Policy Work
2026 GEORGIA Legislative Session
Georgia Cattlemen's Association works to advocate for all members on a variety of industry concerns in both Atlanta & Washington, D.C. Through our Legislative Committee, policy decisions are made for the benefit of all cattlemen. Georgia Cattlemen's Association partners with the Georgia Agribusiness Council to serve as a voice for Georgia's cattle producers in Atlanta.
There was notable legislation in the 2026 session focused on supporting the cattle and beef industry.
What emerged from this year’s session was a mix of meaningful progress for agriculture, continued investment in rural Georgia, and a renewed focus on the long-term sustainability of family farms. For Georgia’s cattle producers, the outcomes of this session carry both immediate and long-term implications.
One of the most important developments was the passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget, a $38.5 billion spending plan that maintains strong support for agriculture, conservation, and rural communities.
- Specific efforts to:
- Feral hog eradication
- Funding for veterinary student loan repayment programs
- Address emerging threats and maintain food safety systems
2026 Priority Bills Recap:
HB 463 - Reps. Blackmon, Burns, Hatchett, Gilliard, Stephens, Camp:
HB 463 serves as the cornerstone of the state’s income tax reform efforts. The legislation brings together several tax-reduction initiatives into a single, comprehensive approach to lower the tax burden on individuals, families, and small businesses across Georgia.
HB 1000 - Reps. Gambill, Wade, Seabaugh, Hong, Blackmon, Williamson:
This bill delivers immediate financial relief through a one-time income tax refund of up to $500 for qualified families and $250 for individual filers.
HB 1159 - Reps. Gambill, Seabaugh, Wade, Blackmon, Williamson, Dickey:
This bill would exempt Farmer Bridge Assistance Program income from taxation.
HB 1085 - Reps. Petrea, Burns, Cannon, Burchett, Buckner, Williams, Jr.:
This bill would create transferable tax credits for forestry manufacturing facilities.
HR 1416 - Reps. Dickey, Meeks, O'Steen, Ford, Corbett, Greene:
Creation of Joint Study Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms
Farm Bill Priorities
Enhance EQIP Funding & Expand Coverage
Cattle producers arguably derive more value from EQIP than any other program within the Farm Bill. This important program is often used to provide cooperating costs for producers to install interior fences and develop water resources on their operations. While this provides much needed support, the program does not provide funding for perimeter fences. While a new interior fence is great, if the producer doesn’t have good perimeter fences it won’t keep the cattle in. We respectfully request that the program is expanded to include at least partial payment for perimeter fencing to ensure the value is extended for the current programmatic coverage.
Feral Swine Eradication Efforts
In the last Farm Bill, a pilot program for Feral Swine Eradication was included in the Miscellaneous Title. This program was highly successful in our state and with the continued impact that feral swine has on cattle pastures and other agricultural crops, the continued removal can be greatly beneficial. Expanding this program will help not only the cattle producers in Georgia, but across the country as well.
Black Vulture Relief Bills
Black vultures are the largest predators of Georgia’s cattle industry. These birds are typically carion that are now attacking cows and calves during the birthing process or just after the calf is born. These birds are protected by the migratory bird treaty act and were protected at the beginning of the last century due to over harvesting for their feathers used in women’s hats. Their numbers have ballooned over time and are no longer hunted. These bills would make it easier to secure a permit to take the birds in a predation situation and remove the restrictions limiting the number taken. We urge the passage of these bills to provide relief for cattle producers.