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Legislative Report Week 7

Legislative Report Title

Legislative Report Titles

 

Legislative Report Week 6

February 20, 2026

In this Issue: 

Week 7 Under the Gold Dome

This week, the General Assembly convened on Monday for a committee workday followed by 3 legislative days carrying us through day 25 on Thursday, February 26th. The pace of work continues to accelerate with Crossover Day looming ahead on Friday, March 6th.

The halls were buzzing with friends on Tuesday celebrating FFA Day at the Capitol and Dawg Day at the Capitol and Thursday celebrating 4-H Day at the Dome. Both of these youth leadership organizations,4-H and FFA, play a vital role in preparing the next generation of industry leaders. Students spent the day connecting with their elected officials, learning about state government and the legislative process, and hearing updates from leaders. Likewise, Dawg Day at the Dome brought University of Georgia students to town, and we were excited to see a special group of students from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Hospitality in attendance.

We would like to specially recognize Kaitlyn Marchant, Oglethorpe County Farm Bureau President. She was recognized on the House floor by Representative Angie O'steen (R-Ambrose) as the first female State FFA Advisor. We are excited for Kaitlyn and appreciate her service to Farm Bureau and the state of Georgia.

Next week members will return for 2 committee workdays and 3 legislative days, beginning the week on Monday, March 2nd. For the full calendar, you can see the adjournment resolution here, HR 998.

 

AFY26 Budget is Signed by the Governor

This week, the House and Senate Conference Committee on HB 973 released the amended fiscal year 2026 budget. The budget included many strong investments in agriculture. Two issues that headlined the amended fiscal year 2026 budget were $850 million dollars in property tax relief and $1.17 billion in income tax relief grants. The property tax grants will be around $500 per recipient, and the income tax grants will equal $250 for individual filers and $500 for joint filers. The conference report passed both chambers and has been signed into law by Governor Kemp.

Below is a comprehensive list of all items relevant to agriculture. One change not listed below is a one-time salary supplement of $2,000 to all full-time state employees.

Department of Agriculture

  • $576,949 - Increase funds for prior year cost-of-living adjustments for which the agency did not receive increased federal reimbursement, and to reflect formula correction for prior year cost-of-living adjustment.
  • $250,000 - Increase funds for inspection software upgrades for the Animal Health Division.
  • $100,000 - Increase funds for inspection software upgrades for the Plant Protection Division.
  • $105,000 - Increase funds for inspection software upgrades for the Structural Pest Division.
  • $250,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza response efforts.
  • $2,400,000 - Increase funds for one-time agricultural improvements.
  • $450, 000 - Increase funds for laptop replacement.
  • $370,000 - Increase funds for the continuation of the Georgia Grown Wood Product Program collaboration between the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the State Forestry Commission.
  • $293,651 - Increase funds for new lab information and management software. (Poultry Veterinary Lab)
  • $300,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding for facility improvements. (Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority)

Department of Education, Agricultural Education

  • $591,965 - Increase funds for storm damage repairs at FFA Camps.

Georgia Environmental Finance Authority

  • $35,000,000 - Add funds to establish a state financing and assistance program for natural gas infrastructure improvements pursuant to SB13 (2025 Legislative Session).
  • $60,000,000 -  Increase funds for rural infrastructure for economic development.

OneGeorgia Authority

  • $15,000,000 - Increase funds for rural site development

Georgia Forestry Commission

  • $148,545 - Increase funds for grants to counties with more than 20,000 acres of state-owned land pursuant to O.C.G.A. 48-14-1.
  • $100,000 - Increase funds to support leadership programming for agriculture, forestry, and veterinary medicine professionals.
  • $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.
  • $107,000 - Increase funds for the operation of a new helicopter purchased in FY2025.

