We have officially reached Crossover Day, the deadline for Senate bills to move to the House in order to remain eligible for consideration this year. Now the process begins again in the House, where lawmakers will carefully review, debate and vote on these proposals before they can move forward.
Another major step forward came earlier this week when Governor Brian P. Kemp signed the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 Budget into law. With that signature, the General Assembly fulfilled the first of our two constitutional budgeting responsibilities for this session. Our focus now turns to completing the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Both spending plans reflect the same conservative priorities that have kept Georgia financially strong through protecting our reserves, investing wisely and returning money to hardworking taxpayers.
One of the greatest threats to the American Dream today is the rising cost of housing. Across Georgia, families are finding it harder than ever to purchase a home. In metro Atlanta alone, institutional investors now own roughly one-quarter of all rental properties. Large corporations are buying up single-family homes at a rapid pace, leaving hardworking Georgians competing with Wall Street firms just to purchase a place to live.
The consequences are real. The average age of someone entering a 30-year mortgage has climbed to 41. That means many Georgians will struggle to retire at 65. It also means couples are delaying starting families or considering leaving our state in search of more affordable housing. If we are serious about making Georgia more affordable, we must address this issue head-on.
Senate Bill 463 takes an important step in that direction. This legislation would prevent large corporations from owning more than 500 single-family residential properties in Georgia and would prohibit foreign companies from owning single-family residential rental homes altogether. The goal is simple: ensure that the homes in our communities remain available to Georgia families, not large investment firms. Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream, and we cannot allow Wall Street to push hardworking families out of the housing market.
We are also working to make it easier to build new homes across our state. Senate Bills 437 and 447, both of which have passed the Senate and now move to the House, will streamline the homebuilding process and improve transparency for families looking to build.
Senate Bill 437 shortens construction review timelines and allows certified private companies to conduct certain building, plumbing and electrical inspections. These inspections are an important part of ensuring safe construction, but unnecessary delays can drive up costs for future homeowners. By making the process more efficient, we can help bring more housing to the market and make homeownership more attainable.
Senate Bill 447 increases transparency between local governments and future homeowners by requiring clear and timely explanations when building permits are denied. Families considering where to build their homes deserve straightforward answers, and this legislation helps ensure Georgia remains a welcoming place for those looking to put down roots.
I’m happy to share that Senate Bill 515, which I sponsored, has passed out of the Senate. SB 515 would support our great educators by expanding access to the teacher recruitment and retention tax credit program across school districts. Through this measure, Georgia will retain more of our talented educators by providing hundreds more with additional financial benefits, in addition to the pay supplements provided in the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget. This initiative is a direct result of SR 237, which helped us identify ways to better support Georgia’s K-12 education workforce and teacher and school leader pipeline. By investing in our educators, we are investing in the future success of Georgia’s students and communities.
It was also a pleasure to announce the winners of the 2026 Georgia READS Community Awards and 2026 READBowl at the Capitol this week. Hundreds of students from schools all over the state participated in these awards that honor their dedication to reading and education. We also celebrated communities across Georgia for their contributions to literacy and other education initiatives that help raise our young people to be better community members. I’ll always be thankful to all the staff and organizers at Georgia Reads for emphasizing the importance of reading and for providing opportunities for students to become more engaged with their communities.
With Crossover Day behind us, the Senate will begin reviewing House legislation and voting on bills that may soon head to the Governor’s desk. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns or ideas as the Session continues. It is an honor to serve you.
Sen. Billy Hickman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Youth. He represents the 4th Senate District, which includes Bulloch, Candler, Effingham and Evans counties, as well as a portion of Chatham County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 463-1371 or by email at Billy.Hickman@senate.ga.gov.
