Georgia House bill by author Rep. Dickey transferring rural prosperity center to agriculture department passes House and Senate

Passed bill introduced by State Rep. Robert Dickey seeks to transfer the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation to the Department of Agriculture and establish a Georgia Rural Development Council after winning approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Monday, March 31, clearing the House by a vote of 167-0 and the Senate by a vote of 50-1.

The bill, introduced as HB495 on Tuesday, Feb. 18 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Education; Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation; repeal; provide for Georgia Rural Development Council’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill transfers the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation from the University System of Georgia to the Department of Agriculture, effective July 1, 2025. It establishes the Georgia Rural Development Council to provide guidance to the center. The council will consist of 12 members appointed by the governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President. The center, led by an appointed director, will function as a central hub for rural information and best practices, with potential satellite offices. Annually, the center will submit a work plan for review by legislative committees on agriculture and economic development, which may approve and recommend it to appropriations committees for budget consideration. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

In the House, 70 Democrats and 97 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 20 Democrats and 30 Republicans voted in favor, while one Republican voted against it.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Jon Burns (Republican-159th), Rep. Gerald Greene (Republican-154th), and Rep. Leesa Hagan (Republican-156th), along with three other co-sponsors.

Dickey graduated from the University of Georgia in 1976 with a BA.

Dickey, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 134th House District, replacing previous state representative David Knight.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday, May 14.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.