With end of session near, Georgia lawmakers tackle childhood literacy

Lawmakers approved legislation to place literacy coaches in every elementary school in Georgia as they eyed a Thursday deadline to finish their work for the year.

The Georgia Senate and House of Representatives also made progress on issues ranging from property tax relief to the state budget on the second-to-last day of the 40-day legislative session as lawmakers launched a flurry of bills back and forth. But many major issues remain unresolved with one marathon day of work remaining.

Here’s a look at how things stand.

Literacy

The House and Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1193, the literacy coaches bill. It would provide 1,313 coaches, plus other support to help ensure Georgia children are reading at grade level by third grade. The state’s final 2027 budget is expected to include more than $70 million for the initiative.

The measure was a top priority of House Speaker Jon Burns, but the issue became contentious as each chamber sought to shape the final bill.

At a joint House and Senate news conference late Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones dismissed talk of disagreement.

“This is a perfect example of people trying to act like there’s differences in what the House and Senate want to do,” Jones said. “Our end goal has always been the same. Let’s put forth the best piece of legislation to help our educators and help our kids and our parents.”

Burns was beaming as he spoke about the “generational change in opportunities” he said the bill would create for every child in Georgia.

“Literacy, as we all know, is the key to success not only in the classroom, but in life,” he said.

Property taxes

House and Senate negotiators spent weeks hashing out proposals for property tax relief for homeowners. On Tuesday the Senate approved the latest version of House Bill 1116, which would cap the growth of local government and school tax levies at 3% annually or the rate of inflation, whichever is higher.

The bill exempts new development from the cap and provides for some other exceptions. It also would allow the use sales taxes to pay for property tax relief.

Democrats say the cap threatens local services and would shift the tax burden but not reduce it, with Georgians paying more for groceries, gas and other goods.

“It is a regressive transfer of wealth from people paying sales taxes to homeowners,” said Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs.

Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, said much of the sales tax is paid by people from out of state and is a “fairer way to do it.” And he said property taxes for many homeowners have skyrocketed in recent years.

“The only people who are saying it won’t work are the people who are getting the tax money and giving us these double-digit increases in property tax bills, year after year,” he said.

HB 1116 now returns to the House.

State budget

If they do nothing else, legislators must approve a 2027 budget before they adjourn. Gov. Brian Kemp, the House and Senate have all approved different versions of the $38.5 billion spending plan. On Tuesday, a conference committee of House and Senate leaders convened to hash out a final version.