding 9.9 horsepower on the Ogeechee from where the river crosses State Highway 119 to its origin.
Recommitted to House Game, Fish, & Parks Committee (02/17/26)
Reps. Cannon, Corbett, Huddleston, Kelley, and Blackmon
This bill would exempt residential electricity and natural gas from sales and use taxes.
Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee (02/18/26)
Reps. Ford, Dickey, Meeks, O'Steen, Williams, and Cannon
This bill would designate cotton as the official state fabric.
Assigned to House Special Rules Committee (02/18/26)
Reps. Neal and Jones
This bill would increase Georgia's minimum wage to $15/hr and allow employers with fewer than 50 workers to apply for an annual tax credit for up to 5 years to cover the difference between the current hourly rate and $15/hr.
Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee (02/19/26)
Reps. Frye, Romman, Berry, Sanchez, Bell, and others
This bill removes the section of the Georgia title code that allows employers to pay workers who earn gratuities or tips less than the minimum wage.
Assigned to House Industry & Labor Committee (02/19/26)
Reps. Ridley, Ridley, Horner, Thomas, Tarvin, and others
This bill adds a definition of "critical infrastructure" for the ban of foreign possessory interests in agricultural land in Georgia. Critical infrastructure is defined as, but not limited to, wastewater systems, transportation systems, communication systems, and chemical facilities.
Assigned to House Judiciary Committee (02/19/26)
Reps. Smith, Dickey, Corbett, Townsend, and Smith
This resolution approves the amendments to the statewide water plan adopted by the State Water Council at the end of 2025. It will reduce the number of members on each regional water council and require designees from certain industries, including agriculture.
Passed Senate Natural Resources & the Environment Committee (02/19/2026)
Reps. Dickey, Meeks, O'Steen, Ford, Corbett, and others
This resolution establishes a joint study committee to study the generational sustainability of Georgia's family farms.
Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/20/26)
Reps. Washburn, Dickey, Carpenter, Corbett, Williams, and others
This resolution proposes a ballot question that asks if the constitution should be amended to include a 1% sales and use tax to reduce ad valorem taxes on real property.
Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee (02/20/26)
Sens. Dixon, Still, Anavitarte, Goodman, Echols, and others
This bill changes the permitting standard for soil erosion permits by establishing a 45-day decision deadline, requiring that all unanswered permit applications be approved immediately, and streamlining definitions to make permit applications easier.
Passed Senate State & Local Governmental Operations Committee by substitute (02/19/26)
Sens. Tillery, Walker III, Anavitarte, Hufstetler, Robertson, and others
This bill would remove the previous triggers required to lower the state income tax, introduce new triggers, and set the statewide income tax rate at 4.99% starting in 2026, then at 4.49% in 2027, then at 3.99% in 2028. It would also significantly increase the standard deduction from $24,000 to $100,000 for married filing jointly and from $12,000 to $50,000 for single, head of household, or married filing separately. The bill also eliminates several state tax credits, including those for insurance companies, banks, port traffic, EV manufacturers, cigarettes exported, and others.
Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee (02/18/26)
Sens. Tillery, Walker III, Anavitarte, Gooch, Robertson, and others
This bill lowers state income tax to 4.99% starting in 2026, 4.49% in 2027, and 3.99% for 2028. This bill also increases the standard deduction from $24,000 to $32,000 for single filers and from $12,000 to $16,000 for single, head of household, or married filing separately.
Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee (02/18/26)
Sens. Watson, Anavitarte, Walker III, Anderson, and Goodman
This bill adds a sunset provision to the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund and allows the state to allocate up to 80% of sales tax revenue collected on sporting goods to the fund.
Passed Senate Natural Resources & the Environment Committee (02/19/2026)
Sens. Still, Hufstetler, Jackson, Orrock, and Halpern
This bill seeks to recognize the common-law right of the state's citizens to use non-navigable waterways solely for passage. The bill recognizes owners' exclusive rights, provided navigability is not obstructed. It would apply to vessels, including canoes, kayaks, rafts, tubes, and shallow-draft motorized vessels.
Assigned to Senate Transportation Committee (02/17/26)
Sens. Echols, Goodman, Gooch, Hufstetler, and Robertson
This resolution designates February 24, 2026, as FFA Day at the Capitol.
Adopted by the Senate (02/18/26)
Sens. Goodman, Watson, Echols, Sims, Anderson, and others
This resolution establishes a joint study committee to study the generational sustainability of Georgia's family farms.
Assigned to Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/19/26)
Sens. Anderson, Goodman, Watson, Echols, Dickerson, and others
This resolution names Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon as the 2026 Conservation Trailblazer of the year.
Adopted by the Senate (02/19/26)
To stay updated on all the bills GFB is tracking, check out our updated bill tracker under the Action Center on the Georgia Farm Bureau website. There you will be able to find all the bills that we are following, a summary of the bill, the bill sponsors, and the most recent action. Click the button below to be redirected to our bill tracker.
- Dawgs Day at the Dome: February 24th
- FFA Day at the Capitol: February 24th
- Georgia Citrus Association Conference: February 24th
- 4-H Day at the Capitol: February 26th
- Steak Biscuit Day at the Capitol: March 12th
- Fields of Opportunity: Exploring Careers in Agriculture: March 26th
- FFA Blue & Gold Gala: March 27th
Thank you for taking an active role in staying up-to-date and informed on the developments at our State Capitol. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to any of our Public Policy Department Staff and we will be happy to assist you.
Alex Bradford, Director
Adam Belflower, State Affairs Manager
Raynor Churchwell, Agricultural Programs Manager
ElizaJane Glover, Agricultural Programs Specialist
Renee Jones, Operations Coordinator
Amelia Junod, Advocacy and Policy Development Specialist
Chase McClure, Governmental Affairs Specialist
Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator