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Lowndes County, GA

In south Georgia, Lowndes is home to Valdosta, a regional economic and educational hub. It borders Florida and features strong retail, healthcare, and education sectors.

Local News

Bills related to this county

SB 43

Bona Fide Conservation Use Property; the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation; increase

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to increase the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Finance

Sponsors

Summers, Carden (13th); Brass, Matt (6th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Watson, Sam (11th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Williams, Rick (25th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Robertson, Randy (29th); Watson, Ben (1st); Albers, John (56th); Burns, Max (23rd); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Echols, Drew (49th); Still, Shawn (48th); Bearden, Timothy (30th)

Status History

01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 44

Equalization Grants, Annual Calculations, and Allocation; the definition of the term “qualified local school system” by reducing the minimum required millage rate; revise

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-165 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to equalization grants, annual calculations, and allocation, so as to revise the definition of the term “qualified local school system” by reducing the minimum required millage rate or effective millage rate from 14 mills to 10 mills; to provide for a 25 percent reduction of equalization grant awards for local school systems whose millage rate or effective millage rate does not meet the minimum requirement; to require annual reporting by the Department of Education; to repeal a definition; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Education Senate Committee: Rules

Sponsors

Watson, Sam (11th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Summers, Carden (13th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st)

Status History

04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/28/2025: House Passed/Adopted; 03/28/2025: House Third Readers; 03/18/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported; 02/19/2025: House Second Readers; 02/18/2025: House First Readers; 02/13/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 02/13/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/11/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/10/2025: Senate Recommitted; 02/06/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/05/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/13/2025, Senate Vote #51, 51, 0, 0, 5; 03/28/2025, House Vote #336, 138, 23, 3, 16

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 45

Bona Fide Conservation Use Property; the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation; increase

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to increase the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Ways & Means Senate Committee: Finance

Sponsors

Watson, Sam (11th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Kennedy, John F. (18th)

Status History

02/21/2025: House Second Readers; 02/20/2025: House First Readers; 02/19/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 02/19/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/19/2025: Senate Engrossed; 02/18/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/13/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/19/2025, Senate Vote #63, 31, 21, 1, 3; 02/19/2025, Senate Vote #65, 51, 1, 1, 3

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 47

Sales and Use Taxes; sales of firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories during an 11 day period each year; exempt

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes, so as to exempt sales of firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories during an 11 day period each year; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Ways & Means Senate Committee: Finance

Sponsors

Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Brass, Matt (6th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Ginn, Frank (47th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Watson, Ben (1st); Echols, Drew (49th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Williams, Rick (25th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Watson, Sam (11th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Setzler, Ed (37th)

Status History

02/18/2025: House Second Readers; 02/13/2025: House First Readers; 02/12/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 02/12/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/12/2025: Senate Engrossed; 02/10/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/06/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/12/2025, Senate Vote #46, 30, 22, 1, 3; 02/12/2025, Senate Vote #48, 31, 21, 0, 4

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 50

“PeachCare Plus Act of 2025”; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for Medicaid expansion; to provide for the submission of a waiver request, necessary amendments, and other documents; to provide for savings to be deposited into the Indigent Care Trust Fund; to create the Advisory Commission on the PeachCare Plus Program; to provide for members and duties; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative notification and approval; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Regulated Industries and Utilities

Sponsors

Lucas, David (26th); Summers, Carden (13th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Jones II, Harold (22nd); Parent, Elena (44th); Esteves, Jason (35th); Jackson, Kim (41st); Halpern, Sonya (39th); Harbison, Ed (15th); Jones, Emanuel (10th); Davenport, Gail (17th); Wicks, Kenya (34th); McLaurin, Josh (14th); Kemp, RaShaun (38th); Anderson, Tonya (43rd); Sims, Freddie Powell (12th); Harrell, Sally (40th); Merritt, Nikki (9th); Orrock, Nan (36th); Mallow, Derek (2nd); Watson, Sam (11th); Rahman, Sheikh (5th); Mangham, Randal (55th)

