星期五清晨,众议院议长伯恩斯和副州长琼斯的小木槌声响彻国会大厦,国会就此休会. 国会议员和游说者都为又一次立法会议的结束而欢呼,大厅里充满了兴奋. 立法日第40天, 称为正弦模, 标志着立法会议的结束, and this year marks the end of the 2023-2024 biennium.
佐治亚州农业局很幸运,在金色圆顶下度过了美好的一年,许多重要的立法都通过了两院,现在正在送到肯普州长的办公桌上. 在法案成为法律之前,它必须在40天的否决权期限内接受肯普州长的审查. The Governor has three actions he may take on a bill: sign, veto, or no action. If the Governor signs or takes no action on a bill it will become law. The Governor can prevent a bill from becoming law by enacting veto power.
我们要感谢我们在大会上为促进和捍卫农业而努力的朋友们. Our state is fortunate to have many leaders who fight for the betterment of our industry. 我们还想特别感谢我们的GFB成员,他们花时间为我们组织的问题辩护. 无论你是在国会大厦参加GFB日,还是联系你当选的官员就具体问题进行倡导, we appreciate your dedication and passion to fight for the success of agriculture.
周二, HB 1172 by House Whip James Burchett (R-Waycross) received final passage in the Senate. 这个法案一直是GFB本届立法会议的首要任务,如果没有其他农业和商业组织朋友的帮助,我们不可能通过它.
HB 1172从法典中删除了公共信托原则并恢复了通航水域附近土地所有者的私有财产权 SB 115 去年. HB 1172很重要,因为它解决了以前立法的无人看管的后果,同时仍然允许公众通过, hunt, and fish on navigable waters which was the original intent of the legislature. 虽然这项法案解决了一些重大问题, it has opened the flood-gate to further conversations surrounding water policy in the state. 在接下来的几个月里,我们将继续关注评估用于确定哪些水道被指定为通航通道的标准和方法 HR 1554 - House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Related Matters.
周四,主席拉斯·古德曼介绍 SB 340 on the Senate floor and it passed with overwhelming favorable support. SB 340 was originally a tax exemption bill authored by Sen. 凯·柯克帕特里克,但她愿意让众议员. Joe Campbell (R-Camilla) to present a substitute in committee changing the bill. SB 340, 当它过去时, 现在柴油机会制造排气液吗, DEF, an eligible purchase under the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption, GATE, program. 我们感谢Rep. Campbell being willing to address this issue in the last few days of session. 虽然看起来很简单, 这项法案将帮助把钱放回农民的口袋,并确保GATE项目满足生产者当前的需求.
今年是肯普州长, 演讲者烧伤, 和副州长琼斯都负责通过一系列立法来降低乔治亚州公民的税收负担. Georgia already has one of the lowest tax structures in the nation, but our leadership stays committed to further reducing these rates for all Georgians.
HB 1015 by Rep. Lauren McDonald (R-Cumming) reduced the income tax by an additional 10 basis points from 5.49% to 5.39%. HB 1019 by Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) increase the statewide homestead property tax exemption from $2,000 to $10,000. 这项法案需要宪法修正案, 所以要成为法律, 必须在11月投票表决. 此外, HB 1021 by Rep. Lauren Daniel (R-Locust Grove) increase the dependent tax exemption from $3,000 to $4,000.
周二, SB 420 by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) received final passage in the Senate. This bill will prohibit the foreign acquisition of farmland by nonresident aliens, 营业地点:, or 政府 of a nation deemed a foreign adversary by the federal 政府. GFB在这个问题上一直是支持的主要声音,并试图与作者合作,起草一份保护我们食品生产的法案.
我们也要承认工作代表. Clay Pirkle (R-Ashburn) has done on this issue throughout the past two years. 去年,众议员. 皮尔克尔以 HB 452 and became a leading voice for the House on this policy. He carried SB 420 on the House floor and helped get this bill across the finish line.
星期四下午晚些时候, Chairman Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin) and Chairman Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), 和其他四个与会者一起, 公布2025财年预算. 今年的会议委员会预算与我们从参议院看到的预算相当相似,并继续全面支持农业. 请看下面的预算要点,该预算于周四晚间在联合国大会参众两院获得通过. Like all bills, the budget must go before Governor Kemp for his approval before being finalized.
农业部
$267,861 for two shellfish inspection and certification specialist positions.
90万美元用于农业改良.
经济发展部
$200,000 for contracts to support the global export of GA manufactured and agricultural products.
$200,为支持农村社区经济发展的土地开发专家职位提供1万英镑.
农业教育
19.2万美元用于新桃子公司. 巴罗公司. 青年农民职位
$88,000 for eight extended day/year programs within Ag Education.
自然资源部
$300,000 for processing of venison donations to encourage deer harvests.
$350,617 for five additional ag water withdrawal positions.
校董会
$500,000 for projects at the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation.
学生资助委员会
$35,000 increase for the Veterinary Loan Repayment Program service cancelable loans.
国会项目基金
一次性拨款10,320,142美元,用于在全州范围内购买职业和农业教育设备.
$2,900,000 for renovation of Chambliss Hall, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
$4,470,500 one-time funds for design and renovation of Dept. 农业建筑
$1,014,674 one-time funds for lab equipment at Tifton Lab.
$3,000,000 one-time funds for chiller and generator replacement at Tifton Lab.
$22,000,000 one-time funds for construction of new goat, sheep, and swine barn in Perry.
随着另一个立法会议的结束, we see old friends return home for retirement and get ready to welcome newcomers to the Capitol. 今年, 我们很遗憾地看到,一些农业的好朋友和支持者回家与家人和朋友团聚,在金色的穹顶下结束他们的职业生涯. We would like to thank the following friends of Farm Bureau who will not be returning next year:
Sens. Kirkpatrick, Albers, Hufstetler, Robertson, Anavitarte, and others
This bill would create a sales tax exemption for firearms safes and firearm safety devices. This bill was amended in House committee to include bill language from HB 1459 by Rep. 使DEF成为GATE的合格采购.
Sens. Anavitarte, Goodman, Beach, Cowsert, Gooch, and others
This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of agricultural land by any non-resident alien, 政府, 或来自美国商务部长认定为外国对手的国家的企业. It would also restrict ownership by those individuals, 政府, and businesses of any land that is within a 10 mile radius of a military installation. Any violator would be convicted of a felony with up to two years in prison or a $15,000 fine.