GA House Rep Trey Rhodes

February 10, 2025

Legislative News

The Georgia House of Representatives returned to the State Capitol on Monday, February 3rd to begin the fourth week of the 2025 legislative session. With Monday marking Legislative Day 10, my colleagues and I are now more than a quarter of the way through the 40-day session. Last week, our efforts were focused on fulfilling our constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget. House Bill 67, the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget, which outlines the state’s spending through the end of the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2025, passed with bipartisan support.

The House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget is set by a revised estimate of $40.5 billion, including $2.7 billion in surplus funds for a total infusion of $4.4 billion, which is an increase of 12.2 percent over the original Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget.

The House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget emphasizes strengthening Georgia’s economy while also prioritizing early education, healthcare, higher education, and public safety. One of the most critical areas addressed in the House’s version of the amended budget is the urgent need to provide relief and funding for Georgians impacted by Hurricane Helene. Our state’s budget remains robust, and I will highlight some of the House’s recommendations and how they may impact our state and communities.

$145 million to be added to the Governor’s Emergency Fund to continue funding our state’s emergency response efforts to the storms

Georgia Department of Transportation will be protected from the financial impact of the motor fuel tax suspension following Hurricane Helene by redirecting the lost $98 million into the Capital Construction program, and $200 million be allocated to routine maintenance for response efforts related to Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Debby, and flooding that took place in November 2024

$100 million in previously authorized funds through the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission for relief efforts, along with an additional $150 million to support disaster relief for farmers and timber producers affected by Hurricane Helene

$50 million for the Department of Administrative Services’ property risk pool to repair state property damaged in Helene’s wake.

In support of fire and environmental safety efforts, HB 67 would also direct $15.7 million to the Georgia Forestry Commission to fund the use of firefighting helicopters and environmental cab tractors

The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene was vast, with countless homes, businesses, and infrastructure left in ruins. Many Georgia families are still struggling to rebuild their lives and property after the storm’s destruction, making this funding essential for supporting recovery efforts and restoring state assets.

Following the storms, rural Georgians are facing barriers to accessing quality healthcare and challenges in receiving timely medical care. To resolve this concern, the House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget provides $35.6 million in one-time stabilization grants to support Georgia’s rural hospitals in their recovery efforts

$1.4 million for a $3,000 salary enhancement for federal eligibility caseworkers, recognizing their hard work and dedication to assisting natural disaster victims

$10 million in grant funds specifically allocated for relief from Hurricane Helene, further reinforcing the state’s commitment to aiding in the recovery of those impacted by the storm

In line with our commitment to supporting rural communities, HB 67 would allocate $28 million to rural workforce housing through grants and loans. This funding aims to boost rural workforce development by increasing housing availability in these areas

$20 million in grants for rural site development, which would support local economic growth and help communities create development-ready sites

$50 million for school security grants, which would provide $21,635 per school for one-time security expenses. When combined with the $109 million in base funding, school systems would receive a total of $68,759 per school in FY 2025

$3 million is allocated to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to establish funds for a school risk assessment system

$7.42 million in new lottery funds for the Department of Early Care and Learning to implement recommendations from the House Early Childhood Education Working Group. These recommendations include raising pay for Pre-K lead teachers

and assistant teachers to align lead teacher salaries to the State Board of Education schedule and strengthening the Pre-K workforce

$160,000 in one-time funding to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement to establish a Regional Crisis Recovery Network in partnership with the Southern Regional Education Board. This network would train counselors and deploy them to provide psychological first aid to students following traumatic events, such as natural disasters or school shootings

One-time $25 million investment for Mercer School of Medicine, aimed at expanding learning opportunities and training physicians to practice in rural, underserved communities where healthcare needs are most critical

$25 million investment for Morehouse School of Medicine to support faculty recruitment and retention, modernize the medical curriculum, and expand the pathway and career academy program

$2 million be allocated to the HOPE Grant program, which would support increased usage and expanded eligibility

$6 million for HOPE Scholarships, bringing the total appropriation to $852 million, which would benefit more than 300,000 students across the state

$22.2 million to the Georgia Department of Human Services to address the growth in foster care and the rising costs associated with that care, and $1.7 million to fund a special victim’s unit within the department, which would be focused on rescuing foster youth from sexual exploitation.

$1 million to the Georgia Department of Veterans Services to open a sub-acute unit for veterans with severe mental illness and brain injuries and $1.5 million to cover rising healthcare costs at veterans nursing homes

The House is also dedicated to addressing the critical needs within Georgia’s corrections system, including correctional officers, staff and inmates, which remains a top priority this legislative session.

