[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6322492,"mediaKeyId","2347386-c46dd68e36317b0eb8bf6b7c26151830","parentId",2347386,"title","Realtors tell House panel permitting, zoning and infrastructure are constraining housing supply in Georgia","audioSeconds",2115,"startMs",2085000,"endMs",4200000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347386-c46dd68e36317b0eb8bf6b7c26151830&start=2085&end=4200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347386-c46dd68e36317b0eb8bf6b7c26151830/thumbnail_2085000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322492/Georgia/Realtors-tell-House-panel-permitting-zoning-and-infrastructure-are-constraining-housing-supply-in-Georgia","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322492-86e80307fa2edd03f3fa163871435d96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159277&Signature=GO7HuNji49fUUChsYHCohWOYDzprYP2N-Ni3Qv7DkKTPdyNFQO2WJok21aPXZn0U8Hzme0h3Z8vYYSX-jbQQw~eD6BbXxrNQMEs4GEOx4Qh7QQgXpwDrymWBuD3sz~fEJZC3BxLhSV-4rloiuJp2bXqdrJmIP2PymV11oj6GU5BHkKWda2VC11uMEJ9ZEUHRSkhC~f7AfH9oS2wHFysz7VxYu4Oo42mN1NhMBTF1w7Imv~dJwsO4mX7DiThKcr5EstxaGizKbq-SFk6IfJu0jF--nG2y4UCXYyj16vkwfgIBHD3dieNP8BzSF8aJLdOfGSj~xYDChpzyZ4L77gyMHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Georgia State Legislature","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives of the Georgia Association of Realtors told the Georgia House Small Business Committee that constrained housing supply, permitting delays and infrastructure costs are driving up prices and reducing affordability across the state.

Betsy Bradfield, advocacy director for the Georgia Association of Realtors, summarized statewide housing indicators and said Georgia remained a seller’s market in 2024, with approximately 3.4 months of inventory for single‑family homes and buyers generally paying close to list price. Bradfield said the association’s year‑end review showed that the statewide average sales price increased and that homes priced between $150,000 and $250,000 were the most in demand.

Bradfield and other association witnesses pointed to multiple causes: insufficient infrastructure (water, sewer, roads) to support new development, local land‑use restrictions and permitting delays that increase costs, and the rising cost of materials and financing. She highlighted the governor’s rural workforce housing grants as one tool intended to help rural areas pay for infrastructure needed to support housing development.

Speakers provided local examples. Jimmy Whaley, a broker‑owner who covers Southwest Georgia, said parts of Sumter County require 10‑acre minimum lots and that accessory dwelling units in some counties may be limited to family or farm workers, which he said blocks modest additional rental capacity. He said he has not seen a new neighborhood in his area since 2007 and cited septic, well and lot‑size rules as cost drivers. Kim Eiler Morgan, representing the Savannah region, said regional development authorities are working on water and sewer infrastructure and urged collaboration with municipalities to reduce development delays.

Nikia Brooks, vice president of governmental affairs for the association, said permitting delays were a frequent complaint from members: she described an example where permits for a planned commercial building remained unresolved two years after plans were submitted, and another in which a church sold land rather than build because a required sewer connection would have added roughly $400,000 to costs.

Representative Dale Washburn closed the discussion by stressing private property rights, encouraging local reform to allow higher density and lower minimum square footage for entry‑level housing, and suggesting policy ideas for lowering monthly mortgage payments, including extending amortization periods; he also said the state should consider tying infrastructure grants to measures that enable higher density where appropriate. Washburn said local home‑rule advocates resisted state mandates but urged local lobbying and local success before state intervention.

