Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Georgia
Votes with Republicans
98%
on 320 party-line votes · Senate Republicans median 97%
Cast a vote
98%
Yea or Nay on 1,352 of 1,374 roll calls · Senate median 94%
Their bills that became law
173 of 243
as a primary sponsor, this session · Republicans median 186
Roll calls on record
1,374
2025-2026 Regular Session
Votes and bills updated Oct 4, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 2025-2026 Regular Session.
How Ben Watson votes
A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.
Where Ben Watson sits in the Senate
Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Ben Watson is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
6 of 320 party-line votes.
SB556 · HOPE Scholarship; the inclusion of advanced placement and international baccalaureate fine arts courses in the calculation of grade point averages; provide
In plain English Includes advanced placement and international baccalaureate fine arts courses in grade point average calculations for HOPE scholarship eligibility.
Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #958 · 2026-04-02 · Failed 25–25 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB945 · Banking and finance; holds on accounts of eligible adults for suspected financial exploitation; provide
In plain English Allows banks to place holds on accounts of eligible adults when financial exploitation is suspected, and makes changes to credit reporting and litigation finance requirements.
Adoption Of Amend #1b By Sen From The 35th To Amend #1 By Sen From The 19th: Senate Vote #699 · 2026-03-10 · Passed 27–22 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB360 · Revenue and taxation; rehabilitation of historic structures; revise tax credit
Passage: Senate Vote #333 · 2025-03-28 · Passed 26–24 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB86 · Public officers and employees; calculating and setting the salaries of certain state officials; revise provisions
Motion To Reconsider Amendment #1: Senate Vote #295 · 2025-03-27 · Failed 23–31 · most Republicans voted the other way
SR148 · Taiwan; recognize
Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 53rd: Senate Vote #241 · 2025-03-18 · Failed 22–29 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB220 · "Putting Georgia's Patients First Act"; enact
In plain English Renames low THC oil as medical cannabis and revises criminal penalties for controlled substance offenses.
Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #176 · 2025-03-06 · Passed 39–17 · most Republicans voted the other way
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
SB556 · HOPE Scholarship; the inclusion of advanced placement and international baccalaureate fine arts courses in the calculation of grade point averages; provide
In plain English Includes advanced placement and international baccalaureate fine arts courses in grade point average calculations for HOPE scholarship eligibility.
Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #958 · 2026-04-02 · Failed 25–25
SB8 · Courts; arrest warrant requirements when juvenile courts are acting as courts of inquiry; provide
Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #964 · 2026-04-02 · Failed 26–26
HB61 · Motor vehicles; issuance of separate license plates for hearses and ambulances; provide
Adoption Of Amend #1a By Sen From The 14th To Amend #1 By Sen From The 14th: Senate Vote #767 · 2026-03-20 · Failed 24–26
HB360 · Revenue and taxation; rehabilitation of historic structures; revise tax credit
Passage: Senate Vote #333 · 2025-03-28 · Passed 26–24
SB254 · "Georgia Hemp Farming Act,"; delta-9-THC in consumable hemp products; provide milligram limits
Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 29th: Senate Vote #169 · 2025-03-06 · Passed 29–27
Democrats they vote with most
Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.
David LucasDemocrat · District 26 · 373 shared contested votes
35%
Ed HarbisonDemocrat · District 15 · 403 shared contested votes
34%
Sonya HalpernDemocrat · District 39 · 423 shared contested votes
32%
Their session, month by month
Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (22 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Georgia Delegation
YeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNay
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Ben Watson was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.
Introduced243
Out of committee211
Passed one chamber202
Passed both chambers173
Became law173
Never left committee32
For comparison, the median Republican member of the Senate has 186 bills that became law this session.
