Rep. Brad Thomas

A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Cherokee County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in an amount as determined from the proceeds generated from the collection of the retail homestead option sales and use tax for residents of that county; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; 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 an Act providing a homestead exemption from Cherokee County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes for the full value of the homestead for certain residents of that school district who have annual incomes not exceeding $16,000.00 and who are 62 years of age or over, approved March 10, 1988 (Ga. L. 1988, p. 3677), as amended, particularly by an Act approved February 19, 2024 (Ga. L. 2024, p. 3552), so as to extend the homestead exemption to surviving spouses without regard to the five-year residency requirement; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide for the numbering of positions of membership on the Cherokee County Board of Education, approved April 17, 1973 (Ga. L. 1973, p. 3207), as amended, so as to require an internal audit function of the board and to establish the position of internal auditor; to provide for the selection, powers, and duties of the internal auditor; to provide for internal cooperation; to provide a sunset date on the provisions governing such internal auditor; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing a homestead exemption from all City of Woodstock ad valorem taxes for city purposes for the full value of the homestead after a two-year phase-in period for certain residents of that city who are 62 years of age or older, approved April 13, 2001 (Ga. L. 2001, p. 3793), as amended, particularly by an Act approved February 19, 2024 (Ga. L. 2024, p. 3560), so as to extend the homestead exemption to surviving spouses without regard to the five-year residency requirement; to revise provisions for the grandfathering of certain residents; 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 authorize the governing authority of Cherokee County to levy an excise tax pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 48-13-51 of the O.C.G.A.; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Exploring the Potential for Humanoids and Robotics in Georgia Workforce Development; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryHR 817 creates a temporary Georgia House study committee to examine security risks associated with government agencies using drones or unmanned aircraft manufactured by foreign adversaries. The committee will investigate how these devices might compromise sensitive data, infrastructure, or national security, particularly regarding foreign-made drones collecting data or operating near critical sites. It will assess current policies, privacy concerns, and potential coordination between federal, state, and local governments. The committee must submit findings by December 1, 2025, but the bill itself does not change laws or policies - only authorizes a study. This affects Georgia state government agencies that use drone technology for operations like surveillance or public safety.

Maddy summaryHR 885 creates a House Study Committee on Election Procedures to examine Georgia's election laws and processes. The committee, appointed by the House Speaker and chaired by the Governmental Affairs Committee chair, will study current election procedures - particularly outdated provisions unchanged since 1964 - and recommend potential legislative changes. It has a sunset date of December 1, 2025, and must file a final report approved by a committee majority before that date. This resolution does not change election laws itself but establishes a process for evaluating them.

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 relative to aviation, so as to authorize the adoption of local ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or policies that restrict the flight of unmanned aircraft systems over mass public gatherings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Cherokee County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of such homestead; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; 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.