Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 216: Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Economic Development Act; enact
Last action May 13, 2025 · Effective Date
House Bill 216 creates a new Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Commission to coordinate the state's semiconductor industry strategy, replacing an existing OneGeorgia Authority consortium that oversaw similar work.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia currently has a Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Consortium run through the OneGeorgia Authority, with an advisory panel and executive committee. This bill, named the Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Economic Development Act, replaces that structure with a new Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Commission housed in the Department of Economic Development (O.C.G.A. § 50-7-130). The commission is tasked with bringing together public and private stakeholders in semiconductor manufacturing, drawing on universities and industry to build a strategic plan for the industry, advising on how to attract investment, and expanding workforce training related to semiconductor design and manufacturing. It will have nine members: three appointed by the Governor, two by the Senate President, two by the House Speaker, plus the University System chancellor and the Technical College System commissioner (or their designees). The old consortium's governing law, O.C.G.A. § 50-34-21, is repealed. The commission is set to stand abolished on June 30, 2028, and the law takes effect once the Governor signs it or it becomes law without signature.
What the bill does
- Creates the Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Commission inside the Department of Economic Development to coordinate semiconductor industry policy.
- Abolishes the existing Georgia CHIPS and Advanced Technology Consortium and repeals the OneGeorgia Authority code section that created it.
- Sets the commission's nine-member makeup, with appointees from the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, plus the University System chancellor and Technical College System commissioner.
- Directs the commission to focus on research, workforce training, investment strategy, and manufacturing leadership in the semiconductor sector.
- Puts a sunset date on the commission, requiring it to be abolished on June 30, 2028 unless further action is taken.
Who it affects
The change affects the Department of Economic Development, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and appointees named by the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker. It also touches semiconductor manufacturers, related suppliers, and workforce training programs in Georgia.
Why it matters
Georgia has been courting semiconductor manufacturing investment, and this bill restructures who coordinates that effort by shifting oversight from a OneGeorgia Authority consortium to a new commission under the Department of Economic Development, changing who sets strategy for research funding, workforce training, and industry recruitment.
Key provisions
- Section 2 adds a new Article 11 to Chapter 7 of Title 50, creating the commission and defining its six statutory purposes, including workforce development and attracting investment.
- Section 2 sets the commission's nine-member composition and requires priority be given to appointees with manufacturing, design, or scientific research experience.
- Section 2 places the commission administratively within the Department of Economic Development and sets its abolition date at June 30, 2028.
- Section 3 repeals O.C.G.A. § 50-34-21, eliminating the prior 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 signature.
From the bill
“The commission shall stand abolished on June 30, 2028.”
“Sustaining the leadership of this state in advanced semiconductor research, design, manufacturing, and advanced packaging”
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 176
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
Show full history (17 actions)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Vance Smith (R, HD-138)
- Jon Burns (R, HD-159)
- Todd Jones (R, HD-25)
- Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
Votes
- House voteFebruary 12, 2025
163 yea, 2 nay (7 not voting, 8 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2025
50 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 3 excused)
Topics
- semiconductor industry
- economic development
- Georgia CHIPS Act
- workforce training
- state commissions