April 5, 2025

2025 SINE DIE!

Sine Die came early and unexpectedly, but HB 399 passed in the final hours—bringing new accountability to out-of-state investors buying up Georgia homes. While many good bills were left behind, harmful legislation also failed thanks to the Senate's abrupt adjournment. It was a bizarre end to a difficult session, but progress was made—and there’s more work ahead.

SINE DIE 2025

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THE STATE SENATE GOT MAD AND WENT HOME EARLY, BUT HB 399 PASSED!

As I have reported earlier, HB 399 takes a first step of creating accountability for out-of-state hedge fund investors who are buying large numbers of single-family homes across Georgia. HB 399 passed the House on my motion to agree with the Senate substitute and floor amendment in the last hours of the 2025 Session. Sine Die came very early for the Senate. Without any notice to the House, the Senators adjourned, threw their papers in the air, leaving the House in unplanned chaos. Since the Senate went home around 9:11pm, we in the House were left with unfinished business and a unique legal posture. In my long political career, I have never seen the Senate basically have a temper tantrum and stomp out of the Chamber ending all business. It was bizarre and irresponsible.

Although I am extremely happy that HB 399 finished with complete passage through both chambers, many important bills were left unresolved. The speed camera debacle of two bills moving forward at the same time, and the Behavioral Health Commission's priority for new parity enforcement legislation, HB 612, and many other measures, were left incomplete and not able to pass in the 2025 Session. Thankfully, the Behavioral Health Commission's forensics bill, SB 371, did pass.

There is some good news about the Senate fleeing the Capitol early. The trans puberty-blocking bill, the bad election bills, the DOGE imitator bill, and DEI bills did not pass with any final action. Along with HB 399, we were only able to pass or vote on bills in the last hour of Day 40 that constituted final action and did not require further work by the Senate. It will take awhile to analyze the complete harm or waste of time and energy that the Senate's action to go home early caused all of us who are working seriously for our constituents.

As with all bills, HB 399 has to be signed by the Governor. As we learn more about the wins and losses from our shortened 2025 Session, I will give you more information and opinions in the near future. And, when we know more about the federal cutbacks and budget actions for the national budget, we all anticipate a special session of the Georgia General Assembly in late summer or early fall. To say the least, this is a very unusual year in politics.

The below photos show the path that HB 399 took in the afternoon (Senate) and evening (House) of Sine Die.

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Video of me presenting the HB 399 amendment on the House floor last night

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TEAMWORK

Passage of HB 399 was a team effort. I am grateful that the success was honestly bipartisan. Rep. Phil Olalaye, who also had a single-family home bill, and Democrat Caucus leadership was very supportive and worked with me through the many steps and obstacles for HB 399. Republican leaders were also genuinely supportive, particularly Chair of Government Affairs Victor Anderson, and my Senate sponsor Max Burns. Most importantly, my District 84 teammates - Chief of Staff Caroline Herring, and Emory interns Kit Moore and Caroline Hansen, were always at work. Thanks also to GSU Geoscience Assistant Professor Dr. Taylor Shelton for creating the iconic map that plainly shows the true cost of allowing out-of-state investors to buy up huge swaths of homes in the Atlanta area. Great job all!

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PRESS ON HB 399

GPB 4/5/25: Culture war bills, election tinkering left behind as Georgia lawmakers abruptly leave Gold Dome “We know that the local property owners, the local property managements, are struggling with this competition that’s coming from the hedge funds, the out-of-state investors who are impacting our market in a bad way,” Oliver said following Friday’s Senate vote on her bill. https://georgiarecorder.com/2025/04/05/culture-war-bills-election-tinkering-left-behind-as-georgia-lawmakers-abruptly-leave-gold-dome/

