HB495: HB495 Education; Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation; repeal; provide for Georgia Rural Development Council

The Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation currently exists under Title 20 of Georgia law, tied to the University System of Georgia. This bill repeals that chapter entirely and creates a new chapter under Title 2, the agriculture title, moving the center to the Department of Agriculture effective July 1, 2025. The bill sets up a new Georgia Rural Development Council of 12 members: six appointed by the Governor to represent areas like business development, healthcare, and education, three appointed by the Speaker of the House, and three appointed by the President of the Senate, all from different parts of the state. The Commissioner of Agriculture appoints the center's director, but that appointment needs council approval. The council must meet quarterly in different locations, mostly rural areas, to gather public input. The center must submit an annual work plan to legislative committees, which can recommend funding priorities to the budget-writing committees.

• Repeals Chapter 18 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, ending the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation's placement under the University System of Georgia.
• Creates a new Chapter 24 in Title 2 (agriculture law) that moves the center to the Department of Agriculture starting July 1, 2025.
• Establishes the Georgia Rural Development Council, a 12-member body appointed by the Governor, the House Speaker, and the Senate President to guide the center's work.
• Requires the Commissioner of Agriculture to appoint the center's director, subject to majority approval by the new council.
• Directs the center to serve as a research hub on rural issues and to submit an annual plan of work to House and Senate committees on agriculture and economic development.
• Sets pay and expense reimbursement rules for council members, capping paid allowance days per year.

The change affects the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation's staff and leadership, the University System of Georgia (which loses oversight), the Department of Agriculture and its Commissioner (which gains oversight), and the new council members appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President. Rural communities, local officials, and business and healthcare leaders who interact with the center are also affected.

Moving the center to the Department of Agriculture and adding a politically appointed oversight council changes who controls rural development policy and funding decisions in Georgia. The council's required quarterly meetings across the state, particularly rural areas, could change how rural residents and local leaders get input into state rural development programs.

• Section 1 repeals Chapter 18 of Title 20, fully removing the center's prior legal basis under the university system.
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 2-24-1, transferring the center to the Department of Agriculture effective July 1, 2025, and giving the Commissioner authority to appoint a director subject to council approval.
• Code Section 2-24-2 creates the 12-member Georgia Rural Development Council, detailing appointment sources, subject-area seats, term lengths (two years for legislative appointees, four years for others), and meeting and compensation rules.
• Code Section 2-24-3 assigns the center the duty of serving as a research and information hub on rural community planning and industry-specific assistance, and allows satellite offices.
• Code Section 2-24-4 requires an annual plan of work submitted to House and Senate agriculture and economic development committees, which may recommend budget priorities to the Appropriations Committees.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-14Act 311
3. 2025-05-14House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-09House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2025-03-18Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2025-03-13Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)Primary sponsor
• Jon Burns (R, HD-159)
• Steven Meeks (R, HD-178)
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 28, 2025

   167 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 9 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #116

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2025

   50 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #350

• rural development
• state agriculture department
• Georgia government reorganization
• rural economic policy