The Georgia House of Representatives reconvened on Monday, March 16, for Legislative Day 32 and the start of the 10th week of the 2026 legislative session.
One of the most notable measures that the House championed last week was House Bill 1199, which will temporarily suspend Georgia’s excise tax on motor fuel for 60 days. This suspension comes at a critical time as Georgians have faced sharp increases in gas prices amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, placing added financial strain on families and business across the state. Prices at the pump will begin to reflect this change in the coming days as retailers receive new shipments of motor fuel. Georgia’s excise tax on gasoline is currently 33.3 cents per gallon and 37.3 cents per gallon of diesel. After the House overwhelmingly passed HB 1199 with our gas tax suspension provision included, we immediately sent the amended legislation to our colleagues in the Senate, where they later agreed to the House’s version of HB 1199, giving it final passage.
The Senate gave final passage to House Bill 1000, which Gov. Kemp also signed in to law on Friday. The bill provides a one-time income tax refund to eligible Georgians who filed individual income tax returns for both the 2024 and 2025 tax years by the applicable deadlines. Once a taxpayer files their 2025 return, the Georgia Department of Revenue will issue a refund equal to the lesser of the taxpayer’s 2024 Georgia income tax liability or a set amount based on filing status: $250 for single filers or married individuals filing separately, $375 for heads of household and $500 for married couples filing jointly.
Amid ongoing shortages of healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas of Georgia, and as part of the House’s continued focus through its work over the summer in the House Study Committee on Improving Access to Internal Medicine in Underserved Areas, we passed Senate Bill 427. The bill would create a structured pathway for certain internationally trained physicians to practice in Georgia under a limited provisional license. By expanding the pool of qualified physicians in rural communities, SB 427 would play an important role in improving access to healthcare for Georgians who need it most.
The House unanimously passed Senate Bill 523 to strengthen protections against acts of discrimination in Georgia’s public education system. Under SB 523, complaints of discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion involving students, teachers or employees would be addressed through a standardized reporting and appeals process. By strengthening reporting and enforcement of these incidents, SB 523 would provide greater accountability, helping ensure that instances of discrimination and harassment are not only identified but meaningfully addressed within Georgia’s public education system.
The House also passed a life-saving measure to ensure every Georgian has rapid access to medical care with the unanimous final passage of Senate Bill 399, the Mason Sells AED Coordination Act. This legislation aims to expand access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and provide emergency call centers with both AED location information and high-quality telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation (T-CPR) guidance for Georgians experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.
Building on the House’s efforts to combat human trafficking across our state, my colleagues and I passed Senate Bill 570, also known as the Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act, with bipartisan support on Thursday. SB 570 would require hotels and third-party managed short-term rental properties’ employees to complete annual training on identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking, with the initial training required within 60 days of hire and renewed each year. Hotels and rental properties are often associated with human trafficking activity, making it essential that we equip staff with the knowledge and tools needed to recognize warning signs and help prevent vulnerable individuals from becoming victims.
Finally, on Friday, the House gave final passage to Senate Bill 170, a necessary measure to strengthen the resilience of Georgia’s healthcare infrastructure. SB 170 would create a grant program to acquire and install backup generators for affected rural hospitals, which are acute care hospitals located in rural counties with fewer than 100 beds and located in any region where the governor declared a state of emergency after July 1, 2024. By investing in reliable energy systems, SB 170 would help guarantee that essential medical services remain available during severe weather events, particularly for rural communities.
We are in the final stages of advancing legislation that could soon become law, and these closing weeks will be pivotal to ensure that we pass meaningful legislation for all Georgians. As we count down to Sine Die on April 2, I encourage you to stay engaged and keep track of legislation that affects our community and your family.
I remain dedicated to serving your interests as your state representative, and I hope that you will contact me with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the legislative session or with any proposals or recommendations for future legislation.
You can also stay in touch by visiting our website at www.house.ga.gov to watch a live stream of the House in action, as well as archived committee meetings, and review legislation that we are considering.
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Thank you for allowing me to be your representative.
Sincerely,
Representative Butch Parrish