Status History

01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 36

“Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act”; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide for the preservation of religious freedom; to provide for the granting of relief; to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to provide for statutory interpretation; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and determinations; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Judiciary Senate Committee: Judiciary

Sponsors

Setzler, Ed (37th); Brass, Matt (6th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Williams, Rick (25th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Albers, John (56th); Echols, Drew (49th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Burns, Max (23rd); Harbin, Marty (16th); Summers, Carden (13th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Still, Shawn (48th); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Moore, Colton (53rd); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Watson, Ben (1st); Watson, Sam (11th); Beach, Brandon (21st); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Goodman, Russ (8th)

Status History

04/04/2025: Act 6; 04/04/2025: Senate Date Signed by Governor; 04/03/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 04/02/2025: House Passed/Adopted; 04/02/2025: House Third Readers; 03/27/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported; 03/10/2025: House Second Readers; 03/06/2025: House First Readers; 03/04/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 03/04/2025: Senate Third Read; 03/03/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/28/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/28/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/27/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/04/2025, Senate Vote #142, 32, 23, 0, 1; 04/02/2025, House Vote #401, 96, 70, 2, 12

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 39

Employees’ Insurance and Benefits Plans; expenses for gender-affirming care under the state health benefit plan or with any state funds; prohibit coverage

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 18 of Title 45, Chapter 4 of Title 49, and Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the employees’ insurance and benefits plans, public assistance, and general provisions relative to state government, respectively, so as to prohibit coverage of expenses for gender-affirming care under the state health benefit plan or with any state funds; to provide for definitions; to provide for limited exceptions; to prohibit state healthcare facilities and healthcare providers employed by the state from providing gender-affirming care; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Health Senate Committee: Insurance and Labor

Sponsors

Tillery, Blake (19th); Summers, Carden (13th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Watson, Ben (1st); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Albers, John (56th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Burns, Max (23rd); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Williams, Rick (25th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Echols, Drew (49th); Beach, Brandon (21st); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Watson, Sam (11th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Brass, Matt (6th); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Dixon, Clint (45th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Sims, Freddie Powell (12th); Harbison, Ed (15th)

Status History

04/04/2025: House Withdrawn, Recommitted; 04/02/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/13/2025: House Second Readers; 02/12/2025: House First Readers; 02/11/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 02/11/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/06/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/05/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/11/2025, Senate Vote #39, 19, 33, 1, 3; 02/11/2025, Senate Vote #40, 19, 33, 1, 3; 02/11/2025, Senate Vote #41, 33, 19, 1, 3; 02/11/2025, Senate Vote #42, 32, 18, 3, 3

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 30

Hospitals and Related Institutions; hormone therapies and puberty-blocking medications for certain purposes to minors; prohibit prescribing or administering

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 and Article 1 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions and the Georgia Composite Medical Board, respectively, so as to prohibit prescribing or administering certain hormone therapies and puberty-blocking medications for certain purposes to minors; to provide for definitions; to provide for limited exceptions; to provide for a remedy for a parent or guardian of a minor; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Public and Community Health Senate Committee: Health and Human Services

Sponsors

Watson, Ben (1st); Gooch, Steve (51st); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Brass, Matt (6th); Albers, John (56th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Hickman, Billy (4th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Summers, Carden (13th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Anderson, Lee (24th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Still, Shawn (48th); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Echols, Drew (49th); Burns, Max (23rd); Moore, Colton (53rd); Williams, Rick (25th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Watson, Sam (11th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Beach, Brandon (21st); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd)

Status History

04/04/2025: House Withdrawn, Recommitted; 03/27/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 03/06/2025: House Second Readers; 03/04/2025: House First Readers; 03/03/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 03/03/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/18/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/13/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/28/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/27/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/03/2025, Senate Vote #119, 20, 34, 2, 0; 03/03/2025, Senate Vote #120, 34, 19, 3, 0

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

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