No formal committee votes or motions were recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02.19.25 Small Business Development","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of the Georgia Association of Realtors told the Small Business Committee that high prices, low inventory, permitting delays, zoning rules and infrastructure costs limit housing supply; elected members urged local solutions and discussed state grant and policy options.","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},6322497,"WonderSchool tells committee its pre‑screening platform can cut childcare hiring time",705,1025000,1730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347386-c46dd68e36317b0eb8bf6b7c26151830&start=1025&end=1730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347386-c46dd68e36317b0eb8bf6b7c26151830/thumbnail_1025000.jpg","/articles/6322497/Georgia/WonderSchool-tells-committee-its-prescreening-platform-can-cut-childcare-hiring-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322497-a0b20101952f889caf97449169fbc8af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159277&Signature=lHHxsfVUOPWEXlg1GeHai8kiqdQ7Us7CK4Zd6uu3VF37333GsJhvROf7UgfwiLoQZgyyu9Kp~ZwlZGM9FFFVhygQJGq~u2UDnrZ5YGHem4-B0AlnltqCZXrcwjuLq6OH2sY3OBg7vOQtQxskfIlLMc4Pgsd9h2fSNIzgJSGQVCQiJZY~BPPs9yEalJT65Ub7Bj3P3UNWN2~PKH2mC0yUn92SKqwdfXiSs2B7cGv6rsU8fVdojBst9kfp4TVpKC88Abi~xs-5GqYtrWS0jyqNVjeTKFhcNHqLuvXXrcd97vERiQ~YJAn1ax8alXERxogwiqsxnCykB4dWljH5zYOhfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Georgia House Small Business Committee, WonderSchool representatives described a teacher‑recruitment platform they said can reduce the time it takes childcare providers to hire qualified staff.

WonderSchool representatives said the company matches pre‑screened candidates with childcare centers, maintains a searchable pool of applicants and offers features such as substitute ‘sub pools’ for in‑home providers. Ellen Reynolds, a lobbyist representing WonderSchool, said the company aims to help providers open and sustain small childcare businesses so more families can return to work.

“The childcare industry is a foundational piece of that,” Reynolds said, describing the firm as “an innovative startup that is working on… platforms to help bring together the needs of the early childhood education community.” Tay Marie Adams, a member of WonderSchool’s State Partnership Team, told the committee the company helps with provider onboarding, subsidy management, employer concierge services and teacher recruitment.

Adams said WonderSchool conducts targeted outreach and university partnerships, pre‑screens candidates to meet each state’s licensing requirements, and uses an algorithm to match prospective teachers to employers by ZIP code and fit. “We have been able to reduce hiring time by up to 80%,” she said, and the company has “almost 100,000 teachers on our platform,” according to her presentation.

WonderSchool described two payment models: individual childcare providers pay for the service, or a state or other government partner contracts with the company and covers costs as part of workforce initiatives. Adams said the platform’s vetting reflects “whatever the state requirements are” and that the company does not recruit current childcare employees away from existing centers.

Committee members pressed for details. Representative Washburn said he has a daycare operator in Middle Georgia who is “almost ready to just walk away because she can’t find people.” He asked how WonderSchool is paid; Adams described the two models and noted states sometimes contract for the services as part of workforce programs. Representative Rivera asked what requirements the platform applies; Adams said the company vets candidates to meet the state’s specific licensing and training requirements and that Georgia Pre‑K lead teachers must meet higher credentialing (a bachelor’s degree), while many childcare positions require background checks and periodic training such as CPR and first aid.

Neither WonderSchool nor committee members identified any formal procurement, contract number or pending state request for proposals during the presentation. Adams said the company works in 10 states and with some local governments and cities, and noted that states use different parts of WonderSchool’s suite of services depending on need.

The presentation concluded with committee members thanking the witnesses; no formal motions, votes or committee directions were recorded in the transcript.","Representatives from WonderSchool told the Georgia House Small Business Committee that a pre‑screened teacher pool, university partnerships and a matching algorithm can shorten hiring from months to days; the company said it operates in 10 states and offers both provider‑paid and state‑contract models.","actionData","errors"]

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Realtors tell House panel permitting, zoning and infrastructure are constraining housing supply in Georgia

WonderSchool tells committee its pre‑screening platform can cut childcare hiring time