We’re almost down to the final week of the 2025 Legislative Session, and what’s happening at the Capitol right now affects your family, your paycheck, and your way of life. That’s why I’m working hard to ensure our values and needs are front and center as we finish strong.
This past week was the last chance for legislation to make it out of committee and still have a shot at becoming law. Several key bills moved forward toward the Senate floor that I believe will make a real difference in the lives of working Georgians.
House Bill 56 is one of them. It provides tuition grants to the spouses of public safety officers, law enforcement, firefighters, and prison guards who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. These men and women put their lives on the line to protect us. The least we can do is make sure their families have the opportunity to keep moving forward. Whether it’s a young widow trying to go back to school or a spouse training for a new job, this bill helps them find stability after unimaginable loss.
House Bill 123 is another important piece of legislation. It makes sure that in capital cases — where a person could face the death penalty — there’s a clear legal process to determine if the accused has an intellectual disability. Why does that matter? Justice should be tough, but it should also be fair. This bill strengthens due process while keeping our courts accountable.
On the Senate floor, we passed House Bill 340, known as the Distraction-Free Education Act. This bill tackles something many parents and teachers are already worried about: kids glued to their phones during school. HB 340 will require public schools to set rules that keep personal devices out of reach during the school day for students in grades K–8.
That might mean phones stay in lockers, locked pouches, or are temporarily disabled using school-approved apps. The goal is simple: fewer distractions, fewer discipline issues, and more time spent learning. Schools that have already tried this approach are seeing real improvements in student behavior and grades. This bill gives local schools the flexibility to set the policy that works best for their community.
Our work on the state budget continued as well. In the Senate Appropriations Committee, we reviewed House Bill 68, the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026.
I’m proud to say we’re holding the line on debt and cutting wasteful spending, while still making smart investments where they matter most: education, public safety, economic growth, and mental health services. We’re keeping Georgia the No. 1 state to do business, but we’re also making sure families in rural Georgia aren’t left behind.
The full Senate body passed the FY 26 budget on Friday, and once the House agrees to our changes, it will head to Governor Kemp’s desk for his consideration.
I’m also pleased to report that House Bill 53, which I am carrying in the Senate, passed through the House unanimously on Thursday.
This will bring our Georgia Veterans Cemeteries in line with the Federal Burial Equities for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021 and allow those who were in the military reserves or served in the Army or Air National Guard to be buried in our state Veteran Cemeteries. Georgians in the military reserves should be honored for their service, and I look forward to seeing this on the Governor’s desk.
Sen. Rick Williams serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Retirement. He represents the 25th Senate District, which includes Baldwin, Butts, Jasper, Jones, and Putnam counties, as well as parts of Henry County and a small portion of Bibb County. He can be reached at 404-656-0052 or rick.williams@senate.ga.gov.