[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6352833,"mediaKeyId","2222398-8ae3eaa9976dc2977e96a4482d0fa0b7","parentId",2222398,"title","Committee hears expansion to Fostering Success Act; sponsors seek higher tax-credit cap, broader eligibility","audioSeconds",1421,"startMs",3500000,"endMs",4921000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222398-8ae3eaa9976dc2977e96a4482d0fa0b7&start=3500&end=4921","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222398-8ae3eaa9976dc2977e96a4482d0fa0b7/thumbnail_3500000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6352833/Georgia/Committee-hears-expansion-to-Fostering-Success-Act-sponsors-seek-higher-tax-credit-cap-broader-eligibility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352833-a488d30e5ba7586ee982b80545bb15f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168777&Signature=AZu5OYiTO7-MEVFPa928lDEExpIEpVIux2l4U20BNIqTHNe5F0pnzuvrVfgkm91KNBlzMBiq5YvYyXDDpbTEpV3UD74p7eyiGeWUPt6y4~QviISrF6TJmI62d~sSRlNTSyMD8R4xhq2BezYaXH2VVtBbBQ5FZRk7sVgWRjeDnJJEL6YuF-OI6Ivc67VBgHmKQ-N39cT257Fqk0OaHaf~AGh9oetpQYxQ-pnH0~z6k84PhYfBxgD5bABuiBwBYOj4nGY2B1tEjFBMkjkIt0jkRRLwxzX0iJIvbXg2xGXtXhcO-~TNXC5OvyOSQ6iyEWv9C~jV8gDLEgOb-X~307-KUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Georgia State Legislature ","date","2025-02-03T00:00:00Z","article","House Human Services/Youth (committee hearing) — The committee heard House Bill 136, a revision to Georgia’s Fostering Success Act tax-credit program intended to extend assistance to youth aging out of foster care and expand the types of taxpayers who can use the credit.

Dr. Newton, a sponsor, said the bill would expand the program in several ways: increase the annual cap on tax credits from $20 million to $30 million, allow insurance companies that pay premium taxes to use the credit mechanism, extend eligibility to former foster youth up to age 25 and clarify allowable services, and set administrative guardrails to ensure at least 80 percent of donated funds go directly to services for youth. Dr. Newton described mentorship support, housing, transportation and educational help as core services the program funds.

Nut graf: Supporters framed the change as targeted help for a high-risk population. Heidi Carr, executive director of Fostering Success Act, Inc., said the program has been operating since early 2023 and reported enrollment growth: 133 youth in postsecondary programs in the fall, rising to 187 in spring for that organization. Carr described cases where small expenses — for example, $500 for welding equipment — enabled a youth to enroll in technical training and succeed.

Committee members pressed on eligibility language. Dr. Newton and witnesses discussed a drafting ambiguity recorded in the bill that referenced ages “6 through 25” while also specifying a requirement of at least six months in foster care after reaching age 14; the sponsor acknowledged the provision needed clearer wording and said he would refine the language to reflect the program’s intention to cover youth who were in foster care through adolescence and to support them up to age 25.

The bill would also tighten program administration: a 20 percent maximum on administrative costs and certification and compliance steps for qualified organizations. Dr. Newton said Fostering Success Act, Inc. distributed roughly $4 million in 2024 and expects demand and distributions to increase if the cap rises. Heidi Carr described outreach partnerships with the University System of Georgia Foundation, DFCS and other programs to identify and enroll youth.

Ending: The committee did not vote on HB136. Sponsors asked for follow-up work to fix drafting ambiguities, supply fuller data on program capacity and need, and return to the committee for a subsequent hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02.03.25 Ways & Means","oneSentenceSummary","HB136 would expand Georgia’s Fostering Success Act tax-credit program: increase the annual cap from $20 million to $30 million, allow participation by entities that pay premium taxes, extend eligibility to age 25, and tighten administrative guardrails; witnesses described growing enrollment and asked for more funding and outreach.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Georgia , Georgia","taxId",77688,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6352836,"Committee hears bill to change sales-tax treatment of manufactured homes; local revenue concerns raised",665,2242000,2907000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222398-8ae3eaa9976dc2977e96a4482d0fa0b7&start=2242&end=2907","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222398-8ae3eaa9976dc2977e96a4482d0fa0b7/thumbnail_2242000.jpg","/articles/6352836/Georgia/Committee-hears-bill-to-change-sales-tax-treatment-of-manufactured-homes-local-revenue-concerns-raised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352836-5b9236da5ba5e5d2d338a7578be746f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168777&Signature=XmumG~JyGsNwY4OK7NcV6dsNWpXi08UiizqCmmT12XLr3LdEIAW9WJqGKGMT433INThsh~Tgm3ytIE9ffxuqQ9mGTWdZxlDHaJ82QHnyAwkMWfULdepa6TDxisuqGmlI0StoZmEZo100X8Q~vGNNgjjao57rfdp0Hzwt4Ex8dTZmyN-BszRsJgirdfRwtkU8TAH6kW5vrByO5PShI367h~h-kuFBrIxWuA7LaZscrL0ZUYAqXaX7gbMPx-y5lqmWj2mylvRw2BlScZfjW6yCS2IKE3MMymySR4LYA06c~2iORhY6dEKwpUXrMhm1oOkOj3axQmw-2baUombn0ZjDZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sales Tax Subcommittee — The subcommittee heard House Bill 134, which would modify Georgia's sales-tax treatment of manufactured homes by treating a portion of the transaction as a labor component rather than taxable retail sale.

