Tillery: Crossover Day Under the Gold Dome
We have reached Crossover Day at the Capitol, an important milestone in the legislative session, and I’m actually finalizing this column on the Senate floor late Friday evening. “Crossover” is the deadline for Senate bills to move to the House if they are to remain eligible for consideration this year. Those bills will now go through the same committee and floor process on the House side before they can ultimately reach the Governor’s desk.
Earlier this week, Governor Brian Kemp signed the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 Budget into law. With that signature, the General Assembly completed the first of our two budgets for this legislative session. Our attention now turns to the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to ensure Georgia maintains the conservative budgeting practices that have kept our state financially strong.
One of the most significant challenges facing families today is the rising cost of housing. For many Georgians, purchasing a home has become increasingly difficult. In metro Atlanta alone, institutional investors now own roughly one-quarter of all rental properties. Large corporations are purchasing single-family homes at a rapid pace, leaving hardworking Georgians competing with Wall Street firms just to buy a place to live.
The effects of this trend are becoming clear. The average age of a Georgian entering a 30-year mortgage has climbed to 41, making it harder for many individuals to retire by 65. It is also causing some families to delay major life decisions or consider leaving the state in search of more affordable housing.
If we are serious about keeping Georgia affordable to live in, we must address this issue.
Senate Bill 463 takes an important step in that direction. The legislation would limit 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. Homes must remain available to hardworking Georgia families, not large investment firms. I have another bill that addresses this, too, by raising the property tax when a Wall Street investor owns more than 500 single-family residences. It is not fair for young Georgia families to have to bid against Wall Street.
We are also working to make it easier to build new homes across the state. Senate Bills 437 and 447, both of which have passed the Senate, are designed to improve the homebuilding process and help increase housing availability.
Senate Bill 437 shortens construction review timelines and allows certified private companies to perform certain building, plumbing and electrical inspections. While these inspections are essential for safety, unnecessary delays can increase costs for future homeowners.
Senate Bill 447 improves transparency by requiring local governments to provide clear explanations when building permits are denied. Families considering where to build their homes deserve straightforward answers as they make those decisions.
Protecting Georgia’s quality of life also means protecting the land and natural resources that make our state unique. Senate Bill 478 strengthens the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund by increasing funding dedicated to conservation through 2039. These resources will help preserve our forests, waterways and wildlife while supporting tourism and economic growth.
Finally, we are addressing emerging challenges in the digital world. Senate Bill 540 would strengthen protections for minors online by prohibiting explicit AI-generated material involving children and requiring stronger privacy tools on digital platforms.
More bills will pass this evening as Crossover Day continues and I hope to keep you up-to-date on those next week. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns or ideas as the legislative session continues. It is an honor to serve you.
Sen. Blake Tillery serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. He represents the 19th Senate District, which includes Appling, Bacon, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Wayne and Wheeler counties, as well as a portion of Coffee County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-5038 or by email at Blake. Tillery@senate.ga.gov.
By Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia)
