Committee advances bill to exempt military retirement income up to $35,000 (2028) and $65,000 (2030); moves to full committee by voice vote

Representative (presenting sponsor) described LC501219S as a measure to increase Georgia's ability to retain and attract military retirees by exempting a portion of military retirement income from state taxable income.

The presenter said the substitute would exempt up to $35,000 of military retirement income beginning in 2028 and increase the exemption to $65,000 beginning in 2030. The sponsor noted Georgia loses retired service members to neighboring states that do not tax military retirement and said a fiscal note accompanies the bill.

Members who signed on from military communities and other lawmakers spoke in support; one member noted that the fiscal note may understate the revenue benefits of retaining younger retirees who work in the civilian sector after military retirement. With the chairman's approval the committee considered a procedural motion: "If there's somebody who'd like to make a motion to waive the rules for the second reading, I have one here." The motion received a second and, with no objection, the committee moved the bill to the full committee by voice vote. The transcript records the voice vote and the clerk's announcement that the bill "moves on to the full committee." No recorded roll‑call tally appears in the transcript.

The bill now proceeds to the full committee for further consideration and fiscal review.