Georgia lawmakers have reached the halfway point of the 2025 Legislative Session, with several bills focusing on lawsuit reform, tax relief, and childcare tax credits. According to the Georgia State Senate Press Office, the Senate passed Senate Bill 68 (SB 68), aimed at reforming the legal system to reduce the burden of costly litigation on small businesses and consumers.
SB 68 seeks to reduce frivolous lawsuits and stabilize insurance costs, which lawmakers believe will help protect jobs and lower prices for Georgians.
Another bill, SB 52, or the "Timberlands Recovery, Exemption, and Earnings Stability (TREES) Act," offers tax relief to timberland owners impacted by Hurricane Helene. The storm caused an estimated $1.3 billion in damages to Georgia's timber, particularly affecting the southern region. The TREES Act aims to aid financial recovery and support the long-term stability of the forestry industry, as mentioned the Georgia State Senate Press Office release.
SB 89 proposes an expansion of Georgia’s Child Tax Credit, increasing the state tax credit for childcare expenses to 40% of the federal level and introducing a new credit for families with children under seven. The bill also seeks to encourage businesses to assist employees with childcare costs by raising the employer tax credit cap from 50% to 75%. "With the rising cost of childcare making it harder for parents—particularly mothers—to remain in the workforce, this legislation will provide real relief for Georgia families and help grow our state’s economy," as per the same release.
SB 125 aims to streamline the certification process for professional engineers by decoupling the experience and examination requirements. This change intends to speed up the entry of qualified engineers into Georgia's workforce.
The session also marked FFA (Future Farmers of America) Day, recognizing the organization’s role in preparing young people for careers in agriculture. Georgia’s FFA chapter is one of the largest in the country.