State Affairs 4/4/25: 7 bills that flew under the radar"House Bill 399: This measure requires landlords to keep a manager on staff responsible for communicating directly with tenants and responding to their needs for repairs promptly — a move to curb abuses by neglectful landlords at destitute apartment complexes. Its sponsor, Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, has long focused her legislative work on housing issues. https://pro.stateaffairs.com/ga/politics/georgia-bills-2025-session-cockfighting-landlords

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BUDGET PASSED

The House and Senate Conference Committee for House Bill 68, the state fiscal year ‘26 budget, reached the final agreement on Day 40. The bill was required to be on our desk for one hour before we were allowed to vote to approve it or not. I voted yes to approve the Conference Committee report for Fiscal Year '26 primarily because of the additional funding for mental health services. The House conferees were able to restore much of the funding that the Senate cut on mental health, and I’m very pleased with the additional money for mental health coordinators for children in school, additional funds for school social workers, and additional funds for Mercy Care for homeless services in the Atlanta area.

The major disappointment of the Fiscal Year '26 Budget was the failure of legislators to add substantial new monies to the Housing Trust Fund to give more options across the state of Georgia for affordable housing. Our services to assist those in need of housing remains very weak. I have attached here a detail summary from the House Budget Office of the Fiscal Year '26 Budget I invite you to call me if you have questions.

Here are the House highlights from the final budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

SCHOOL ZONE SPEED CAMERA BILLS

The saga of the dueling speed camera bills, HB 225 and HB 651, caused endless drama and turned into a thriller on Sine Die. The speed camera bills are reportedly one of the reasons that the Senate unexpectedly adjourned about three hours early. Despite our best efforts, BOTH bills passed both the House and the Senate. Because of Senate amendments, both bills then returned to the House around 1:00pm yesterday. However, only Rep. Alan Powell's bill made it to the House floor, and the House learned during his presentation that the Senate had adjourned, thus rendering HB 651 with new amendments moot until 2026. Nonetheless, the House passed HB 651. Now NEITHER will head to the Governor's desk for signature. Thanks to Zoe Seiler and Decaturish for covering this issue thoroughly and well. Keep reading your outstanding local paper to find out what happens next. https://decaturish.com/2025/04/speed-camera-thc-bills-still-being-considered-as-georgia-legislature-wraps-up-session/

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DECATUR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CELEBRATES ITS 200TH ANNIVERSARY AT THE CAPITOL

Congratulations to Decatur Presbyterian Church on their 200th anniversary! On Wednesday, Rep. Crawford and I were delighted to present a Resolution in their honor on the House floor. Decatur Presbyterian was founded in 1825, two years after the establishment of DeKalb County and three years after the US signed a treaty with the Creek Tribe. Decatur Presbyterian founded what is now known as Agnes Scott College in 1889, organized the moving of a seminary in South Carolina to Decatur in 1927, now known as Columbia Theological Seminary, and it also founded the Global Village Project in 2010. Thank you to Decatur Presbyterian Church for serving as a community bulwark for the past 200 years.

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LAST SURVEY POLL: HOW YOU ANSWERED

Senate Bill 245 is known here at the Capitol as the "grandparents" bill. It gives grandparents expanded rights in regards to visitation of their grandchildren when there is conflict between grandparents and parents of said grandchildren. SB 245 had Republican-only sponsorship, and it passed both the Senate (Y: 56 N: 0) and the House (Y: 160 N: 1). Several of you wrote me and said that this bill was too complicated for you to make an educated vote. While I understand that concern, please keep in mind that your State Reps and Senators vote on bills just like SB 245 every day, regardless of expertise or level of understanding.

Total Votes: 313

Yes - 35% (109 votes) No 65% (204 votes)

Thank you for responses!