Chairman Kemp and the bill author said the legislation aims to create tax parity between permanent manufactured homes and stick-built homes by recognizing a 40 percent labor component in the transaction. The sponsor said the change would put manufactured homes on a more similar tax footing with traditional housing and help affordability.

Nut graf: Supporters described manufactured homes as an affordable, faster-to-construct alternative that can function like stick-built housing once placed on-site and converted to real property. Opponents and local-government representatives warned of lost sales-tax revenue when manufactured homes are not converted to real property and are resold, and they urged the committee to study revenue impacts before moving forward.

Dante Handel of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia told the committee the bill, as written, would cause the state and local governments to “lose sales tax on manufactured homes not converted to real property by filing that certificate of permanent location,” and that subsequent sales would likewise omit local sales taxes. Handel also said manufactured homes generally do not appreciate like stick-built homes, a point he said affects property tax revenues for localities.

Committee members asked for data on appreciation and revenue impacts; Handel said he would research and share numbers. Members also discussed a sunset provision in line 62 of the bill that would repeal the change on June 30, 2030, and the author expressed openness to a friendly amendment depending on committee will. The presenter and witnesses noted that local zoning rules are unaffected by this bill and that municipalities retain zoning authority over manufactured housing placement.

Ending: HB134 received a first hearing; the committee did not take a vote and asked sponsors and witnesses to provide additional fiscal and valuation data ahead of a second hearing. Materials from the Manufactured Housing Association were placed in the committee packet.","HB134 would change how manufactured homes are taxed by treating a portion of the purchase as labor and creating parity with stick-built housing; witnesses warned of potential local sales-tax revenue loss and committee members flagged zoning and sunset considerations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6352841,"Subcommittee reviews proposal to raise family farm acreage cap from 2,000 to 4,000 acres",142,1596000,1738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222398-8ae3eaa9976dc2977e96a4482d0fa0b7&start=1596&end=1738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222398-8ae3eaa9976dc2977e96a4482d0fa0b7/thumbnail_1596000.jpg","/articles/6352841/Georgia/Subcommittee-reviews-proposal-to-raise-family-farm-acreage-cap-from-2000-to-4000-acres","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352841-50c992506ad7d9cce577953c72957038/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168777&Signature=ZHGIK0p8hezvTt-JZAbP-1J-Q49Y095ugePNMntJTtWkQ7AuKNVon8EZEPhPImIiR-baa~5nsm5hrojuj7-7MhvrJywGw3oIbFkRZ097DYlDFJlkewDeKZ1thhoq1RAS~wUTuqwlGrkuuqeOnwbS0sBPkvSc-Q4E4-bM7rzhgzcImndmU7Shz5cXy5rUT2gdCdP5JiSeMHjytQyhqZlZy2KQpRUbAWdavA1HDV8n5NMGaz9wzZir2Cw-CfsTt8HLa5H6w9aHbOA-JejSeQ~EXhwaKRzFCl8Zq81uMXnuteivzXo~NF0ziI2OaeoSxxNKY5hckUJBgH0kpUtUNMvKNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Agriculture/Rules (subcommittee) — The committee heard a constitutional amendment (HR32) and companion statute (HB90) that would increase the acreage cap used in certain family-farm provisions from 2,000 to 4,000 acres.

A legislative leader presented the constitutional amendment and the accompanying statutory change, explaining proponents want a measured increase to allow family farms to remain intact when property transfers occur across family members. The presentation described the change as consistent with prior committee instructions and asked the committee to forward the measures for further consideration.

Nut graf: Sponsors said the increase would protect family-run agriculture operations — described as important to Georgia’s agribusiness sector — when ownership is dispersed among relatives or moves through probate. The measure includes a companion constitutional question in section 2, which would require voter approval if the amendment proceeds.

