After Georgia Legislature’s Sine Die comes signing time for governor

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A lack of funding prompted Gov. Brian Kemp to veto a bill that increased needs-based grants for college students. Kemp signed dozens of new laws and vetoed 14 bills in 2023.

Credit: File photo by Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

The Georgia General Assembly concluded its 2025 legislative session on Friday with the passage of roughly 400 bills and resolutions combined.

The abrupt end of the session gave way to a 40-day window that runs through May 14 when Gov. Brian Kemp can veto or sign legislation, or do nothing and automatically let it become law.

The last day of the session, when House and Senate lawmakers usually crank out legislation right up until midnight and celebrate at the end of the night by throwing torn-up pieces of paper into the air, was unexpectedly cut short.

In previous years, the Republican governor has vetoed about 10 bills each year, signed hundreds of pieces of legislation into law, and hosted a few ceremonies to ink some noteworthy bills with a keepsake pen. Last year, Kemp vetoed a dozen bills.

Kemp signed six bills before the General Assembly’s final gavel of fell, including a controversial so-called religious freedom bill.

Kemp is expected to hold a public ceremony prior to May 14 to sign his priority legislation for 2025 that is intended to limit the amount of damages juries award in civil lawsuits.

Kemp successfully fought off robust opposition to the civil litigation overhaul outlined in Senate Bill 68 and the more narrowly written Senate Bill 69 that requires transparency when third-party groups finance civil suits.

Kemp will also have the opportunity to publicly sign off on a school safety plan in the wake of September’s deadly shooting at Barrow County’s Apalachee High School. That high-profile measure creates deadlines to transfer student records to new school districts, establishes a statewide school threat alert system and requires Georgia schools to install panic buttons.

Kemp will also decide how he will handle a slate of culture war bills, including a ban on transgender athletes in girls’ sports in K-12 and college and another measure banning gender-affirming care in the state’s prisons.

Culture war issues, including new restrictions on transgender Americans, have been a priority of Republican President Donald Trump’s administration since he took office in January.

Georgia’s legislative smorgasbord awaiting Kemp includes next year’s nearly $38 billion budget as well as the accelerated income tax cut he championed and one-time income tax refunds set to be distributed to Georgia taxpayers later this year.

Usually, a statement from Kemp’s office explains why he vetoed a particular measure.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Georgia Recorder.