PAWS AND POLICY - AS TOLD BY INTERN CAROLINE HANSEN

Last Friday, March 27th, at Liberty Plaza, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Paws, Policy, and Protection Day: Celebrating Adoption, Humane Heroes, and Advocacy. This event showcased adoptable pets, the dedication of animal service professions, and united animal welfare organizations. They highlighted the need to pass the current legislation for animals' rights going through the House and the Senate, and that rescue is only a Band-Aid to a larger issue with animal protection and regulations. I was delighted to speak to many advocates (while petting many dogs) about their work at shelters, animal rescues, and advocacy groups. To find more information about the fantastic work being done by these organizations, you can look at the following links:

https://www.gapetcoalition.org/

https://www.humaneworld.org/us/en

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OUT AND ABOUT

On Sine Die, The two priority bills from the Behavioral Health Commission required action on Day 40. HB 612/SB 131 related to parity enforcement, did not pass, and the forensics reform bill, SB 132, did pass. Watch my comments in support of SB 132 below. Fingers crossed.

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Thank you to all of our wonderful pages, including Marshall Guest's son Griffin! Please come back to your Capitol soon.

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On April 2nd, all the House Democrats took a walk off the floor with the press to avoid another transgender bill— this year’s obsession by the Republicans. I am proud of my colleagues.

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On March 31st, Day 38, I spent most of the day working with Senate partners to pass HB 399 — on the Senate calendar. In the meantime, I visited with DeKalb County Tapestry School this morning. They are a public charter school with a 50% student body of children with autism and related IEPs. Good DeKalb County offering.

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On March 31th, we started our last week of the 2025 General Assembly. I was concerned most about the budget and related ongoing House and Senate negotiations. I have two good events to report: my HB 399 was placed on the Senate calendar for today by the Rules Committee, and we have resolved last minute negotiations—fingers crossed. And, Terry England was well enough after a terrible farm equipment accident to visit us at the Capitol. I personally have missed him very much.

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The last week of Session is very difficult, with lots of negativity, but I need to remind myself that there are a few small bills that move us forward. Yesterday I spoke in support of Senate Bill 233, a bill that extends the duration of Behavioral Health Commission for another year and adds additional members to the commission in relation to addiction and developmental disabilities. The Behavioral Health Commission Parity Bill is stuck in a Senate committee, and the Senate’s response to the House addition for mental health services is very poor. Stay tuned.

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Many visitors at your Capitol on March 27th! 4th graders from Fernbank Elementary, high school students from Stone Mountain High School, and the son of my former Senate colleague Guy Middleton. I know parents are proud of all of these children!

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On March 26th, after a very discouraging day at the Capitol, I went to hear Brian Goldstone talk about his new book “There Is No Place For Us”. This book is an important look at the working people who are homeless in Atlanta, and how we fail them. Books help me.

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On March 25th, Jeff Graham, Elizabeth Appley, and I were waiting for the either the next disaster or for Senate Rules to meet. I went to Senate Rules Committee to ask for HB 399 to be calendared for a full Senate vote, and no Democrat bill was “eligible” today for calendaring—- 4 more days to ask. These are the kind of messages we have to hear and make a new plan for hopeful progress. Thank you, Michelle Baruchman, for a good article on HB 399 which is linked HERE.

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UPCOMING DATES

Saturday, April 5th - March to the Capitol

Friday, April 11th - Emory 1836 Society - Luncheon

Tuesday, April 15th - speak to Emory Gender politics class at Emory

Thursday, April 17th - Convergence Fireside Chat & reception

Monday, April 21st - Emory Legislative Recap, organized by my interns!

Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 - Druid Hills Tour of Homes

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QUICK LINKS FOR YOU

I am on the following legislative committees. You can watch live every time they meet. Click on the links below for livestreams, agendas, archives and more.

Committees:

Subcommittees:

Appropriations - Human Resources
Governmental Affairs - State and Local Government
Judicial - Leverett (two)

You can search for and track bills, watch the House (or Senate) in Session, watch committee hearings, monitor legislation by committee, and find contact information —- all on the revamped General Assembly website. Here are quick links:

General Assembly website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/
House Session meetings and many committee hearings are available to watch online: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house
Archived videos of meetings and hearings: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house/media-services

Make your views known and tell me what issues interest you the most.

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