Leesa Hagan: Week 11 Session Update
M y Ho u s e col leagues and I ret urned to the State Capi tol last Tuesday to kick off the 11th week of the legislative session. With Sine Die fast approaching, we remained focused on passing key legislation that directly impacts our communities. From addressing chronic absenteeism in schools to strengthening fentanyl trafficking laws, we tackled several important issues last week. Let’s dive into some of the highlights. Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Georgia Schools Ensuring that students attend school regularly is critical for academic success. That’s why the House passed Senate Bill 123, which formally defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10% or more of the school year. This bill takes a supportive approach by implementing intervention strategies to help struggling students rather than punishing them.
Key provisions of SB 123 include: Updating state law terminology from “mandatory attendance” to “compulsory attendance.”
Requiring schools and districts with high absenteeism rates to form attendance review teams.
With nearly 360,000 Georgia students missing significant classroom time last year, this bill is a much-needed step toward improving attendance and ensuring that students receive the education they deserve. SB 123 now awaits the governor’s signature.
Expanding Higher Education Access for Foster Youth Supporting Georgia’s foster youth means providing them with opportunities to build a brighter future. Senate Bill 85, which passed in the House, aims to do just that by creating the Georgia Foster Care Scholarship Act. This initiative would provide financial assistance for former foster youth under 26 who spent at least six months in foster care after age 14.
Eligible students could receive up to $30,000 per year for tuition, room and board, meal plans, and textbooks. These grants would bridge financial gaps, allowing former foster youth to pursue higher education without the burden of overwhelming costs.
The bill now returns to the Senate for final approval. If enacted, it will empower foster youth to gain the skills needed for long-term career success and contribute to Georgia’s growing workforce. Strengthening Georgia’s Fight Against Fentanyl Trafficking The opioid crisis has devastated families across Georgia, and fentanyl remains one of the deadliest threats. Building on the progress of Austin’s Law, passed last year, we took another major step by passing Senate Bill 79, the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act. This legislation increases penalties for fentanyl trafficking and ensures stricter enforcement.
Key provisions of SB 79: Establishes a separate offense category for fentanyl- related crimes, removing it from general opioid statutes.
Imposes mandatory minimum sentences based on the amount of fentanyl involved: 4+ grams: 8 years in prison and a $75,000 fine.
28+ grams: 35 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.
Supports existing efforts to combat opioid abuse, including expanded access to Naloxone in schools and public buildings.
Fentanyl is so potent that just two milligrams can be lethal, and counterfeit pills often contain much higher doses. By holding traffickers accountable, SB 79 aims to save lives and protect Georgia communities from this dangerous epidemic. Final Legislative Actions Before Sine Die As we near the end of the 2025 session, several key bills have made their way to Governor Kemp’s desk, awaiting final approval. These include: House Bill 340: Re quires public schools to ban personal electronic devices during the school day to improve student focus.
House Bill 111: Low ers Georgia’s individual income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%, effective January 2025.
House Bill 112: Pro vides a one-time tax refund to eligible Georgia taxpayers, ranging from $250 to $500.
House Bill 428: Pro tects access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) services. Visitors to the Capitol
The State Champion Toombs County High School Football team and coaches joined us in the House chamber for a special recognition of their first ever state title. Vidalia Heritage Academy student Rilyn Rodgers of Wheeler County received a House Resolution recognizing her hard work and servant leadership following Hurricane Helene last fall. She was joined by her parents Eve and Rusty.
Looking Ahead The final week of the 2025 legislative session begins Monday, March 31st. If you have any questions about pending legislation, please don’t hesitate to reach out. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.
For more updates, visit LeesaHagan.com.
Senator Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), The Toombs County High School State Champion football team and coaches, and Rep. Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons).
By Leesa Hagan R-Vidalia (District 156, Georgia House of Representatives)