During the hearing, members asked clarifying questions about statutory language that will be aligned with the constitutional amendment. The presenter noted the constitutional text replaces “2,000” with “4,000” and that the statute would be amended to match. No public testimony was recorded and no vote was taken at this first hearing.

Ending: The presenter asked for favorable consideration at the appropriate time and acknowledged this was not the committee’s final action; the measures will return for a follow-up hearing.","Sponsors presented HR32 (constitutional amendment) and HB90 (statutory change) to raise a land-cap used in family-farm provisions from 2,000 to 4,000 acres, saying the change would help preserve multi-generation farms; the measures were heard with no vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6352846,"House subcommittee hears measures to accelerate income tax cut, issue $1 billion refunds",739,506000,1245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222398-8ae3eaa9976dc2977e96a4482d0fa0b7&start=506&end=1245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222398-8ae3eaa9976dc2977e96a4482d0fa0b7/thumbnail_506000.jpg","/articles/6352846/Georgia/House-subcommittee-hears-measures-to-accelerate-income-tax-cut-issue-1-billion-refunds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352846-d46b3517be3fe876a48939c2f4173278/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168777&Signature=YVaXdZZnc-l~3fmbgk2sDjDGsUQxXDgBBVhQyeq9P45aNoGHZgQxs92VrWPE3KjOlfGf0A-yu6mP18Kxt14abc9QUWD0vfCi6pho1at-w3sqZPbCWdK1BIN56u7GhaYKSfDeKQmkXfkvm4NpV3u9iK7h37rES9l7ktPhA7LjjYNLhocF9z3s23iMwNyto0Ez6lQXqDU8WXn9PtrAIRBb0tsfTSkZyk~MX5MVQazkx5CopfbxYR0DTmK5zlglq~S-9tzaOKF7IPWVgqVqAIO3hKV0e1qlvvFS8Kzt6Am6UgXrVdLVpmYOiLY0wJgOlXXgOIZXeQIgA7Q~LmRnBkj~0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Income Tax Subcommittee — The House Ways and Means income tax subcommittee heard presentations on two governor-backed measures that would accelerate Georgia's recent individual income tax reductions and provide one-time refunds to eligible filers.

Representative Sue Hong presented House Bill 111, saying the measure would accelerate the income tax rate reduction enacted in 2022 (HB 1437) and would move the rate by an additional 20 basis points, which she said would save taxpayers “approximately $880,000,000.” Representative Sue Hong said the proposal would reduce the individual income tax rate toward roughly 5.19 percent for tax year 2025.

The subcommittee also heard House Bill 112 from the governor’s floor leader, who described a separate refund mechanism that would return a fixed amount to eligible filers for tax years 2023 and 2024. The floor leader said the bill would deliver $250 for single filers, $375 for heads of household and $500 for married couples filing jointly, and that the package would total “a billion dollars returned to the taxpayers of the state of Georgia.” He said refunds would likely be issued as paper checks in June or July to taxpayers who filed returns for the covered tax years.

Nut graf: Supporters said accelerating the cut continues a multi-year rollback begun in 2022, and they framed the package as returning money to taxpayers during persistent inflation. Opponents on the panel urged caution and pointed to fiscal uncertainty; the chair ordered a fiscal note on HB111 and emphasized this was a hearing-only presentation to ensure fuller review before any committee action.

Committee discussion focused on fiscal and timing concerns. Representative Buckner and others said recent tax changes leave limited time to observe long-term effects and urged caution before accelerating cuts further. The chair reminded members that the proposals remain subject to the statutory “triggers” and that a fiscal note will be prepared for HB111. Proponents cited regional competitiveness, noting neighboring states without an individual income tax.

The presenters described implementation details for HB112: taxpayers must file returns for 2023 and 2024 to be eligible, and some taxpayers who pay no income tax because of exemptions would not receive a refund. The floor leader said the administration intends to issue refunds by paper check to qualifying taxpayers who paid at least some tax in the specified years.

Ending: Both measures were presented for a first hearing and no formal vote was taken. Committee members asked sponsors to return with additional information, and the chair scheduled the bills for follow-up consideration and a fiscal review for HB111.","The House Ways and Means subcommittee held first hearings on HB111, a proposal to accelerate an ongoing individual income tax rate reduction, and HB112, a bill to return roughly $1 billion to taxpayers through fixed refunds; both were presented as hearings only and will return for further consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears expansion to Fostering Success Act; sponsors seek higher tax-credit cap, broader eligibility

Committee hears bill to change sales-tax treatment of manufactured homes; local revenue concerns raised

Subcommittee reviews proposal to raise family farm acreage cap from 2,000 to 4,000 acres

House subcommittee hears measures to accelerate income tax cut, issue $1 billion refunds