As we previously shared, the 2025 Georgia Legislative session ended on Friday, April 4.  There was little fanfare this year as the Senate surprised all by adjourning early, just after 9 pm.  Even with the abrupt ending by the Senate, the House continued to hear and pass important bills for another hour or so.  Sine Die, the final day of the session, usually lasts until midnight with a coordinated ending and a joint salutation by both chambers at the same time.  

Unfortunately, the early departure by the Senate meant several high-profile issues didn’t make it over the finish line for Gov. Kemp’s review, approval, signature or veto.  Those legislative measures left on the table, include the much-debated ban on school speed cameras, overhauling election laws, and prohibiting the promotion of DEI in schools will be available next year.

As we worked throughout the last week, we spent time in various committees reviewing and, in some cases, perfecting bills by amendments.  In between there were a number of visitors at the Capital for the final week.  Included in the groups was PCOM South Georgia. It was great spending time with Dr. Marla Golden and discussing the healthcare needs in South Georgia and how PCOM is working to help with doctor shortages.  They shared important information concerning “Match Day” and the great success they have had in matching and the impact it will have for South Georgians and our need for more physicians.

Regardless of the closing moments, the House of Representatives passed numerous important bills, many of which come from you our constituents and the issues you face.  It is our goal to make Georgia run more efficiently and to serve you better.   Below are some of the final bills and resolutions passed from the Rules Calendar before we adjourned this year’s legislative session:

• Senate Bill 1, includes provisions from the Riley Gaines Act and amends various titles in state law to provide for separate restrooms and changing areas for males and females during athletic events in schools and postsecondary institutions. The bill would provide for separation according to sex for sleeping arrangements on school trips. All public schools, local school systems and private schools participating in competitions or athletic events would be required to designate each team, competition or athletic event as for males, females or coed. The term gender would be replaced with sex throughout state law;

• Senate Bill 10, authorizes the counties within judicial circuits that have at least 15 superior court judges to provide funding for up to five judicial officers to serve those superior courts, with those judicial officers appointed by the chief judge of the circuit and requiring the same qualifications of superior court judges. The judicial officers would not be elected, would serve terms of no more than two years and could be reappointed. Judicial officers would have all powers of a superior court judge but would not preside over any case or matter related to a serious violent felony. Judicial officers would be employees of the county or counties that make up the judicial circuit;

• Senate Bill 12, requires public agencies to act as custodians of public records and produce specified public records on behalf of a private entity when necessary;

• Senate Bill 20, expands eligibility for the Public Safety Memorial Grant to include spouses of first responders, who have died or been permanently disabled in the line of duty. The bill sets the maximum award to $18,000 per academic year and would increase the lifetime award amount. The bill provides for the distribution of grants to the child or spouse of a public-school teacher or public-school employee who has been killed or permanently disabled by an act of violence in the line of duty. The bill expands membership of the State Veterinary Education Board to include: an executive director of an animal shelter or a nonprofit pet sterilization clinic in this state and a veterinarian employed full time in the practice of shelter medicine or pet sterilization services in this state, and both would be appointed by the governor. The bill would also provide for a loan repayment program for veterinarians who have been practicing for less than 10 years and who practice shelter medicine or practice full time at a nonprofit pet sterilization clinic;

• Senate Bill 36, the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, permits state and local governments to substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion only if the entity demonstrates that the application of the burden to the person is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest, and it is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest. A person who has been burdened in violation of this law could assert the violation in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief, including a reasonable attorney fee in particular circumstances. Nothing in this bill would be construed to affect the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution;

• Senate Bill 46, creates the Government Serves the People Act. The bill directs the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) director to appoint a State of Georgia Government Service Delivery Lead within GTA to improve state government service delivery. The bill requires state agency heads to appoint a lead agency service delivery official to improve service delivery in their agency. Beginning in 2026, the GTA director would submit to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House an annual report on current and future government-wide efforts to improve service delivery;

