The 2025 legislative session saw hundreds of bills debated, but everything, and we mean everything, hinged on Governor Kemp’s determination to see the lawsuit fairness addressed. The Georgia Urban Ag Council (UAC) was proud to be among a long, diverse list of business groups calling, even begging, for change. On April 21, flanked by lawmakers and business leaders, these much-needed lawsuit reforms were signed into law – we can all be thankful for that.
There were many other issues important to UAC members during this active legislative session for our industry. Having UAC member interests represented during the legislative session and throughout the year opens doors for meaningful engagement with legislators. However, it is your engagement with UAC on issues impacting your business that provides the firm foundation needed to advance policy issues. Thank you for being active in your association.
The following is a list of policy issues UAC members told us were important as the session began and throughout the 40 legislative days. UAC member businesses are diverse and span the entire state, so our engagement covers a lot of topics.
There is much to celebrate this session as lawmakers addressed tough circumstances from Hurricane Helene, providing budget funding for important technician positions to aid in ag research, addressed land management programs, and more.
In fact, each of the bills where UAC was engaged reached the Governor’s desk this year – and we are grateful to Governor Kemp for signing each of these bills into law. It was a very successful year. Here is a look at these top policy issues.
State Budget
This is the most important part of the legislative session as the state budget is the only action the constitution requires lawmakers to address each year. The $37.8 billion budget for FY 2026 begins July 1, 2025 and runs through June 30, 2026. UAC had a big budget request for lawmakers to consider as we sought gains for agriculture research programs at UGA CAES. We asked for $450k to fund five technicians (peach/citrus breeder technician, blueberry breeder technician, turfgrass breeder technician, turfgrass extension specialist technician, and soybean/corn/small grains extension specialist technician). This was a request brought to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees by the GA Urban Ag Council, GA Crop Improvement Association, and GA Seed Development Commission. We were very pleased these funds were included in the final budget.
Much Needed Lawsuit Reforms
Senator John F. Kennedy provided outstanding work on this legislation, which covers several key lawsuit reforms. These include seatbelt admissibility, premises liability revisions, jury access to relevant information, phantom damages/actual damages information, and other essential key points. They also focused on changes for the investing and financing of civil lawsuits. In addition to the work of Senator Kennedy, Rep. James Burchett provided great leadership on these issues in the House. In fact, House Speaker Jon Burns and Senator Kennedy each referenced the landscape industry as supporters for these policy initiatives during their public remarks. UAC members are among the many business interests looking forward to the impact these legal changes will have on civil liability cases and insurance costs.
Hurricane Helene Sales Tax Exemption and more
HB 223 is a very important package of Hurricane Helene relief initiatives. It will provide much needed recovery policies to help agriculture and forestry landowners. We know many sustained losses, such as McCorkle Nursery near Augusta. Governor Kemp was very involved in this legislation.
We appreciate the work of Rep. James Burchett and Sen. Russ Goodman leading on this bill. This law will provide a sales tax exemption for GATE card holders when purchasing repair or replacement construction materials for greenhouses, livestock and poultry facilities until December 31, 2025. This bill also includes much needed tax credits for damaged/destroyed timber and funds to assist with replanting and cleanup.
Income Tax Reduction
Again, Governor Kemp’s desire to provide a rebate on income taxes to qualified Georgians and to continue dropping the state income tax rate were among his key policy issues. HB 111 dropped the state income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%, saving taxpayers an average of $745 million per year. HB 112 provides a one-time refund for tax year 2023-2024 ($250 for single, $375 for head of household, and $500 for married filing jointly).
Pesticide Warning Label Liability
We are thankful to Rep. Steven Meeks and Sen. Sam Watson for taking the lead on SB 144, which clarifies EPA sets the federal registration parameters for pesticide labeling, not each state. This law will help dismiss frivolous “failure to warn” lawsuit claims. We appreciate House Agriculture Committee Chairman Robert Dickey for keeping landscape pesticide use in the discussion. UAC was proud to be a voice for our member interests, supporting the legislation and stressing the responsible use of registered pesticide products for the industry. UAC penned several letters of support, including one to Governor Kemp encouraging him to sign it into law. UAC Board Chair Jennifer Jorge of King Green also provided a letter of support.
Conservation Property Use Adjustments
All three of these bills will protect the use of farmland and provide leasing options that were previously not allowed. HB 90 would increase the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) cap from 2,000 to 4,000. There are many long-term benefits to encouraging lands to be protected through decreased property taxes. HR 32 is a ballot initiative that must be approved by voters in 2026 for this expanded CUVA acreage to go into effect. In addition, HB 129 is a very important provision, as it provides a path for leasing CUVA land from others without creating a breach of the existing CUVA covenant. Current law does not allow such transactions. Rep. Chas Cannon, Rep. Chuck Efstration, and Sen. Sam Watson provided outstanding work on these initiatives.
Education
UAC is committed to supporting programs that advance education opportunities to provide workforce opportunities for our members. So, we were pleased to support long-time UAC friend Rep. Matthew Gambill as he led the charge on HB192, to extend the work created last year with the State's High Demand Career List for workforce development. This allows the High Demand Career List to be contemplated when it comes to the Department of Education's career education and build on the 2024 law that established new articulation agreements between the University System and the Technical College System and bring the Department of Education into the fold. The highly successful Georgia MATCH program is mentioned in law for the first time. Georgia Match provides high school seniors connectivity with eligibility for admission into Georgia's public colleges and universities.
Metal Theft Reforms
Senator Bo Hatchett led the effort to secure language stating secondary metals recyclers would be limited on cash payments to those bringing in recyclable items. It also maintains cash cannot be paid to any seller for used, detached catalytic converters or coils, batteries, copper wire and other such items. UAC members have been very helpful in highlighting the impacts of theft and damage to vehicles. As such, we remain concerned that unrestricted cash payments could influence the sale of stolen metal goods, including those from UAC member farms, nurseries, and businesses. We appreciate Georgia Farm Bureau for also supporting this initiative.
Truck Weight Limit
Lawmakers took action to make permanent the 88,000lb truck weight limit for agriculture and forestry products across most of the state. In 2023, the overall weight limit increased from 84,000 to 88,000, however, it was only good through June 2025. By increasing loads, it reduces costs for fuel and drivers, plus it removes some trucks from the roadways. The weight limit for trucks hauling into the 13-county area of metro Atlanta is still set at 84,000lbs, putting sod growers and others hauling ag products into this area at a disadvantage.
Thank you again for being engaged in these policy issues that impact our industry. Please continue to contact the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council on topics important to you.
We also encourage you to be a part of the UAC’s GrowPAC, which is used to support lawmakers that support our industry and are open to our advocacy. Please donate today at urbanagcouncil.com/growpac. Together we grow!
Bryan Tolar is Principal of Tolar Capitol Partners, working in various ag-related industries as well the Georgia General Assembly, the Executive Branch, and numerous regulatory agencies.
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