Georgia House adopts order, confirms journal and passes local calendar

The Georgia House of Representatives convened Wednesday at the State Capitol in Atlanta and adopted its order of business, confirmed the previous day’s journal and passed a package of uncontested local bills and privileged resolutions, the chamber’s presiding officers said.

The actions were largely procedural but carry immediate effect for local measures: the chamber received committee reports, gave first reading to dozens of bills across policy areas and approved the local calendar — which included three homestead-exemption measures that required a recorded two-thirds roll-call vote.

The chair opened the session by asking members to take their seats and then read the resolution establishing the order of business for the day. The resolution establishing the order was adopted without recorded objection. The committee on information and audits, chaired by Representative Hilton, reported that the journal of the previous legislative day had been read and found correct; the House then confirmed the journal.

Clerks read a long list of bills placed on first reading across multiple committees, covering topics ranging from municipal charters to tax code amendments, education measures and public safety. The clerk also read committee reports submitted by the committee on appropriations and the committee on intergovernmental coordination and locals.

On the local calendar, the clerk said three items required a recorded two-thirds roll-call vote because they were homestead-exemption measures. The House voted on the local calendar as a block by recorded vote; after the clerk reported the vote the chair declared the bills passed. The clerk announced the required majority had been received and the bills were therefore passed.

The chamber also adopted a slate of privileged resolutions that honored individuals and organizations, including recognitions for community programs, commemorations of recent passing for local officials and celebrations of anniversaries. The chair asked if there was any objection to adopting the privileged resolutions; hearing none, the resolutions were adopted.

Leaders closed the day with scheduling and committee announcements and, on a motion by the majority leader, the House adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.

Votes at a glance: - Local calendar (listed as “local calendar” by the clerk; included multiple county and municipal bills, including three homestead-exemption measures): recorded roll call required; clerk reported the vote met the constitutional majority and the bills were passed (clerk announced yeas; chair declared bills passed). (Outcome: passed) - Resolution establishing order of business for the day (motion read by the clerk): adopted (Outcome: approved) - Confirmation of the journal of the previous legislative day (report of Committee on Information and Audits, Chair Hilton): confirmed (Outcome: approved) - Privileged resolutions (group of resolutions honoring individuals, organizations and commemorations as read by the clerk): adopted (Outcome: approved) - Adjournment (motion by the majority leader): approved; chamber recessed until 09:30 a.m., Feb. 6, 2025.

This session was procedural in nature: most bills cited during the morning were placed on first reading and will advance through committee schedules; the passage of the local calendar advances local and homestead-exemption measures to the next steps in the legislative process. The House agenda included multiple committee meeting announcements and scheduling items for members to follow up on later in the week.