Crossing Over: Week 8 Session Update
Last week marked “Crossover Week,” a pivotal time when legislation must pass from one chamber to the other to remain active this session. On Thursday, known as Crossover Day, the House worked late into the evening, passing a record 75 bills and resolutions now awaiting Senate consideration. It was a week of intense activity and crucial decision-making as we strived to advance legislation addressing our state’s pressing needs.
Amended Fiscal Year 2025 Budget: Prioritizing Recovery and Safety We began the week by fulfilling our constitutional duty with the final passage of House Bill 67, the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget. This budget, set at a revenue estimate of $40.5 billion, including $2.7 billion in surplus funds, provides a $4.4 billion increase (12.2%) over the original Fiscal Year 2025 budget. A significant portion of this increase is dedicated to recovery efforts following the catastrophic Hurricane Helene, underscoring our commitment to rebuilding affected communities.
Key allocations in the AFY 2025 budget include: Governor's Emergency Fund: $113 million to con tinue the state’s emergency response efforts.
Debris Removal: $50 million allocated for clearing storm-related debris.
Disaster Relief for Farmers and Timber Producers: $285 million to support our vital agriculture and forestry sectors.
Beyond hurricane relief, the budget addresses the needs of the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) with a total infusion of $345.9 million. This includes $215 million for essential safety, security, and technology upgrades to GDC’s infrastructure, ensuring the well-being of both inmates and correctional staff. Additionally, $50.9 million is allocated for new correctional officer positions, and $10.5 million for body cameras and tasers, enhancing safety measures within our correctional facilities.
Enhancing School Safety and Student Well-being
Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students remains a top priority. This week, the House passed House Bill 268, a comprehensive measure aimed at improving the safety, health, and well-being of students and school communities across Georgia. Key initiatives in HB 268 include: Improved Sharing of Student Records: Enhancing the sharing of educational and medical information between schools and state agencies to support at-risk students.
Anonymous Reporting App: Implementing a plat form for students to confidentially report concerns, allowing for timely interventions.
Mental Health Coordinators: Establishing positions in each school district to connect students facing mental health challenges with available resources.
Behavioral (reat Assessment: Creating a statewide indicator to identify and address potential risks to school safety before they escalate.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): Requiring local schools to implement PBIS, suicide, and youth violence prevention training to promote healthy behavior management.
O0ce of Safe Schools: Establishing an o0ce to pro vide resources and training to foster safer school environments.
School and Student Safety Database (S3): Develop ing a comprehensive database to manage safety concerns related to credible threats against Georgia’s schools and students, ensuring the privacy and security of such data.
These measures reaffirm our dedication to fostering an environment where children can thrive without fear.
Reforming the Criminal Justice System
In our ongoing efforts to improve Georgia’s criminal justice system, the House unanimously passed House Bill 123. This bill eliminates the death penalty as a punishment for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). Under HB 123, defendants can file a pretrial notice asserting their intellectual disability, leading to a hearing where the court determines the validity of the claim based on a “preponderance of evidence” standard. If confirmed, the state would be barred from seeking the death penalty. This reform ensures a fairer and more just system, recognizing that individuals with intellectual disabilities may not fully understand the consequences of their actions.
Additional Legislative Highlights
Several other important bills were passed during Crossover Week:
Income Tax Reduction: House Bill 111 lowers the state income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%, continuing our commitment to reducing the tax burden on hardworking Georgians.
Rural Hospital Support: House Bill 262 establishes a grant program for rural hospitals to acquire and install backup generators, ensuring they can operate during power outages, especially in regions affected by emergencies.
Autism Missing Person Alert System: House Bill 465 adds autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to the conditions eligible for triggering the Mattie’s Call state-wide alert system. This enhancement aids law enforcement in locating missing individuals with ASD more effectively, providing families with peace of mind.
There are dozens more that crossed over last week. To read about many of them, visit LeesaHagan.com.
Visitors to the Capitol
Leaders from Gardens of Hope RCO in Toombs County visited for the celebration for #ARAD Day at the Capitol.
First Vice-President of the Georgia Chapter of the Fraternal Order of the Police, DNR Sergeant Chris Moore.
Trish Poole, Toombs County Republican Party Chairman, visited with members of Republican Leadership for Georgia.
Looking Ahead
With Crossover Day behind us, the House will now begin to consider legislation that passed in the Senate and vice versa. As Sine Die (the last day of the session) approaches on April 4th, I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns about the bills currently under consideration. Please feel free to schedule a phone call or visit the State Capitol so we can discuss the issues that matter most to you and your family. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.
L to R: Rep. Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons) and First Vice-President of the Georgia Chapter of the Fraternal Order of the Police, DNR Sergeant Chris Moore (Vidalia).
L to R: Trish Poole, Toombs County Republican Party Chairman, and Rep. Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons)
