Rep. Matt Barton

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to selling and other trade practices, so as to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations relative to vehicle value protection agreements; to require providers of such agreements maintain certain security or liability insurance policies; to require certain disclosures; to provide for cancellation rights; to provide for refunds; to provide for enforcement; 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 amend Chapter 13 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to specific, business, and occupation taxes, so as to impose an excise tax upon certain proceeds of judgments and settlements intended for the abatement, removal, and remediation of PFAS contamination of land but unused for that purpose; to provide for exceptions; to provide for notice of receipt of damages, filing of returns and payment, and credits; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for notice of excise tax and tax credit to putative PFAS tortfeasors; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 81 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local government budgets and audits, so as to cap the amount of funds derived from court fines or forfeiture action that local governments may use as part of their yearly budgets; to provide that any funds collected in excess of such cap shall escheat to the state; to supersede any conflicting home rule powers of local governments; to provide for applicability; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryHR 1063 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late Chief Gordon Henderson, a retired Rome-Floyd Fire Department leader and Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council executive. It commends his nearly 50-year career in fire service, including his leadership as Rome-Floyd Fire Chief (1975-2015), presidency of the Georgia State Firefighters Association, and post-retirement work ensuring firefighter training standards. The resolution extends condolences to his family and recognizes his contributions to Georgia's fire service community. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or affect policy.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3.2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sales and use tax exemptions for manufacturing equipment, industrial materials, packing supplies, and energy, so as to extend the sunset date for an exemption for maintenance and replacement parts for certain machinery or equipment used to mix or transport concrete; 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 homestead exemptions from City of Calhoun independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $40,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are at least 65 but less than 70 years of age and in the amount of $100,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 70 years of age or older, approved May 5, 2006 (Ga. L. 2006, p. 4537), so as to increase said homestead exemption for residents who are between 65 and 69 years of age to $50,000.00; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to provide for 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 to provide homestead exemptions from Gordon County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $40,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are at least 65 but less than 70 years of age and in the amount of $100,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 70 years of age or older, approved May 5, 2006 (Ga. L. 2006, p. 4533), so as to increase said homestead exemption for residents who are between 65 and 69 years of age to $50,000.00; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to provide for mandatory execution of election and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 129, is a resolution to compensate Daryl Lee Clark for his wrongful imprisonment. Clark was exonerated in 2022 after over 25 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, based on suppressed evidence, unreliable witness testimony, and police misconduct. The resolution directs Georgia's Department of Administrative Services to pay Clark $1,917,128 - $75,000 per year of wrongful incarceration - with an initial payment of $632,652 and the remainder paid in monthly installments over ten years via an annuity. It addresses Georgia’s lack of a statutory compensation system for exonerees, as Clark was the first to receive such payment under this private resolution.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to restoration of licenses to persons completing defensive driving course or alcohol or drug program, so as to authorize written consent for release of certain information to be obtained and transferred electronically; to require certain training for clinical evaluators performing assessment components; to revise the authorized fees relating to such courses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) passed by the Georgia House of Representatives. It formally recognizes Virginia Barrow Harman as the 2025 recipient of the "Heart of the Community Awards" for her extensive community service. The resolution highlights her pro bono legal work, leadership in organizations like the American Red Cross and Cancer Navigators, Inc., and efforts supporting animal shelters and environmental causes. The House "commends" her and extends best wishes, with no policy changes or funding implications.