Department of Natural Resources

  • $500,000 - Increase funds to replace Coastal Resources Database to streamline permitting application processing.
  • $1,000,000 - Increase funds for Tybee Island North Beach dune emergency stabilization.
  • $1,000,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding to support air emissions program operations to allow preservation of existing revenue to delay a fiscal shortfall.
  • $1,250,000 - Increase funds for erosion control at Crooked River State Park, contingent on the award of a Hazard Mitigation Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
  • $8,361,250 - Increase funds for recreational activities.
  • $80,000 - Increase funds for Fort Yargo dock replacement.
  • $2,000,000 - Increase funds for the Vince Dooley Battlefield Fund
  • $1,250,000 - Increase funds for state-owned building housing the RiverCenter for urgent life safety repairs.
  • $5,000,000 - Increase funds for a road paving project on Sapelo Island.
  • $5,000,000 - Increase funds for land acquisitions to expand wildlife management areas, statewide.
  • $75,000 - Increase funds to mitigate the spread of invasive plant species in southwest Georgia.

University System Board of Regents

  • $838,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding for operational and equipment needs to support blueberry breeder research.
  • $1,600,000 - Increase funds for improvements at Grand Farm.
  • $6,000,000 - Increase funds for Research and Education Center infrastructure and facility upgrades, statewide (Cooperative Extension Service).

Department of Transportation

  • $100,000,000 - Increase funds for the rehabilitation and replacement of rural bridges.

Capitol Project Funds

  • $2,487,926 - Increase funds for one-time funding to replace HVAC units, Perry, Houston County. [Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority]
  • $2,636,180 - Increase funds for one-time funding for design and construction for a mass timber county unit, Madison, Morgan County. [State Forestry Commission]
  • $10,000,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding to replace open cab tractors with environmental cabs, statewide. [State Forestry Commission]
  • $1,750,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding for infrastructure improvements and renovations for the North Georgia Mountain Authority at Unicoi State Park, Helen, White County. [Department of Natural Resources]
  • $10,400,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding to replace one helicopter for search and rescue operations, statewide. [Department of Natural Resources]
  • $3,000,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding for facility improvements and renovations at fish hatcheries, statewide. [Department of Natural Resources]
  • $1,500,000 - Increase funds for one-time funding for replacement of gangways, statewide. [Department of Natural Resources]

 

Timber Tax Credit Passes House

On Wednesday, HB 1085 by Representative Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah) was presented on the House floor. This bill would make the Georgia Jobs Tax Credit and the Georgia Investment Tax Credit transferable for any forest product manufacturer until 2031.

After the closure of multiple large timber mills in 2025, an oversupply of timber suppressed prices and disrupted markets all across the state. Timberland owners were left with an asset that lost its value overnight. In response to this market crisis, HB 1085 would seek to encourage new forest product manufacturers to invest in Georgia increasing the wood consumption and stabilizing markets.

The bill passed with strong support on the House floor and now heads to the Senate to be considered.

 

Hurricane Helene Reforestation Tax Credit Expanded and Extended

On Thursday, SB 59 by Senator Sam Watson (R-Moultrie) was considered on the House floor. Originally, this bill dealt with Conservation Use Valuation Assessment, CUVA, but was amended in the House Ways and Means Committee last week to now modify the Hurricane Helene Reforestation Tax Credit.

This bill increases the cap for the tax credit from $200 million to $250 million, pushes the application deadline back to July 1, 2026, and requires a response to an application within 45 days of submission. This is an important measure because many applications were found to be incomplete and now can be fixed, helping landowners take full advantage of the relief.

The bill passed the House floor with resounding support and now waits to be agreed upon by the Senate. The bill will require an appropriation to increase the cap by $50 million.

 

Joint Study Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms

This week SR 800 Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) and HR 1416 by Representative Robert Dickey (R-Musella) were considered by the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committees in each chamber. The Senate committee passed SR 800 and the House committee passed HR 1416, both with unanimous consent.

