---
title: HB 1438. Tariff Transition Advisory Councils Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1438
cite_as: HB 1438, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1438
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1438.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1438/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73557
date: 2026-02-26
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1438.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1438
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-24
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Anne Westbrook
- Samuel Park
- Michelle Au
- Teddy Reese
- L.C. Myles
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1438/2025
upstream_id: 2123518
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- tariffs
- economic development
- agriculture policy
- workforce development
- state advisory boards
---
# HB 1438. Tariff Transition Advisory Councils Act; enact
## Text
House Bill 1438
By: Representatives Westbrook of the 163rd, Park of the 107th, Au of the 50th, Reese of the
140th, and Myles of the 126th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government,
so as to provide for regional tariff transition advisory councils; to provide for membership
and duties of such councils; to provide for reporting requirements; to provide for
administrative support and funding sources; to provide for a short title; to provide for
legislative findings and purpose; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;
and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Tariff Transition Advisory Councils Act."
SECTION 2.
(a) The General Assembly finds and determines that:
(1) Federal and international tariffs can create significant and uneven economic disruptions
across Georgia's industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and small
businesses;
(2) Regions of the state may experience tariff impacts differently, requiring localized
analysis and consultation; and
(3) A coordinated state response is needed to identify disruptions and to assist affected
industries and workers.
(b) The purpose of this chapter is to establish regional advisory councils to gather data,
assess economic impacts, and recommend mitigation and transition strategies to strengthen
Georgia's economy and workforce.
SECTION 3.
Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, is amended
by adding a new chapter to read as follows:
"CHAPTER 41
50-41-1.
(a) There are created, within the Department of Economic Development, five regional
tariff transition advisory councils representing the following areas:
(1) Northwest Georgia;
(2) Northeast Georgia;
(3) Metro Atlanta;
(4) Middle Georgia; and
(5) South Georgia.
(b) The commissioner of economic development shall designate precise regional
boundaries that are consistent with existing regional economic development districts.
50-41-2.
(a) Each regional council shall be composed of nine members to be appointed as follows:
(1) Three representatives from the business community, including at least one
manufacturer or logistics operator;
(2) Two representatives from organized labor or workforce development organizations;
(3) Two representatives from the agricultural sector or agribusiness stakeholders;
(4) One representative from a local development authority or chamber of commerce; and
(5) One representative from a technical college, university, or economic research
institution.
(b) Members shall serve two-year terms and may be reappointed.
(c) Members shall receive no compensation but may receive reimbursement for actual
expenses incurred in relation to council duties.
50-41-3.
Each regional council shall:
(1) Collect and analyze data on tariff related impacts affecting industries, supply chains,
workforce conditions, and local economies within its region;
(2) Conduct outreach to businesses, farmers, workers, and community organizations to
assess disruptions and emerging needs;
(3) Develop mitigation strategies for affected sectors, including workforce retraining,
supply chain adjustments, export support, and small business assistance;
(4) Recommend state level policy responses to the Department of Economic
Development and the General Assembly;
(5) Coordinate with relevant state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the
Department of Labor, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the University
System of Georgia; and
(6) Ensure that all meetings comply with Chapter 14 of this title and publish minutes and
findings in accordance with state law.
50-41-4.
(a) No later than December 31 of each year, the Department of Economic Development
shall submit to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives a report summarizing:
(1) Key findings of each regional council;
(2) Identified economic disruptions;
(3) Recommended mitigation strategies; and
(4) Proposed policy actions.
(b) All reports prepared pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section shall be made
public and posted on the website of the Department of Economic Development.
50-41-5.
(a) The Department of Economic Development shall provide staff support, meeting space,
data analysis assistance, and any other administrative services necessary to carry out the
purposes of this chapter.
(b) The Department of Economic Development may seek federal grants, philanthropic
funding, or cooperative agreements to support regional council activities."
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would create five regional advisory councils, run by the Department of Economic Development, to study how tariffs affect local industries and recommend ways to help businesses and workers adjust.
### Plain-language summary
Tariffs imposed by the federal government or other countries can hit different parts of Georgia's economy unevenly, affecting farmers, manufacturers, logistics companies, and small businesses in different ways. This bill responds by adding a new chapter to Georgia law that sets up five regional tariff transition advisory councils, covering Northwest Georgia, Northeast Georgia, Metro Atlanta, Middle Georgia, and South Georgia, all housed within the Department of Economic Development.
Each nine-member council would include representatives from business, labor, agriculture, local development authorities, and higher education or technical colleges, serving two-year unpaid terms with expense reimbursement. The councils would gather data on tariff impacts, reach out to affected businesses and workers, develop mitigation strategies like workforce retraining and export support, and coordinate with other state agencies. The Department of Economic Development must submit a public report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and House Speaker by December 31 each year, and may seek outside grants or funding to support the councils' work.
### What it does
- Creates five regional tariff transition advisory councils within the Department of Economic Development, covering distinct regions of Georgia.
- Sets council membership at nine people each, drawn from business, labor, agriculture, local development groups, and education or research institutions.
- Directs councils to collect data, conduct outreach, and develop mitigation strategies such as workforce retraining and export support for tariff-affected industries.
- Requires the Department of Economic Development to file a public annual report by December 31 to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and House Speaker.
- Allows the Department of Economic Development to seek federal grants or philanthropic funding to pay for council activities.
- Requires councils to comply with Georgia's open meetings law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 50-14) and publish minutes and findings.
### Who it affects
Georgia businesses in manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and small business sectors; workers and labor organizations; local development authorities and chambers of commerce; technical colleges and universities; and the Department of Economic Development, which would staff and fund the new councils.
### Why it matters
If enacted, Georgia would get a standing structure to track how tariffs affect different regions and recommend responses, potentially shaping state policy on workforce retraining, supply chains, and small business support. The councils have no regulatory power themselves, only advisory and reporting duties.
### Key provisions
- Section 3 adds new Code Section 50-41-1, creating five regional councils within the Department of Economic Development, with the commissioner setting regional boundaries.
- Code Section 50-41-2 sets each council at nine appointed members representing business, labor, agriculture, local development, and education, serving unpaid two-year terms.
- Code Section 50-41-3 lists council duties, including data collection, outreach, developing mitigation strategies, and recommending policy to the Department of Economic Development and the General Assembly.
- Code Section 50-41-3(6) requires councils to follow Georgia's open meetings law and publish minutes and findings publicly.
- Code Section 50-41-4 requires an annual public report by December 31 to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and House Speaker summarizing findings and proposed actions.
- Code Section 50-41-5 authorizes the Department of Economic Development to provide administrative support and to seek federal or philanthropic funding for the councils.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-24)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-26)
- Sponsors: Anne Westbrook, Samuel Park, Michelle Au, Teddy Reese, L.C. Myles
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73557
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1438.md?full=1