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2025 Legislative Agenda

The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus is staying true to its mission by pushing for policies that tackle the deep-rooted issues affecting Black communities across the state. From health and housing to education, wealth, public safety, and justice reform, we are committed to creating a more equitable and just Georgia for all.

1. Health

Advocate full expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act

Objectives:

 

  • Advocate for full Medicaid expansion, including dental and vision coverage

 

  • Push for increased reimbursement rates for providers serving Medicaid patients, ensuring more doctors accept low-income patients.

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SB 50 - Leader Senator Harold Jones II(26th)- "PeachCare Plus Act of 2025"; enact

 

SB 186- Senator Jason Esteves (35th)- Hospitals and Related Institutions; assisted living communities and personal care homes to enroll as Medicaid providers; permit

2. Housing

Incentivize affordable housing in both urban and rural areas

Objectives:

 

  • Expand incentives for affordable housing in both urban and rural areas by providing tax credits for developers who build mixed-income housing.

 

  • Increase funding for public-private partnerships that develop affordable housing and preserve existing affordable units.

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HB 135 - Representative Kim Schofield (63rd)- Housing; discrimination based on hairstyles associated with race, color, or national origin; prohibit

3. Wealth

Create tax incentives, grants, and low-interest loans for Black-owned businesses

Objectives:

 

  • Expand state-funded grants for Black entrepreneurs and low-interest business loans targeted at historically Black communities.

 

  • Provide tax credits for companies that hire from marginalized communities.

 

  • ​Strengthen supplier diversity programs, ensuring that Black-owned businesses get fair access to state contracts.

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4. Education

Back equitable K-12 funding to ensure quality education for Black students in underfunded areas.

Objectives:

 

  • Increase funding for underfunded school districts, ensuring that low-income schools have the same resources as wealthier districts.

 

  • Ensure teacher pay raises and retention incentives to reduce educator turnover.

 

  • Expand after-school and summer programs for students in high-poverty areas.

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​​HB 60 - Representative Imani Barnes (86th)- Healthy Start Act; enact

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HB 106 - Representative Imani Barnes (86th)- Safe Teens Act; enact

 

SB 65 -  Senator Derek Mallow (02nd)- Education; mandatory kindergarten for all children prior to entering into first grade; provide

 

SB 128 - Senator Jason Esteves (35th)- Quality Basic Education Act; grants to eligible local units of administration for students living in poverty; provide

 

HB 245 - Representative Phil Olaleye (59th)- Georgia Educational Opportunity Act; enact

 

HB 48 - Representative Viola Davis (87th)- Quality Basic Education Act; Refugee and International Students Equalization (RISE) program; establish

5. Public Safety & Justice Reform

Expand trust-based policing with de-escalation, mental health, and anti-bias training.

Objectives:

 

  • Establish a statewide police misconduct database to track officers with excessive force complaints.

 

  • Increase state investments in STEM & trade school programs to prepare Black workers for high-paying future jobs.

 

  • Require independent investigations for police-involved shootings.

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6. Advocacy

Reduce pollution and improve living conditions in Black communities

Objectives:

 

  • Enforce stricter environmental regulations to reduce pollution in Black communities.

 

  • Fund clean energy, urban tree planting, and community gardens for better environmental health.

 

  • Improve public transportation, roads, and waste management to enhance living conditions.

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​HB 201 - Representative Eric Bell (75th)- Food; selling, offering for sale, trading, or distributing lab-grown meat; prohibit

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