• Senate Bill 82, amends state law, known as the Local Charter School Authorization and Support Act of 2025. The bill requires the Office of Charter School Compliance to prepare guidelines for local boards of education for the evaluation of charter school petitions and requires reporting. Local boards of education are required to provide a written statement of denial to the charter petitioner, the state board and the office within 10 days of denial. Local boards of education that deny charter schools that are later approved by the Charter Schools Commission could face the loss of the current charter system contract or strategic waivers school system contract. It also provides $250,000 incentive grants to local boards of education that approve new local charter school petitions;

• Senate Bill 99, establishes the definition of law enforcement officer to include a peace officer; any state or federal law enforcement personnel who render assistance to a law enforcement agency of the state or any political subdivision therein; an appointed chief of police or department head of a law enforcement unit while pursuing required training; a federal law enforcement officer employed by the U.S. government as a full-time law enforcement officer and an individual certified in another state hired in Georgia while pursuing training required by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Act;

• Senate Bill 100, allows an adult who was adopted to request and receive a copy of their original Georgia birth certificate following payment of a fee. The copy would indicate it is not a certified copy. A parent, sibling or descendant of a deceased person could receive a copy of the decedent’s birth certificate under the same procedure;

• Senate Bill 121, requires individuals convicted of driving under the influence in Georgia to obtain higher minimum motor vehicle liability insurance coverage. Enhanced insurance coverage is required to be maintained and uninterrupted for three years in order to requalify for a standard rate;

• Senate Bill 125, provides a much-needed modernization to the licensing code for electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low voltage contractors and utility contractors. These updates would make numerous changes, including: 

• • revising requirements for State Construction Industry Licensing Board members; 
  • revising what plumber classifications can install, maintain, alter or repair medical gas piping systems; 
  • exempting any licensed conditioned air contractor who also is a registered professional engineer from certain continuing education requirements; 
  • removing the cap on continuing education that both the Division of Electrical Contractors and the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers could require; 
  • requiring each division to make all reasonable efforts to provide continuing education online or through home study courses; 
  • clarifying that any licensed master plumber or company that holds a valid utility contractor license can construct, alter or repair any plumbing system that extends from the property line up to five feet of any building; and 
  • allowing for applicable licensee’s partners, officers and employees to continue operating for 60 days after the death of a licensee, in addition to allowing the applicable division to provide one additional 60-day grace period. 

The bill also revises dates and timelines, add references to internet advertising and revise fine amounts. The bill also removes a requirement for licensure as a professional engineer that requires a person to subsequently pass an exam after obtaining required educational experience. Another provision of the bill requires the Office of the Secretary of State to institute a unified system for tracking continuing education credits completed by licensees of the various boards under the secretary of state’s purview. Beginning on January 1, 2026, a professional licensing board would not renew a license until the applicant has complied with all applicable continuing education requirements;

• Senate Bill 130, important to our underserved healthcare areas, this bill expands the ability for a resident or fellow to be taught in a teaching hospital or a medical facility that meets the stated criteria. The bill also allows a resident or fellow to apply for the service cancelable loan program through the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce;

• Senate Bill 132, provides that a person charged with a non-violent misdemeanor, must receive a competency evaluation within 45 days, in lieu of 90 days. Offenses of driving under the influence and domestic violence charges would not be included within the 45-day timeline. This requires judges to provide a hearing before ordering the mental competency evaluation if the request comes from the defense. Upon holding that hearing, if the judge orders an evaluation, he or she is required to explain why they have a bona fide doubt about the accused’s competency. If a defendant makes a special plea claiming incompetency, then the court would hold a bench trial unless either side requests a jury trial. If charged with a non-violent offense, the court would allow outpatient evaluation instead of jail-based evaluation;

• Senate Bill 140, authorizes a doctor of optometry to dispense and sell pharmaceuticals that are related to the treatment of diseases and conditions of the eye, except those that are controlled substances; 

• Senate Bill 141, extends the appeal date for tax assessments, denial claims for certain refunds, proposed assessment or license fees imposed by the Department of Revenue, erroneous payment of intangible taxes and petitions to provide information related to allocations and apportionments for their business activity from 30 days to 45 days. Additionally, the commissioner of the Department of Revenue is able to reinstate a canceled license within 45 days, rather than 30 days. The bill would also extend the due date of any licenses or taxes, excluding ad valorem or income tax, from 30 days to 45 days after notice. The bill also amends state law, relating to preferential assessment for rehabilitated historic property and landmark historic property, to allow for a classification and assessment approved by a county to continue for up to an additional 12 years for income-producing property;

