Policy Work

Georgia Capital building

The 2026 Legislative Session ended April 2, 2026. Updates from the 2026 Session are coming soon.

Georgia Cattlemen's Association works to advocate for all members on a variety of industry concerns in both Atlanta & Washington, D.C. Through our Legislative Committee, policy decisions are made for the benefit of all cattlemen. 
There was notable legislation in the 2025 session focused on supporting the cattle and beef industry. 

  • Improving the CUVA program
  • Providing clarity in pesticide labeling to protect necessary crop inputs
  • Tort Reform to balance the legal system
  • Maintaining increased truck weights
  • Veterinary support to help our food animal industry and much more

2025 Priority Bills Recap: 

SENATE BILLS

SB 68 - Senators Kennedy, Gooch, Robertson, Anavitarte, Walker, and others:
A Bill to revise Georgia law in regard to civil practice, damages, and liability in a tort action. The bill is the first legislative action initiative for tort reform.

SB 69 - Senators Kennedy, Gooch, Robertson, Anavitarte, Hatchett, and others:
A bill to regulate outside litigation financing by amending sections of the state banking and finance code. This bill addresses the governor's tort reform initiatives in the litigation finance sector.

SB 105 - Senators Anavitarte, Watson, Goodman, Echols, Hatchett, and others:
The bill authorizes licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians within the state of Georgia to provide veterinary teleadvice. It would also create regulations around veterinary telemedicine and allow for teletriage under certain circumstances.

SB 144 - Senators Watson, Gooch, Kennedy, Beach, Goodman, and others:
This bill would clarify that pesticide and fertilizer manufacturers are not liable for not including human health warnings outside of those required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, especially in regard to pesticides.

HOUSE BILLS

HB 90 - Representatives Efstration, Dickey, Hagan, and Buckner:
This bill would increase the acreage cap from 2,000 to 4,000 acres for land that is assessed and taxed as a conservation use property.

HB 143 - Reps. Dickey, Smith, Yearta, Greene, Cannon:
A bill to revise provisions regarding water-measuring devices for farm use of surface and groundwater in order to allow more efficient use of shared water

HB 164 - Reps. Meeks, Hagan, Buckner, Dickey, Cannon:
A bill repealing the sunset clause on the allowed weight and dimensions of trucks hauling certain commodities through Georgia from certain areas and ranges of the state.

HB 172 - Reps. Huddleston, Efrastation, Dickey, Frye, Ford:
A bill updating the terms and conditions for the student loan forgiveness program for graduates of veterinary school. These terms update qualifications allowed for approval for loan applications, such as length of time practiced, amount of money owed, and areas allowed.

HR 32 - Reps. Efstration, Dickey, Hagan, and Buckner:
A Bill to increase the max acreage cap of single-owned land from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres for assessments and taxation.

HB 223 - Reps. Burchett, Eastration, Mcdonald, Hong, Gambill, and others:
This is the first of the Governor's promised disaster relief bills for the agricultural industry. This bill looks to exclude tax on federal relief money farmers receive. Timberland owners receive tax credits up to $400 per acre. There's a sale tax exemption for poultry and livestock producers rebuilding their facilities.

The 2026 legislative session starts January 12, 2026. 

Farm Bill Priorities

Enhance EQIP Funding & Expand Coverage

Cattle producers arguably derive more value from EQIP than any other program within the Farm Bill. This important program is often used to provide cooperating costs for producers to install interior fences and develop water resources on their operations. While this provides much needed support, the program does not provide funding for perimeter fences. While a new interior fence is great, if the producer doesn’t have good perimeter fences it won’t keep the cattle in. We respectfully request that the program is expanded to include at least partial payment for perimeter fencing to ensure the value is extended for the current programmatic coverage.

Feral Swine Eradication Efforts

In the last Farm Bill, a pilot program for Feral Swine Eradication was included in the Miscellaneous Title. This program was highly successful in our state and with the continued impact that feral swine has on cattle pastures and other agricultural crops, the continued removal can be greatly beneficial. Expanding this program will help not only the cattle producers in Georgia, but across the country as well.

Black Vulture Relief Bills

Black vultures are the largest predators of Georgia’s cattle industry. These birds are typically carion that are now attacking cows and calves during the birthing process or just after the calf is born. These birds are protected by the migratory bird treaty act and were protected at the beginning of the last century due to over harvesting for their feathers used in women’s hats. Their numbers have ballooned over time and are no longer hunted. These bills would make it easier to secure a permit to take the birds in a predation situation and remove the restrictions limiting the number taken. We urge the passage of these bills to provide relief for cattle producers.