Behavioral Health Care Workforce Data Base; expand to include data from licensed health care professionals
In plain English Expands the Behavioral Health Care Workforce Data Base to include data from licensed health care professionals and renames it the Health Care Workforce Data Base.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 10 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, so as to expand the Behavioral Health Care Workforce Data Base to include data from…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-12
Professions and Businesses; a preclearance process in the licensing of individuals with criminal records who make application to or are investigated by certain licensing boards and commissions; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 20, 26, 31, 33, and 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to education, food, drugs, and cosmetics, health, insurance, and professions and businesses; to amend Chapter 4 of Title 25 of the O.C.G.A., relating to firefighter…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-12
Professions and Businesses; repeal Chapter 14, relating to electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low voltage contractors, and utility contractors and enact a new Chapter 14
In plain English Replaces Georgia's licensing and regulation rules for electrical contractors, plumbers, air conditioning contractors, low voltage contractors, and utility contractors.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to professions and businesses, so as to repeal Chapter 14, relating to electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low voltage contractors, and utility contractors, and enact a new Chapter 14;…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
"True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act"; enact
In plain English Requires public schools to allow students to form partisan and nonpartisan political groups and prohibits discrimination based on student political speech content.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 2A of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to clubs and organizations, so as to provide for equal access to public schools…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Sexual Offenses; clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; permit
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sexual offenses, so as to permit clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; to provide for definitions; to…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Online Internet Safety; certain disclosures related to conversational AI services; require
In plain English Requires operators of conversational AI services to disclose they use AI, limit certain actions toward minors, provide privacy tools, and adopt protocols for responding to suicidal ideation.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 39 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to online internet safety, so as to require certain disclosures related to conversational AI services; to require the operators of conversational AI services…
Became lawEffective Date 2027-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Professional Counselors; applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; authorize
In plain English Allows social work master's degree students to take their licensing exam during their final semester instead of after graduation.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10A of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to examination regarding professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, so as to authorize applicants for a license…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Control of Soil Erosion and Sedimentation; denial or nonacceptance of permits; revise provisions
In plain English Requires local authorities to provide written reasons for denying soil erosion permits within specified time frames.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of soil erosion and sedimentation, so as to revise provisions regarding denial or nonacceptance of permits; to amend Chapter 60 of…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Education; nonlapsing revenue of institutions of the University System of Georgia and units of the Technical College System of Georgia; extend automatic repeals
In plain English Extends the automatic repeal dates for provisions allowing University System of Georgia institutions and Technical College System units to retain unspent revenue.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to extend automatic repeals of certain provisions regarding nonlapsing revenue of institutions of the University System of Georgia and units of the…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 2026-05-11
Medical Assistance; Department of Community Health to submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; direct
In plain English Directs the Department of Community Health to request federal approval to allow Medicaid reimbursement for certain home and community-based services.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to direct the Department of Community Health to submit a waiver request to the…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Physicians; limited provisional licenses and a pathway to licensure for certain internationally trained physicians; provide
In plain English Allows internationally trained physicians to obtain limited provisional licenses and a pathway to full licensure under specified qualifications and conditions.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical practice relative to physicians, so as to provide for limited provisional licenses and a pathway to licensure for…
Became lawAct 509 · 2026-05-11
Department of Public Health; eligible for the Low THC Oil Patient Registry; require a physician to submit certain information to the Georgia Composite Medical Board
In plain English Requires physicians to submit information to the Georgia Composite Medical Board when certifying patients for the Low THC Oil Patient Registry.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to require a physician to submit certain information to the Georgia Composite Medical Board when…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide
In plain English Allows owners of certain motor vehicles to register and renew their registration for five years instead of annually.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 9 of Title 12 and Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicle emission inspection and maintenance and motor vehicles and traffic, respectively, so as to provide…
Became lawEffective Date 2027-07-01 · 2026-05-11
License Plates for Certain Veterans; the number of free license plates issued to certain veterans; increase
In plain English Increases the number of free license plates issued to certain veterans.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-2-85.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license plates for certain veterans, so as to increase the number of free license plates issued to certain veterans; to provide for related matters;…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
"Georgia Hemp Farming Act"; total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; provide limits
In plain English Limits the total THC concentration in consumable hemp products and revises testing and definition requirements.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 23 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Hemp Farming Act," so as to provide limits on the total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; to revise provisions concerning the…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 2026-05-11
“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.
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HB1161 · 2026-04-03
Motor vehicles; proper operation upon approach by an authorized emergency vehicle or by a law enforcement vehicle for purposes of a traffic stop; provide (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #982)
HB1247 · 2026-04-03
Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act; enact (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #983)
HB247 · 2026-04-03
Motor vehicles; restoration of licenses; authorize written consent for release of certain information to be obtained and transferred electronically (Motion To Print: Senate Vote #984)
HB297 · 2026-04-03
Ad valorem tax; define multipurpose off-highway vehicle; provisions (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #985)
SB447 · 2026-04-03
Control of Soil Erosion and Sedimentation; denial or nonacceptance of permits; revise provisions (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #989)
SB430 · 2026-04-03
Taxes; certain military museums qualify as destination marketing organizations and private sector nonprofit organizations; provide (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #988)