These resolutions will establish the Joint Study Committee on the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms. With the cost of farming skyrocketing and commodity prices hovering at all time lows, many family farms are struggling to stay afloat as the prospect of passing the farm to the next generation dwindles. This study committee hopes to address some of the biggest issues facing the industry head on, finding ways to create new markets for Georgia agricultural commodities, decreasing the cost of doing business, and supporting the growth and development of agriculture in our state.

 

Senate Agriculture Committee Looks at Egg Candling

On Wednesday, the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee chaired by Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) met to consider SB 551 by Senator Sam Watson (R-Moultrie). SB 551 would repeal the egg candling program administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. This program only allows the Department to teach egg candling and requires an egg candling license to sell eggs from backyard flocks. Candling is to check the quality of the eggs before they are sold.

Senator Watson is repealing this program to make it easier for people trying to sell locally produced eggs. Currently, the Department does not offer many candling classes making it difficult to enter the market for a local producer.

The bill passed out of committee with unanimous consent and now moves to be considered by the full Senate chamber.

 

Senate Finance Committee Considers CUVA Bill

On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome), met to consider multiple bills. SB 306 by Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula) deals with the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment, CUVA, program requiring local government to notify a landowner of an expiring covenant via certified mail and if the landowner is not notified, the covenant is automatically extended by one year, not resulting in a breach of covenant. This bill seeks to help landowners from missing their notice regarding an expiring covenant and remedy if a landowner is not notified.

The bill passed out of committee with unanimous consent and now awaits to be considered by the full Senate chamber.

 

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.

 

Mark Masters Sworn in as NACD President-Elect

We would like to congratulate Georgia Farm Bureau member, Mark Masters for being sworn in as the National Association of Conservation Districts, NACD, President-Elect. Below is a press release from last week by the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, GACD, announcing the achievement:

Yesterday, the NACD Board of Directors elected Mark Masters, of southwest Georgia, to serve as the association's President-Elect. He will serve a one-year term as President-Elect alongside current NACD President Gary Blair and will assume the role of NACD President in 2027.

"I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve NACD and the thousands of conservation leaders across the county in this new role," said President-Elect Masters. "It is a joy to work alongside such a dedicated team of staff and volunteers to address the evolving nature and magnitude of resource concerns through the local delivery of conservation policy and practices."

Masters has served NACD in a number of roles since 2021, including as a Chair of the Water and Climate Subcommittee, as an officer in the role of Secretary-Treasurer, and most recently as NACD's First Vice President. He also served as a President of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts and is a supervisor at his local conservation district, the Lower Chattahoochee River Soil and Water Conservation District.

Masters will be sworn in as President in February 2027 at NACD's 81st Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

Action This Week

HB 812

Reps. Cheokas, Rhodes, Williams, Jasperse, Crowe, and others

This bill enhances state oversight of local building code amendments by making Department of Community Affairs approval a prerequisite, and enacts tighter restrictions on the review and denial of soil erosion and land-disturbance permits.

Passed House Governmental Affairs Committee (02/26/26)

 

HB 973

Reps. Burns, Jones, Efstration, and Hatchett

This is the amended budget for fiscal year 2026. 

Sent to Governor (02/25/26)

 

HB 983

Reps. Hagan, Cannon, Meeks, and Burchett

This agency legislation would exempt certain prescribed burns for silvicultural purposes from permit and notice requirements. 

Passed Senate Natural Resources & the Environment Committee (02/24/2026)

 

HB 1000

Reps. Gambill, Wade, Seabaugh, Hong, Blackmon, and others

This bill would provide a one-time tax credit of $250 for individual filers and $500 for joint filers for taxpayers who filed income tax returns for 2024 or 2025.

Passed House Ways & Means Committee (02/26/2026)

 

HB 1001

Reps. Wade, Gambill, Seabaugh, Hong, Blackmon, and others

This bill clarifies the language regarding the annual state income tax rate reduction by removing extraneous language and stating that the state income tax rate will be reduced from 5.19% to 4.99% for taxable years beginning in 2026.

