Where property rights start and end between neighbors has long been a thorny issue.

Legislation being debated at the state Capitol would tip rights strongly in favor of farmers, who say they need protection from nuisance lawsuits as Georgia’s population grows.

Critics say it diminishes other property owners’ rights and could spawn huge animal-feeding operations like those in neighboring North Carolina that disrupt communities and hurt the environment.

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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez