Gold Dome Digest: Georgia Legislature Tackles Budget, Sports Betting, Craft Beer, and More

The Georgia House reconvened on February 3rd for the fourth week of the 2025 legislative session, focusing on key legislation, including the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget, sports betting, craft beer reforms, tort reform, and deregulation efforts.

Budget Priorities

The House passed HB 67, the AFY 2025 budget, with bipartisan support. The $40.5 billion budget incorporates a $2.7 billion surplus, prioritizing economic growth, education, healthcare, and public safety. Major allocations include:

• Hurricane Recovery: $145 million for emergency response, $200 million for storm maintenance, and $150 million for disaster relief for farmers.
• Education: $50 million for school security, $7.42 million for early childhood education, and $6 million for HOPE Scholarships.
• Healthcare: $25 million investments each for Mercer and Morehouse medical schools to expand rural healthcare training.
• Public Safety: $22.2 million for foster care, $1.7 million for a special victims’ unit, and $333.6 million for Department of Corrections upgrades.

HB 67 now moves to the Senate for further review.

Sports Betting Resurfaces

For the seventh consecutive year, lawmakers are considering sports betting. SR 131 by Sen. Carden Summers (R-Cordele) would put a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot to legalize sports betting and casino gaming, requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

The bill proposes up to eight casino licenses and establishes the Georgia Gaming Commission. Revenue will be taxed at 20%, with the first $2 billion going to the Georgia Gaming Proceeds Fund. Once that threshold is met, $500 million will be allocated to counties, and 5% of surplus revenue will fund gambling addiction services.

Craft Beer Reforms

Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) introduced the Craft Beer and Local Economy Revitalization Act (SB 122) to ease restrictions on malt beverage manufacturers:

• Expanded Sales: Brewers can sell without a daily cap on off-premises sales. Small brewers (sales <15% of a wholesaler’s total) can sell up to 3,000 barrels annually to retailers within 100 miles.
• Charitable Donations: Allows beer donations to nonprofits.
• Distribution Adjustments: Small brewers can sell directly to other licensed brewers, brewpubs, and retailers.
• Taxation Updates: Excise taxes must be handled directly by brewers.

Tort Reform Package

Governor Brian Kemp unveiled a litigation reform package to reduce excessive lawsuits and promote a business-friendly legal environment:

• SB 68: Limits pain and suffering testimony, caps damages, and revises negligent security liability.
• SB 69: Regulates third-party litigation financing, requiring transparency and registration to prevent lawsuit abuse.

Red-Tape Rollback Initiative

Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced the Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025 to reduce government regulations and support small businesses. SB 28 by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) mandates agencies to assess economic impacts of their regulations and allows requests for small business impact reports on proposed legislation.

With budget negotiations underway and new policies on the table, the 2025 legislative session is shaping up to be a pivotal one for Georgia.

Register for the 2025 Student Page Program ages 12-18 (limited slots)

The House Page Program is for Georgia’s students between 12 and 18 years of age and older to visit the State Capitol, learn about the legislative process, and help facilitate business on the House floor by relaying messages between legislators and citizens and lobbyists, delivering copies of legislation, and performing other tasks. Click here and follow instructions.