WILLIAMS: Week 6 Under the Gold Dome

Published 1:12 pm Friday, February 28, 2025

With Legislative Day 20 behind us, we have officially reached the halfway mark of the 2025 Legislative Session.

One of the biggest priorities this session has been tort reform, a long-overdue effort to rein in the costly legal system that burdens small businesses, healthcare providers, and consumers. I am proud to report that the Senate has taken a major step forward with the passage of Senate Bills (SB) 68, which aim to reduce frivolous lawsuits and create a fairer legal environment. These reforms will help lower insurance costs, prevent abusive litigation, and ensure that businesses —especially small, family-owned operations — can operate without the constant threat of excessive lawsuits. By curbing lawsuit abuse, we protect jobs and keep costs down for Georgia consumers. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the House to send these bills to the governor’s desk.

This week, we also passed SB 52, the “Timberlands Recovery, Exemption, and Earnings Stability (TREES) Act,” which provides vital tax relief to timberland owners impacted by Hurricane Helene. The storm caused catastrophic damage, destroying an estimated $1.3 billion in standing timber across South Georgia. Many of these landowners depend on their timber harvest for income, and the economic impact has been devastating. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell), will help stabilize the market, ease the financial strain on affected families and support the long-term recovery of Georgia’s forestry industry— one of the largest in the nation.

Another key legislative win this week was the passage of SB 89, which expands Georgia’s Child Tax Credit to provide direct financial relief to families with young children. Sponsored by Sen. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough), this bill builds on the recommendations of the Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare, which spent months gathering input from working parents, childcare providers, and business leaders. The bill increases the state tax credit for childcare expenses to 40% of the federal level and creates a new tax credit for families with children under seven. Additionally, SB 89 incentivizes businesses to help 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.

In addition to these major policy advancements, my legislative efforts this week focused on my bill, SB 146. I am proud to share that it has passed out of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities and now waits for consideration in the Rules Committee. SB 146 would establish rules and protections for cemeteries and burial grounds and provide civil action regarding the ability to access ancestral gravesites.

On a personal note, I was honored to celebrate Macon day at the Capitol. We celebrated the achievements of Leadership Macon, a group of dedicated to exploring solutions to problems, building community relationships, and educating future leaders on the unique challenges that face Macon and Bibb County. Recognizing the people and organizations contributing to our state’s success is always a privilege, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity to celebrate their work.

As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the 25th Senate District. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions, concerns, or ideas. Your input helps shape the policies that impact our state, and I value your voice in this process.

—State Sen. Rick Williams serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Retirement. He represents the 25th Senate District, which includes Baldwin, Butts, Jasper, Jones and Putnam County, as well as portions of Henry County and a small portion of Bibb County. He may be reached by phone at 404-656-0052 or by email at Rick.Williams@senate.ga.gov.