HB216: HB216 Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Economic Development Act; enact

Georgia currently has a Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Consortium, governed by an advisory panel and executive committee under the OneGeorgia Authority. This bill abolishes that consortium's governing structure and creates a new commission, the Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Commission, inside the Department of Economic Development. The commission's job is to bring together public and private stakeholders in semiconductor manufacturing, use expertise from Georgia's colleges and universities and industry groups to build a strategic plan for the industry, advise on attracting investment, expand workforce training, and encourage state and local governments to support the semiconductor industry and its suppliers. It has nine members: three appointed by the Governor, two by the Senate President, two by the House Speaker, plus the University System of Georgia chancellor and the Technical College System of Georgia commissioner (or their designees). The commission is set to be abolished automatically on June 30, 2028. The law took effect once the Governor signed it.

• Creates the Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Commission within the Department of Economic Development to guide semiconductor industry policy.
• Repeals O.C.G.A. § 50-34-21, eliminating the prior Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Consortium and its advisory panel and executive committee.
• Sets the commission's membership at nine people, appointed by the Governor, the Senate President, the House Speaker, and two ex officio higher education officials.
• Directs the commission to focus on workforce training, research strategy, and attracting investment in semiconductor manufacturing.
• Automatically abolishes the commission on June 30, 2028 unless further action is taken.
• Names the law the 'Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Economic Development Act.'

The bill affects the Department of Economic Development, the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker (who make appointments), the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia, and Georgia's semiconductor manufacturers, researchers, and workforce training programs.

Georgians involved in semiconductor manufacturing, higher education research, and workforce development would deal with a new state body coordinating strategy and investment in that industry, replacing the prior consortium structure with a differently composed commission that has a built-in expiration date.

• Section 2 adds a new article to Chapter 7 of Title 50, creating O.C.G.A. § 50-7-130 establishing the commission and its six stated purposes, including workforce development and attracting investment.
• Section 2 sets commission membership: three Governor appointees, two Senate President appointees, two House Speaker appointees, plus the University System chancellor and Technical College System commissioner or their designees.
• Section 2 directs that appointment priority go to people with experience in manufacturing, design, industrial development, or academic and scientific research in semiconductors.
• Section 2 places the commission under the Department of Economic Development for administrative purposes only and sets its abolition date as June 30, 2028.
• Section 3 repeals O.C.G.A. § 50-34-21, eliminating the existing Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Consortium under the OneGeorgia Authority.
• Section 4 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without his signature.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 176
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
8. 2025-03-31Senate Tabled (Senate)

• Vance Smith (R, HD-138)Primary sponsor
• Jon Burns (R, HD-159)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
• Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 12, 2025

   163 yea, 2 nay (7 not voting, 8 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #30

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2025

   50 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #365

• semiconductor industry
• economic development
• workforce training
• state commissions
• technology policy