HB 495: Education; Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation; repeal; provide for Georgia Rural Development Council

The Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation currently exists under Georgia's higher education law (Title 20) as part of the University System of Georgia. This bill repeals that chapter entirely and re-creates the center under Title 2, Georgia's agriculture code, placing it inside the Department of Agriculture effective July 1, 2025. The bill creates a new Georgia Rural Development Council of 12 members (six appointed by the Governor representing areas like finance, healthcare, and education, three by the Speaker of the House, and three by the President of the Senate) to guide the center. The Commissioner of Agriculture appoints the center's director, subject to council approval. The council must meet quarterly in different rural locations around the state, and the center must submit an annual plan of work to legislative committees for review before it goes to budget writers.

• Repeals Chapter 18 of Title 20, eliminating the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation's current home in the University System of Georgia.
• Creates a new chapter in Title 2 (agriculture law) moving the center to the Department of Agriculture effective July 1, 2025.
• Establishes a 12-member Georgia Rural Development Council, with members appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate, to guide the center.
• Requires the Commissioner of Agriculture to appoint the center's director, subject to majority approval by the council.
• Requires the council to meet at least quarterly, each time in a different location with a focus on rural areas, to gather input from local officials and residents.
• Requires the center to submit an annual plan of work to House and Senate agriculture and economic development committees for review before budget consideration.

The University System of Georgia, which loses oversight of the center; the Department of Agriculture and its Commissioner, who gain new administrative duties; rural Georgia communities, local governments, healthcare providers, and business leaders who may interact with the council; and the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President, who appoint council members.

Shifting the center from higher education to the Department of Agriculture changes who controls rural development policy and funding decisions in Georgia. The new council structure gives legislative leaders and the Governor direct appointment power and requires regular public meetings across rural parts of the state.

• Section 1 repeals Chapter 18 of Title 20 in its entirety, removing the center from the University System of Georgia's authority.
• Section 2 adds Chapter 24 to Title 2, transferring the center to the Department of Agriculture effective July 1, 2025.
• Code Section 2-24-1 gives the Commissioner of Agriculture power to appoint the center's director, subject to council approval, and lets the director hire staff subject to appropriations.
• Code Section 2-24-2 creates the 12-member Georgia Rural Development Council with staggered terms (two years for legislative members, four years for most nonlegislative members) and sets meeting and compensation rules.
• Code Section 2-24-3 directs the center to serve as a research hub on rural issues and allows it to open satellite offices.
• Code Section 2-24-4 requires an annual plan of work submitted to legislative committees, which may forward funding recommendations to the Appropriations Committees.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-07-01Effective Date
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-11)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-11)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 28, 2025

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

   PASSAGE: House Vote #116

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2025

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

   PASSAGE: Senate Vote #350

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