HB295 · 2026-04-03
Local government; procedures for real property owners to make claims for compensation for loss of property value or expenses incurred; provisions (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Amendment: Senate Vote #987)
SB359 · 2026-04-03
Henry County; Board of Commissioners; code of ethics; revise and restate provisions (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #990)
SR624 · 2026-04-03
Officer Drew Haynes Brown Memorial Intersection; Cobb County; dedicate (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #986)
SB556 · 2026-04-02
HOPE Scholarship; the inclusion of advanced placement and international baccalaureate fine arts courses in the calculation of grade point averages; provide (Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #958)
SB556 · 2026-04-02
HOPE Scholarship; the inclusion of advanced placement and international baccalaureate fine arts courses in the calculation of grade point averages; provide (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #959)
SB261 · 2026-04-02
Magistrates Retirement Fund; early retirement benefit; provide (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #956)
HB334 · 2026-04-02
Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act; enact (Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #933)
HB447 · 2026-04-02
Crimes and offenses; crimes of gift card theft, gift card forgery, and gift card fraud; provide (Passage: Senate Vote #939)
SB23 · 2026-04-02
Retirement; total percentage of funds that the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia may invest in alternative investments; raise the limit (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #960)
HB1187 · 2026-04-02
Trey's Law; enact (Passage: Senate Vote #951)
HB328 · 2026-04-02
Revenue and taxation; increase annual aggregate limit for tax credits available for certain contributions to student scholarship organizations (Shall The Ruling Of The Chair Be Sustained: Senate Vote #972)
HB328 · 2026-04-02
Revenue and taxation; increase annual aggregate limit for tax credits available for certain contributions to student scholarship organizations (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #973)
HB1599 · 2026-04-02
Sandersville School Building Authority; members; revise qualification (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB445 · 2026-04-02
Ad valorem tax; language required to be included in notices of current assessment; revise (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #965)
SB8 · 2026-04-02
Courts; arrest warrant requirements when juvenile courts are acting as courts of inquiry; provide (Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #964)
HB1559 · 2026-04-02
Palmetto, City of; qualifications, terms, powers, and duties of mayor, councilmembers, and city manager; revise provisions (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB1602 · 2026-04-02
Gainesville, City of; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB1565 · 2026-04-02
Lee County; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
SB306 · 2026-04-02
Bona Fide Conservation Use Property; impending expiration to be sent via certified mail; require notices (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #963)
SB586 · 2026-04-02
"K-9 Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2026"; enact (Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #942)
HB1310 · 2026-04-02
State symbols; cotton as official state fabric; designate (Passage: Senate Vote #981)
HB1277 · 2026-04-02
Conservation and natural resources; increase project cost threshold for public roads or airports requiring environmental evaluations (Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #928)
HB1560 · 2026-04-02
Springfield, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB1470 · 2026-04-02
Torts; abusive litigation based on alleged website access violations under federal and state law; create a cause of action (Passage: Senate Vote #978)
SB76 · 2026-04-02
License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #970)
HB999 · 2026-04-02
Magistrate courts; collecting sums and fees authorized by law; revise provisions (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Amendment: Senate Vote #957)
HB1582 · 2026-04-02
Fayette County; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB1272 · 2026-04-02
Banking and finance; licensing of payment stablecoin issuers; provisions (Passage: Senate Vote #953)
SB143 · 2026-04-02
Georgia Firefighter's Pension Fund; certain members to retire at age 50; provide (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #941)
SB207 · 2026-04-02
Professions and Businesses; a preclearance process in the licensing of individuals with criminal records who make application to or are investigated by certain licensing boards and commissions; create (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Amendment To House Substitute: Senate Vote #946)
HB1598 · 2026-04-02
Laurens County; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB1575 · 2026-04-02
Kingsland, City of; ad valorem tax; apply exemption to residents 62 years or older (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB463 · 2026-04-02
Ad valorem tax; certain senior citizens who volunteer with local governments; provide homestead exemption (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #971)
HB1601 · 2026-04-02
Gainesville, City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB1409 · 2026-04-02
Domestic relations; revise mandated reporting of child abuse (Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #932)
HB1573 · 2026-04-02
Statham, City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB1569 · 2026-04-02
McDonough, City of; Municipal Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB1344 · 2026-04-02
Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #929)
HB1562 · 2026-04-02
Pike County; ad valorem tax; increase amount of homestead exemption for residents who are totally disabled (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
SB431 · 2026-04-02
Education; enrollment of foster care students within two school days of a request for enrollment by such student's parent or legal custodian; require (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #944)
HB52 · 2026-04-02
Ad valorem tax; qualified disabled veterans; extend homestead exemption to unremarried surviving spouses or minor children (Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #952)
HB1404 · 2026-04-02
Pooler, City of; levy an excise tax (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
HB141 · 2026-04-02
Revenue and taxation; allow businesses and practitioners to provide affidavits of certified public accountants in lieu of tax returns (Passage: Senate Vote #976)
HB1588 · 2026-04-02
Cobb County; salaries of chief deputy sheriff, assistant chief deputy sheriff, and executive assistant to the sheriff shall be determined by the sheriff; provide (Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927)
SB469 · 2026-04-02
Board of Commissioners of Forsyth County; term limits for members; provide (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #966)
HB309 · 2026-04-02
Local government; require adoption of a resolution or ordinance and voter approval prior to abolishment of a police force that was created by such method (Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #947)
SB623 · 2026-04-02
State Court of Clayton County; compensation of the solicitor-general of the state court; revise provisions (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #968)
HB974 · 2026-04-02
General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 (Adopt Conference Committee Report: Senate Vote #975)
HB1116 · 2026-04-02
Homeownership Opportunity and Market Equalization Act of 2026; enact (Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #974)
SB613 · 2026-04-02
Superior Court of Clayton County; change the compensation of the sheriff (Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #969)
HB1131 · 2026-04-02
Criminal procedure; personal service of process for notice of a warrant application hearing; provide (Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #948)
SB33 · 2026-04-02
"Georgia Hemp Farming Act"; total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; provide limits (Motion For The Previous Question: Senate Vote #979)
SB33 · 2026-04-02
"Georgia Hemp Farming Act"; total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; provide limits (Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #980)
HB295 · 2026-04-02
Local government; procedures for real property owners to make claims for compensation for loss of property value or expenses incurred; provisions (Motion To Table: Senate Vote #934)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 1374 total roll-call votes this session).
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