$333.6 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections, including:

$214 million earmarked for safety, security and technology upgrades
$35 million allocated specifically for security technology to combat contraband
$50.6 million for inmate healthcare services
$15 million for the creation of a state-owned electronic healthcare records system
$10.5 million would also be allocated for new body cameras and tasers to enhance the safety of both officers and inmates
$7.2 million would be set aside for the Over Watch Logistics Unit to provide continuous surveillance and response coordination

HB 67 now heads to the Senate for consideration, where it will undergo a similar review process. Once the Senate has reviewed the House’s version, they may propose changes, and if that happens, the Senate’s version of the amended budget will return to the House for further review. If the two chambers cannot reach an agreement, a conference committee will be appointed to resolve any differences between the two versions. Once both chambers can reach an agreement, the final version of the amended budget will be sent to the governor for signature. This same process will be followed for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget, which is what we will turn our attention to next.

On Tuesday, we honored firefighters from across the state during the 53rd Firefighters Recognition Day at the State Capitol. Thursday, we celebrated Georgia National Guard Day by presenting Major General Richard Dwayne Wilson with a resolution honoring the dedication and sacrifice of the National Guard’s members.

The Georgia House of Representatives will continue its legislative work on Monday, February 10th as we begin our fifth week of session. With Crossover Day quickly approaching, we’re gearing up for a busy period ahead, where bills and resolutions must pass out of their respective chambers. As always, I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns about the work being done at the Capitol.

Welcoming Girls Scouts of Greene County to the Capitol

MY COMMITTEES

STAY CONNECTED

Email

trey.rhodes@house.ga.gov

Capitol Address

228-A State Capitol

Atlanta, GA 30334

404.656.5099 - Office

District Address

1051 Ben Hammond Drive

Greensboro, GA 30642

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Representative

Trey Rhodes

State House District 124

News From Under The Gold Dome

Legislative News

Last week, members of the Georgia House of Representatives returned to the State Capitol following a winter storm that impacted much of the southern part of the state. One of our primary responsibilities this week was to hear from Chief Justice Michael Boggs of the Georgia Supreme Court as he delivered his State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the House and Senate in the House Chamber. House Appropriations Subcommittees and full House committees also began to meet.

On Monday, we began the week with a moment of reflection and remembrance, honoring the millions of innocent lives lost during the Holocaust. Through the adoption of House Resolution 50, which designates January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the House reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that such atrocities are never forgotten. Monday also marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz- Birkenau, which served as a poignant reminder of the resilience of humanity in the face of unimaginable suffering.

Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs addressed the House and Senate on Tuesday and began his State of the Judiciary address by emphasizing the rise in public confidence in state courts, noting that more than half of Americans now give positive ratings to their state judicial systems. He also highlighted that Georgia courts are proactively examining the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on our legal system and have formed a committee to assess their findings and discover what challenges or opportunities could come from the use of AI in the judicial system. He emphasized the positive work being done to improve outcomes for veterans in our state’s criminal justice system.

The chief justice also reported that in recent years, attacks and threats targeting Georgia’s courts, including those aimed at judges, have been on the rise. He highlighted a statistic from the United States Marshals Service, which revealed that threats against federal judges have nearly tripled over the past decade. In response to this escalating trend, Chief Justice Boggs proposed a series of upgrades to physical security measures, alongside comprehensive training initiatives designed to ensure that security situations are not only effectively managed but also prevented.

In addition to hearing the State of the Judiciary address, the pace of our legislative work certainly picked up as the House Appropriations Subcommittees continued meeting to review the sections of the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget. Each subcommittee carefully examines a specific section of Governor Kemp’s budget proposals, eventually passing sections of the budgets from their respective subcommittees. Each budget section will then be presented to the full House Appropriations Committee, where members will collaborate to form one unified budget before the budget bill moves on to the House Rules Committee for further consideration and scheduling of a full vote on the House floor.

In addition, several full House committees have started meeting to discuss various bills assigned to them based on policy area. Once a bill passes out of its respective committee, it moves to the Rules Committee before being added to the House calendar for a vote by the whole House. After passing the House, the bill follows a similar process in the Senate, where it may be amended. If there are differences between the House and Senate versions, a conference committee is appointed to resolve them, and the final version then returns to both chambers for a final vote. If approved, it is sent to Gov. Kemp for either his signature or veto. This is the process we follow for all legislation, including the AFY 2025 and FY 2026 budgets.

Also, last week, my colleagues and I gathered in the House Chamber for a special event for the unveiling of former Dean of the House Calvin Smyre’s official portrait at the Georgia State Capitol, celebrating his remarkable 48-year career in the Georgia House of Representatives.

