Rep. Bill Hitchens

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for a base year assessed value homestead exemption from Chatham County and City of Savannah School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes, approved April 12, 1999 (Ga. L. 1999, p. 4215), as amended, so as to prevent any increases in the adjusted base year assessed value of properties above the value set in tax year 2025; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Georgia veterans cemeteries, so as to revise the terms of eligibility for persons to be buried in Georgia veterans cemeteries; to provide for a definition; to require an affidavit in certain circumstances; to provide for applicability; to provide for fees; to provide for the Veterans Service Board to have certain discretion; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative findings; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, so as to allow all sworn law enforcement officers serving in and the commissioner and deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Safety to be eligible for regular retirement benefits at the age of 55 years, certain disability benefits, and certain provisions for purchasing creditable service; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 34-9-26 of the O.C.G.A., relating to required notice regarding injured peace officers, so as to provide that the State Board of Workers' Compensation shall provide for notice of eligibility for compensation to an injured employee to his or her legal guardian; to amend Code Section 35-1-24 of the O.C.G.A., relating to peace officers eligible for indemnification or disability compensation and notifications, so as to provide that law enforcement agencies shall provide notice of eligibility for compensation to an injured employee to his or her legal guardian; to amend Part 1 of Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 45 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Georgia State Indemnification Fund, so as to provide for an application window for eligible individuals incapacitated by organic brain damage sustained in the line of duty on or before July 1, 2024; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to safe operations of motor carriers, commercial motor vehicles, and drivers and safe transportation of hazardous materials, so as to update the reference date to federal regulations regarding the safe operation of motor carriers and commercial motor vehicles; to revise a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 35-8-22 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to reimbursement of training expenses by subsequent employer of peace officer, collection procedure, and required documentation, so as to extend the time frame for which reimbursement of total training expenses by a subsequent employer of a peace officer may be sought; to provide for types of training eligible for reimbursement; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding aviation, so as to prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft systems over a place of incarceration; to provide for a definition; to provide for exceptions; to require posting of signs warning of such prohibition; to provide for violations and penalties; to declare such systems contraband; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a new charter for the City of Garden City, approved April 17, 1973 (Ga. L. 1973, p. 3581), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 6, 2024 (Ga. L. 2024, p. 4332), so as to provide for the mayor to fill any vacancy in the office of mayor pro tempore; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution that honors F.H.P. Trooper Charles Eugene "Gene" Campbell by dedicating a section of State Route 247 in Houston County, Georgia, as the F.H.P. Trooper Charles Eugene "Gene" Campbell Memorial Highway. The legislation authorizes the Georgia Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs for the memorial highway and directs the House Clerk to provide copies of the resolution to the Trooper's family and the Department of Transportation. The bill recognizes Trooper Campbell's nine-year career in law enforcement and his tragic death in 1974 when he was abducted during a traffic stop in Florida. This is a procedural measure that does not change laws or policies but instead serves to memorialize a law enforcement officer through a road dedication.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, so as to exempt from the state and local title ad valorem tax fee certain motor vehicles used in the provision of fire protection services for local governments; to exempt from sales and use taxes sales of tangible personal property used in the provision of fire protection services for local governments; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.