HB 233: State symbols; Brunswick stew as the official state stew; designate

This bill bundles several unrelated changes into one act. It creates a new observance called National Sugarcane Syrup Day, set for the fourth Friday in November each year (the day after Thanksgiving), to honor Georgia's tradition of making sugarcane syrup on family farms. It also adds two new sections to Georgia law naming Brunswick stew the official state stew, citing Brunswick, Georgia as its birthplace, and naming cornbread the official state bread, citing its role in Georgia's food history. The bill also rewrites an existing law (O.C.G.A. § 50-5-84.2) that bars certain companies from bidding on state contracts. It replaces references to companies owned by China's government with a broader category, 'foreign country of concern,' defined by U.S. Commerce Department designations. It expands which contracts are covered, adds third-party sellers to the ban, and increases the penalty for false certification from twice to triple the purchase value, with a $250,000 minimum.

• Creates 'National Sugarcane Syrup Day' on the fourth Friday in November each year, adding a new section to Georgia's holidays and observances law (O.C.G.A. § 1-4-27).
• Designates Brunswick stew as the official Georgia state stew by adding O.C.G.A. § 50-3-94.
• Designates cornbread as the official Georgia state bread by adding O.C.G.A. § 50-3-95.
• Broadens an existing state contracting ban from companies owned by 'the government of China' to companies owned or operated by any 'foreign country of concern' as designated by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
• Expands the contracting ban to cover bids submitted through third-party sellers and specifically includes computers, printers, cables, and videoconferencing equipment.
• Raises the civil penalty for a false certification from twice to triple the purchase value, with a $250,000 minimum, under O.C.G.A. § 50-5-84.2.

Georgia farmers who produce sugarcane syrup, food and cultural organizations tied to Brunswick stew and cornbread traditions, state agencies that award contracts for goods and services, and companies (including those with ties to countries the U.S. government designates as foreign adversaries) that bid on those contracts.

Beyond symbolic recognitions of Georgia food traditions and a new farm-honoring observance, the bill meaningfully tightens state procurement rules by widening the definition of banned companies beyond China alone and by tripling financial penalties for false certifications, affecting which vendors can supply state agencies.

• Section 1-2 adds O.C.G.A. § 1-4-27 designating the fourth Friday in November as National Sugarcane Syrup Day.
• Section 2-2 adds O.C.G.A. § 50-3-94 naming Brunswick stew the official state stew, citing its origin in Brunswick, Georgia in 1898.
• Section 3-2 adds O.C.G.A. § 50-3-95 naming cornbread the official state bread.
• Section 4-1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 50-5-84.2, replacing the 'government of China' definition with a 'foreign country of concern' defined by U.S. Commerce Department foreign adversary designations.
• Section 4-1 expands the scrutinized-company contracting ban to include bids made through third-party sellers and specific equipment like computers and videoconferencing services.
• Section 4-1 raises the civil penalty for false certification to the greater of $250,000 or triple the entire purchase value, up from twice the contract amount.

1. 2025-07-01Effective Date
2. 2025-05-01Act 59
3. 2025-05-01House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-04House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-04-02Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-03-31Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)

• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)Primary sponsor
• Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)
• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)
• James Burchett (R, HD-176)
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-34)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-3)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 26, 2025

   152 yea, 2 nay (12 not voting, 14 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #90

2. FailedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   17 yea, 36 nay (3 not voting, 0 excused)

   ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT #1 BY THE SENATOR FROM THE 19TH: Senate Vote #402

3. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   52 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 0 excused)

   PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE: Senate Vote #403

4. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   113 yea, 51 nay (3 not voting, 13 excused)

   Agree to Senate Substitute: House Vote #442

• state symbols
• Georgia food traditions
• state contracting rules
• foreign adversary companies
• agricultural heritage