The Governor held a press conference to announce his Tort Reform initiative stating, "As I said in my State of the State address earlier this month, our legal environment is draining family bank accounts and hurting job creators of all sizes in nearly every industry in our state. After months of listening to our citizens, businesses, and stakeholders across the spectrum, it is clear the status quo is unacceptable, unsustainable, and jeopardizes our state's prosperity in the years to come. This tort reform package protects the rights of all Georgians to have access to our civil justice system and ensures that those who have been wronged receive justice and are made whole. I look forward to working with our partners in the General Assembly to pass this comprehensive and commonsense package and achieve meaningful progress on this important issue during this legislative session."

Finally, to end our week, we stood for a moment of silence to remember the victims of the tragic mid-air collision that took place at Reagan Washington National Airport, and, among the victims were two individuals with ties to Georgia. Sam Lilley, the first officer aboard Flight 5342, was a graduate of Richmond Hill High School in Bryan County and Georgia Southern University. Ryan O’Hara, a 2014 graduate of Parkview High School in Lilburn, was serving as a Blackhawk helicopter Crew Chief. The House mourns this profound loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their families.

We will return to the State Capitol on Monday, February 3rd for our fourth week of session. My colleagues and I will continue to consider legislation that best serves Georgians, and I will be sure to update you about our legislative work. As we continue through the session, I hope that you will reach out with your questions or concerns regarding legislation and the issues that are significant to you and your family.

Governor's Press Conference on Tort Reform

MY COMMITTEES

STAY CONNECTED

Email

trey.rhodes@house.ga.gov

Capitol Address

228-A State Capitol

Atlanta, GA 30334

404.656.5099 - Office

District Address

1051 Ben Hammond Drive

Greensboro, GA 30642

Exit Strategies | Piedmont Avenue | Atlanta, GA 30308 US

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News From Under The Gold Dome

Legislative News

On Monday, January 13, 2025, the Georgia House of Representatives convened for the first day of the 2025 legislative session, marking the start of a new biennium for the 158th Georgia General Assembly. To begin the session, all 180 House members took the Oath of Office, which was administered by Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Boggs. Following the swearing-in, our next order of business was the election of the Speaker of the House and Speaker Pro Tempore. Speaker Jon Burns was re-elected as the 75th Speaker of the House, and Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones was also re-elected to her respective position.

After the election of the Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore, members of the Georgia House of Representatives observed a moment of silence to honor the life and legacy of Former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away in Plains, Georgia, on December 29, 2024. As the 39th President of the United States and Georgia’s 76th Governor—the only Georgian to ever be elected president—Carter’s impact on both the state and the nation was immense. This moment of reflection symbolized the House’s collective gratitude for his life and contributions to our great state and our nation.

Also on Monday, the House voted to adopt an Adjournment Resolution, establishing the legislative calendar for the 2025 legislative session. In accordance with the State Constitution, the Georgia General Assembly is required to be in session for 40 non-consecutive legislative days. This year, Senate Resolution 6, outlines the legislative calendar, with the final day of session, or “Sine Die,” scheduled for Friday, April 4, 2025. With the calendar set, the House is ready to move forward and get to work to address the important issues facing Georgians this legislative session.

On Thursday, members of both the House and Senate gathered for a joint session in the House Chamber to hear Governor Brian Kemp deliver his annual State of the State Address. This address gave the governor the opportunity to present his assessment of the state’s current condition and outline his legislative priorities for the year ahead, which include increased funding for school safety and security, the need for tort reform legislation, expanding access to healthcare in rural areas and increased support for Georgia’s Department of Corrections. You can watch a video archive of the governor’s address here, and I will highlight some of his address.

Governor Kemp began his State of the State address by reflecting on the impact and destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Helene last September. Georgia Power reported that Hurricane Helene was the worst storm in Georgia’s history, resulting in 34 Georgians who lost their lives during the storm. The governor went on to share some of the heroic stories of first responders and neighbors alike who risked their lives to help those in need. In response to this devastation, the state prioritized funding for hard-hit areas and repurposed $100 million to the Georgia Development Authority to support the farming and timber industries. Although Georgians are still grieving and rebuilding from Helene, the legislature remains focused on prioritizing support for the hardest hit regions and communities of our resilient state.

In his address, Gov. Kemp also emphasized that while communities directly affected by Hurricane Helene still need substantial disaster relief, all Georgians, regardless of location, also need long-term solutions to offset rising costs and inflation.

Also, last week, the House Committee on Assignments completed its work and announced committee assignments for each representative. I have my committees listed with links at the bottom of this newsletter. You can learn more about these committees on the House’s public website here: https://www.legis.ga.gov/committees/house.

This week, my legislative colleagues and I will return to the Capitol to begin the state budget process where we will hear directly from Gov. Kemp and state agency leaders as they present their budget requests to the Joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee, in an event often referred to as “budget week.” The Appropriations committees will continue meeting throughout the week, and I look forward to providing updates on the budget process as it gets underway.