Georgia House advances literacy, Next Gen 911, rural prosperity and a package of bills

The Georgia House of Representatives on Feb. 24 passed a group of bills that Republican and Democratic members described as focused on public safety, education and support for rural communities.

In two of the session’s most discussed items, lawmakers approved a literacy bill aimed at early identification and intervention for struggling readers and a Next Generation 9-1-1 bill to modernize emergency call handling statewide.

Representative Bethany Ballard (Representative), the sponsor of House Bill 307, told the chamber the measure “removes outdated language regarding programs that do not align with our new science of reading standards, defines characteristics of dyslexia and dyslexia, and creates the structure and composition of the literacy coach coordination committee to ensure our state's literacy coaches get quality and uniform training.” Ballard answered several questions on the House floor, saying, “When we identify these children in kindergarten or first grade, they might need this much help to get on grade level,” and urged members to support the bill. The House recorded 166 yeas and 0 nays on passage of HB 307.

Representative Will Wade (Governor’s Floor Leader) presented House Bill 423 as the state’s Next Gen 9-1-1 bill, describing it as an update to a more than 50-year-old system. “This current bill will amend the purpose and duties and responsibilities of our agency, GEMA Homeland Security, to include procuring, implementing, and overseeing the Next Gen 9 1 1 service,” Wade said. During questions he affirmed that location information accessed through Next Gen 9-1-1 would be used specifically for 9-1-1 purposes. HB 423 passed by a recorded vote of 163 yeas, 0 nays.

Other bills that received floor presentations and recorded votes included measures to move the Georgia Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation into the Department of Agriculture, a technical update to the state film tax credit statute, changes to how certain heavily modified rental vehicles are titled and taxed, and legislation intended to encourage credit availability for manufactured (mobile) homes.

Representative Mark Dickey (Representative) said HB 495 would move the Georgia Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to the Department of Agriculture while keeping its budget and responsibilities intact; the House passed HB 495, yeas 167, nays 0.

Representative Matthew Gamble (Representative) said HB 475 is a Department of Economic Development cleanup to clarify modern distribution platforms and add an appeal process provision; the bill passed, yeas 161, nays 2. Gamble noted the measure did not expand the credit but clarified terminology such as removing obsolete references to “LaserDisc” and addressing streaming platforms.

Representative Ron Stephens (Representative) presented HB 66, which expands the definition of a rental motor vehicle for the title ad valorem tax (TAVT) on motor vehicles and allows a motor-coach-style titling option that spreads tax payment. The measure passed, yeas 164, nays 2.

Representative Leverett (Representative) described HB 377 as intended to simplify the process by which a manufactured home title is surrendered and converted to real property, which lawmakers said could encourage lenders to finance workforce housing. HB 377 passed, yeas 166, nays 0.

Representative Chris McCollum (Representative) presented HB 422, which requires state employee benefit plans to include high-deductible health plans and permits payroll deduction of health savings account contributions; he said the bill was previously vetoed but now includes a fiscal note showing state and employee savings. HB 422 passed, yeas 163, nays 0.

Representative Glaze (Representative) carried HB 373 to require major medical coverage for annual prostate cancer screening for certain high-risk men. Lawmakers referenced the health benefits of early detection; the bill passed, yeas 164, nays 1.

Representative Noel Williams (Representative) presented HB 240, described as a consumer-protection bill meant to curb “trigger leads” sold by credit-report aggregators to lenders and brokers; the measure passed, yeas 165, nays 0.

Representative Carl Gilliard (Representative) presented HB 303, which directs a monument to honor the Original 33—a group of African-American legislators elected in 1868 whose service was later curtailed—funded by private donors according to speakers; the bill passed, yeas 167, nays 0.

Votes at a glance

- HB 307 — Literacy/coaching/dyslexia: Passed 166–0 (sponsor: Rep. Bethany Ballard). Key floor points: early identification, uniform training for literacy coaches.

- HB 423 — Next Gen 9-1-1 modernization (GEMA duties/GIS/cybersecurity representation): Passed 163–0 (presenter: Rep. Will Wade). Floor Q&A emphasized location data use limited to 9-1-1 purposes.

- HB 475 — Film tax credit cleanup (terminology, definitions, appeal loser-pay): Passed 161–2 (presenter: Rep. Matthew Gamble). Clarifies modern platforms and creates administrative-appeal procedures.

- HB 495 — Transfer Georgia Center for Rural Prosperity to Department of Agriculture: Passed 167–0 (presenter: Rep. Mark Dickey). Sponsors said no budgetary changes; existing mission retained.

- HB 66 — Expand rental-motor-vehicle definition/TAVT titling option: Passed 164–2 (presenter: Rep. Ron Stephens). Provides split-payment option similar to motor coach titling.

- HB 377 — Manufactured-home title/credit availability for workforce housing: Passed 166–0 (presenter: Rep. Leverett). Aimed at streamlining surrender-and-conversion to real property to encourage lending.

- HB 422 — Employees’ insurance: require availability of high-deductible plans and HSA payroll deduction: Passed 163–0 (presenter: Rep. Chris McCollum).

- HB 373 — Require major annual prostate-cancer screening coverage for certain high-risk men: Passed 164–1 (sponsor: Rep. Glaze). Lawmakers noted early detection can reduce deaths.

- HB 240 — Consumer protections for mortgage trigger leads: Passed 165–0 (sponsor: Rep. Noel Williams).

- HB 303 — Monument honoring the Original 33 (privately funded): Passed 167–0 (sponsor: Rep. Carl Gilliard).

What this means next

Most bills passed in the House during this session will next go to the state Senate or, if already enrolled, to the governor depending on their status. Several measures described as administrative or technical in floor debate (for example, the film tax credit cleanup and the transfer of the rural center) were presented as not changing existing policy direction but clarifying statutory language or moving administrative responsibility.

The House adjourned the day and scheduled its next session for 10 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2025.