• Senate Bill 148, amends the QBE – Quality Basic Education Act to allow local school boards to offer hunting safety instruction for students in grades six through 12.  The State Board of Education will adopt instructional standards no later than April 1, 2026. The bill establishes an outdoor learning spaces pilot program beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.  It would remove the requirement of involvement from a licensed physician or other person authorized by the Georgia Composite Medical Board in automated external defibrillator programs. The bill also increases the number of personal days school personnel may utilize as accumulated sick leave for from three days to five days;

• Senate Bill 151, restricts a county development authority from operating any projects within a municipality if they adopt a resolution to limit such development. The bill only applies to massively municipalized counties, (a county without a consolidated or unified government that has 95% or more of its land occupied by two or more municipalities.) The applicable parts of the county would be defined as municipal boundaries located north of the northernmost corporate limit of the municipality. Projects by another development authority prior to January 1, 2026, would not apply;

• Senate Bill 173, provides in the event a judge fails to rule upon a properly served uncontested pretrial motion within 60 days of filing, the moving party could file a notice of uncontested motion with the judge. If the judge fails to rule upon that motion within seven days, the motion would be deemed granted and entered. This process would be delayed when a hearing is scheduled until the day after the hearing is held. The chief judge of the circuit could conduct a review if a judge has a motion deemed granted in two or more cases before that judge within two years;

• Senate Bill 179, amends state law for a new graduation requirement. Beginning in the 2031-2032 school year, students will be required to complete a computer science course or a career, technical and agricultural education (CTAE) course embedded with computer science in grades eight through 12. The computer science course would be in-person, virtual or through remote instruction. The bill would increase the payment by local school systems to Georgia Virtual Schools from $250 per student per semester course to $350. Lastly, the bill requires private online virtual schools to report enrollment of students to the student’s home school district;

• Senate Bill 185, was another bill that was hotly debated on the Housse floor.  It prohibits the use of state funds or resources for state inmates for sex reassignment surgeries, hormone replacement therapies or sex characteristic altering cosmetic procedures or prosthetics.  Exceptions could be considered for medically necessary treatments when the condition is not related to sex reassignment or gender dysphoria, including treatment for those with a sex development disorder, partial androgen insensitivity syndrome and hormone replacement therapy for those receiving such treatment prior to the effective date of the bill for the purpose of transitioning off of treatment;

• Senate Bill 191, allows for electronic delivery of decisions by the Department of Labor involving unemployment insurance. The applicant could elect to use this electronic delivery or have their paperwork mailed to them. The bill would also provide a definition of issue date, which includes a provision that allows the department, through regulations, to waive or alter the time limit provisions of when a decision becomes final, as long as it complies with due process;

• Senate Bill 199, prohibits the State Ethics Commission from accepting, rejecting or issuing a complaint against a candidate 60 days prior to the date of their election. The bill requires local elected officials to file financial disclosures with the State Ethics Commission, rather than locally. It also changes filing dates for certain financial disclosure reports. Local elected officials are required to acknowledge the requirement for specified training when submitting certain forms. The bill clarifies the information to be included in a candidate’s financial statement and revise lobbyist disclosure requirements;

• Senate Bill 201, protects homeowners entering into contracts with contractors in the wake of a natural disaster. Contractors entering into a contract with a homeowner within one year of a natural disaster are required to accept contract cancellation if all or part of the homeowner’s insurance claim is not covering their loss. Contractors would also be required to notify homeowners of their right to cancel;

• Senate Bill 204, prohibits local governments from regulating the storage of firearms. Lawful weapons carriers who have been aggrieved by a rule in violation of this preemption have the right to bring an action for an injunction or a civil cause of action. A plaintiff in a civil case would be provided the ability to sue for either: 