Assigned to Senate Finance Committee (02/26/2026)

 

HB 1085

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.

Assigned to Senate Finance Committee (02/26/2026)

 

HB 1116

Reps. Blackmon, Burns, Efstration, Hatchett, Cannon, and others

This bill would gradually increase the homestead exemption, starting with $10,000 for 2 years, then $30,000 for 1 year, and then $60,000 for 2031 and thereafter. Local entities may apply a local sales tax to offset lost revenue, with the local total capped at 5%. The bill also caps the property tax rate at 3% to cap annual revenue growth.

Passed House Ways & Means Committee by substitute (02/25/26)

 

HB 1182

Reps. Rhodes, Leverett, Ridley, Williams, and Corbett

This bill bans the storage of any inorganic soil amendment within 100 feet of a property line.

Assigned to Senate Natural Resources & the Environment Committee (02/19/26)

 

HB 1266

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.

Passed House Game, Fish, & Parks Committee by substitute (02/25/26)

 

HB 1310

Reps. Ford, Dickey, Meeks, O'Steen, Williams, and Cannon

This bill would designate cotton as the official state fabric.

Passed House Special Rules Committee (02/25/26)

 

HB 1449

Reps. Jackson, Reese, Mitchell, Holly, Scott, and others

This bill establishes the Georgia Gold Standard Opportunity Grant Program, using the state's surplus to award grants of up to $50,000 to small businesses, small-scale farmers, and small nonprofit organizations.

Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/25/26)

 

HR 1114

Reps. Blackmon, Burns, Efstration, Hatchett, Cannon, and others

This resolution is the companion to HB 1116 and serves as the constitutional amendment required to provide 100% property tax relief for homeowners.

Passed House Ways & Means Committee by substitute (02/24/26)

 

HR 1416

Reps. Dickey, Meeks, O'Steen, Ford, Corbett, and others

This resolution establishes a Joint House and Senate Study Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms.

Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/25/26)

 

HR 1418

Reps. Washburn, Dickey, Carpenter, Corbett, Williams, and others

This resolution proposes a ballot question asking whether 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 (02/24/26)

 

SB 59

Sens. Watson, Hickman, Goodman, Anderson, Summers, and others

This bill increases the statewide cap on tax credits for timber producers who suffered Hurricane Helene losses from $200 million to $250 million, extends the application deadline to July 1, 2026, and requires restoration or replanting of timber before credits can be claimed.

Passed the House (02/26/26)

 

SB 306

Sen. Robertson

This bill changes the mandatory notification to the tax assessor from first-class to certified mail. If the owner doesn't receive notification of the impending expiry, the covenant is automatically extended by 1 year.

Passed Senate Finance Committee (02/26/26)

 

SB 447

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 Rules Committee (02/26/26)

 

SB 551

Sens. Watson, Anderson, Echols, and Goodman

This bill removes the code requiring a candling license to sell eggs.

Passed Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/25/26)

 

SB 590

Sens. Summers, Albers, Goodman, Robertson, Hodges, and others

This bill strengthens protections for dogs kept for breeding, including standards for housing, veterinary care, exercise, and recovery. 

Assigned to Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee (02/26/26)

 

 

SR 480

Sen. Brass, Robertson, Anavitarte, Goodman, Gooch, and others

This resolution encourages Georgia timberland owners, particularly in West Georgia, to recognize the threat posed by the Southern Pine Beetle and to follow Forestry Commission recommendations to mitigate its spread.

Passed Senate Natural Resources & the Environment Committee (02/24/26)

 

SR 800

Sens. Goodman, Watson, Echols, Sims, Anderson, and others

This resolution establishes a Joint House and Senate Study Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms.

Passed Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee on (02/25/26)

 

Bill Tracker

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.

Bill Tracker

 

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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