Media release from the Georgia Senate Press Office:
By: Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R–Rome)
With Crossover Day behind us, the Senate is now turning its attention to House legislation and one of our most important responsibilities: crafting a fiscally responsible Fiscal Year 2027 state budget. This week, Senate leaders met with agency heads and stakeholders from across Georgia’s industries to review funding needs and ensure our state remains on a strong financial path.
This process may take time, but it’s one of the reasons Georgia is consistently recognized for responsible financial management. Every dollar we approve is taxpayer money, and we take that responsibility seriously. That means asking tough questions, carefully reviewing requests, and making sure we invest in programs that truly benefit Georgia families.
We are also working to ensure that state policies do not impose unnecessary burdens on our local communities. This week, I voted to pass House Bill 244, which will allow smaller local governments with annual expenditures of less than $2.5 million to complete a streamlined audit process. Right now, many small towns are required to conduct full audits every year, which can be expensive and difficult for communities with limited staff and resources. This legislation maintains accountability while giving smaller governments more flexibility so they can spend more time focusing on the services their residents rely on.
Protecting your finances is another priority we addressed this week. The Senate passed House Bill 945, which strengthens protections against financial exploitation. Unfortunately, scams targeting seniors and vulnerable individuals have become more common and increasingly sophisticated. This bill allows banks to place a temporary 15-day hold on transactions if they suspect someone is being financially exploited. Financial institutions are often the first to notice suspicious activity, and this legislation gives them the ability to step in and help prevent someone from losing their hard-earned savings.
We also took an important step toward helping more children find permanent homes. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 771, creating the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability. For many Georgia families, the cost of adoption can be a major barrier. This committee will study ways to make adoption more affordable and accessible so that more children in Georgia have the opportunity to grow up in safe, stable homes.
I am proud to have brought two House bills before the Senate for final passage this week. Originally introduced last year, House Bill 219 establishes an improved monitoring and rehabilitation program for healthcare professionals. This program would be run by our state’s Board of Nursing and would not only establish a pathway to practice for recovering healthcare professionals but also set strict guidelines revolving responsibility amongst healthcare professionals to ensure you, the patient, receive the best possible care.
Finally, I was proud to bring House Bill 1199 to the floor for a vote. This is a bill that we pass regularly to keep Georgia’s tax code aligned with changes at the federal level. I was disappointed that some of my colleagues from across the aisle raised concerns about this bill’s impact on Georgia’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Georgia is one of the only states that matches federal dollars spent on low-income housing at 100 percent of their value. Their concern, however, is that this bill does not expand the match to provide more affordable housing units. However, studies conducted in the past have shown that our state does not fully realize the benefits of this match; instead, much of the money goes to developers rather than directly expanding housing opportunities. This bill simply ensures we do not waste hundreds of millions of dollars on a federal match, bringing Georgia more in line with most other states. Georgia faces housing challenges, but there are better avenues to address them than through tax code changes that do not yield meaningful results.
As always, hearing directly from you is one of the most important parts of my job. If you have questions, concerns or ideas about issues affecting our community, please do not hesitate to contact my office. It is an honor to serve you under the Gold Dome.
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Sen. Chuck Hufstetler serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. He represents the 52nd Senate District, which includes portions of Bartow, Floyd and Gordon counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0034 or by email at Chuck.Hufstetler@senate.ga.gov.
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