• • actual damages or $25,000, whichever is greater and collect reasonable attorneys’ fees and any other costs associated with the action, or 
  • liquidated damages of three times the expenses of litigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees. There would be a one-year statute of limitations for these actions. 
  • The bill would also allow prosecutors to accuse an individual, rather than indict that person through the grand jury process, unless the charge includes a serious violent felony, a sexual felony, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), criminal street gang activity or a violation of local law involving firearm preemption;

• Senate Bill 207, allows a person who plead guilty as a first offender and successfully completed the terms to be certified and employed as a firefighter, upon meeting qualifications and at the discretion of the council; 

• Senate Bill 212, disclosure of confidential voter registration record information to unauthorized persons and prohibit the disclosure of public student directory information for political use. The bill also prevents students from being solicited to organize political events on school property when such event is otherwise prohibited by law or by policy of the local school system or school;

• Senate Bill 218, revises how payments are made to the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission (PAQC) members when information regarding a disciplinary matter is available to the public and who would have appeal rights related to decisions made by the PAQC. This would move the PAQC to the Administrative Office of the Courts for administrative purposes. The bill would further provide that the PAQC could employ investigators who have law enforcement powers and that the commission could issue subpoenas;

• Senate Bill 241, provides regulations for organic human reduction as a form of disposing of bodies upon death. Organic human reduction facilities would be required to obtain a license from the State Board of Funeral Service. These facilities would meet certain requirements, including having a room with a minimum space for 30 people where funeral services are conducted, have and maintain at least one hearse and church truck and not be located within 1,000 feet from a residential subdivision;

• Senate Bill 244, the Wrongful Conviction Compensation Act, provides that if a motion is made to disqualify a prosecutor based on improper conduct, and it results in disqualification, the defendant would be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. If the disqualification of the prosecutor results in the criminal case being dismissed against the defendant due to improper conduct, the defendant would be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by the defendant in defending the case. These costs and fees would be paid from the county treasury. It would allow the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH) to consider claims of wrongful conviction and for making recommendations as to whether the claimant qualifies for compensation and how much compensation. These claims would be filed directly with OSAH and would have to be filed within three years after the date of the acknowledgement, or within three years after July 1, 2025, whichever occurs later. In certain situations, the statute of limitations would be different. If during the two years before this would normally expire, the claimant obtains new evidence that they could not have previously obtained with reasonable diligence, then they could file a claim within two years from the date of obtaining that new evidence. If after that period has passed and the claimant obtains new evidence, they could file a claim within two years of finding that evidence. These claims could be brought by heirs. To receive compensation, a claimant would establish by a preponderance of the evidence that: 
  • they were convicted of a felony in the state and served all or part of that sentence; 
  • the claimant did not commit the crime and did not commit any lesser-included offense;  
  • one of the following would apply: 
    • the conviction was reversed or vacated and the charges were dismissed after the conviction was reversed or vacated; 
    • the claimant’s conviction was reversed or vacated and the claimant entered an Alford plea or nolo plea when the claimant would otherwise be entitled to a new trial; 
    • the conviction was reversed or vacated and was acquitted upon retrial; or 
    • the claimant received a pardon based on innocence for the conviction. The administrative law judge would make the payment, unless he or she determines that the claimant was an accomplice to the crime or the claimant intentionally and voluntarily caused the conviction by entering a guilty plea, by committing perjury or by fabricating evidence at trial. 

The OSAH judge would provide the attorney general, within 15 days of being designated, the notice of the claim and an opportunity to respond within 60 days and have a hearing and make a determination within 180 days. The payments would be for $75,000 for each year incarcerated and an additional $25,000 for each year while awaiting a sentence of death based on the conviction, reasonable attorneys’ fees, reimbursement of restitution or fines paid and reimbursement for any reasonable reintegrative services and healthcare costs. The bill creates a trust fund as a separate fund within the treasury, and the state treasurer would credit all appropriated money in the same manner as funds are invested by the State Depository Board. If the award exceeds $1.5 million, the General Assembly would appropriate the amounts in equal amounts over three separate fiscal years. The state also would explicitly waive sovereign immunity. Generally, these payments would not offset, except in the case of a civil judgment or settlement from or against the state;

• Senate Bill 255, establishes a process for granting investigatory powers to General Assembly committees. The bill amends the following: 
  • The Senate or the House of Representatives to authorize committees to exercise investigatory powers per state law through rules or resolutions. 
  • They could also approve joint committees to exercise powers outlined in state law; authorized committees could administer oaths, compel testimony, require witness attendance, demand document production and take depositions, and they could also issue subpoenas for witnesses and documents, which could be served statewide. If someone refuses to comply with a subpoena, the committee could seek assistance from the superior court in the relevant jurisdiction. 
  • The court could compel attendance and impose contempt of court penalties for noncompliance, confidentiality of materials and information during investigations would be protected by law. 
  • If a subpoena application seeks confidentiality, the court would act to preserve it and the chairperson could either abandon the request or proceed based on the court’s determination regarding privacy. This would not limit any authority, privilege or power of the General Assembly or its committees. Additionally, the bill would not affect investigations or subpoenas issued by committees before this amendment’s effective date;

• Senate Bill 256, requires any electric membership cooperation (EMC) that exceeds 15% of the net utility plant invested in an EMC gas affiliate to disclose the yearly costs of the gas sold to its members; 

• Senate Bill 259, or Ridge’s Law, requires a physician holding a child in temporary protective custody to make reasonable efforts to inform the child’s parents of their right to obtain an independent medical evaluation or pediatric specialty consultation. The bill requires the physician to inform the Division of Family and Children Services of the basis of their determinations regarding suspected abuse or neglect and whether a physical examination was conducted and what medical records were reviewed. A parent of a child who is taken into temporary protective custody would have the right to obtain an independent medical evaluation of the child at their own expense, unless prohibited by court order. If an independent evaluation is obtained, the court would consider the results in any dependency proceeding that occurs due to alleged abuse; 

• Senate Bill 291, creates a special license plate featuring the American flag and the words America First. Funds raised from the sale of this plate would be deposited into the state general fund;

• Senate Bill 298, permits the right of one direct appeal from all judgments, orders or rulings related to the granting or denial of immunity to one or more parties based upon sovereign, municipal, official, qualified or any other immunity. All judgments, orders or rulings related to one or more parties’ legislative privilege or legislative immunity would have the right of direct of appeal to be exercised within 30 days of any judgment, order or ruling; 

• House Resolution 347, urges Georgia high schools to establish flag football programs for girls;

• Senate Resolution 8, which is the annual Senate road-naming dedication package;

• Senate Resolution 231, dedicates various road facilities for fallen law enforcement officers. The resolution includes: SR 231, dedicates the interchange of State Route 400/U.S. 19 and State Route 140/Holcomb Bridge Road in Fulton County as the Officer Jeremy Labonte Memorial Interchange; SR 8, dedicates the intersection of State Route 92 and State Route 120 in Paulding County as the Deputy Brandon Cunningham Memorial Intersection; HR 70, dedicates the intersection of U.S. Route 129 and Wayne Poultry Road/Village Parkway in Jackson County as the Christopher Lee Ruse Memorial Intersection; HR 809, dedicates the intersection of State Route 316 and Hi Hope Road in Gwinnett County as the Officer Scott Riner Memorial Intersection and HR 813, dedicates the bridge on State Route 324 over Interstate 85 in Gwinnett County as the Trooper Jimmy Cenescar Memorial Bridge.

This session was the first year of our biennial cycle, meaning that those left behind bills that did not receive final passage are still alive and can be considered when the legislature reconvenes next year. Gov. Kemp now has 40 days to sign or veto successful legislation. Otherwise, those bills automatically become law. 

As this year’s legislative session ends and we are not at the Gold Dome, please know we are available to help you and your family with issues concerning the state.  We can be reached as follows:   Rep. Darlene Taylor may be reached at her office in the Capital Building 245-B or via email at darlene.taylor@house.ga.gov or by phone at (404) 463-2246.  And Rep. Chas Canon, his office is 501-C Coverdell Legislative Office or via email at chas.cannon@house.ga.gov or by phone at: (404) 656-0177

Once again, we thank you for the honor of allowing us to serve as your state representatives. You may review legislative bills and follow the Governor’s adoption at https://www.legis.ga.gov/search