Chatham County; State Court; provide additional judge
In plain English Adds one judge to Chatham County State Court with specified election, powers, duties, jurisdiction, and compensation.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the State Court of Chatham County, approved December 18, 1819 (Ga. L. 1819, p. 16), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 30, 2003 (Ga. L. 2003, p. 3667), so as to…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-12 · 2026-05-12
Pooler, City of; levy an excise tax
In plain English Allows the City of Pooler to levy an excise tax with specified procedures, conditions, and limitations.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the governing authority of the City of Pooler to levy an excise tax pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 48-13-51 of the O.C.G.A.; to provide procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-12 · 2026-05-12
Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish
In plain English Establishes a specialty license plate honoring public safety officers with proceeds going to the general fund and related agencies.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-2-86 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license plates promoting or supporting certain agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations with proceeds disbursed to the general fund and the agency, fund, or nonprofit…
Became lawEffective Date 2027-01-01 · 2026-05-12
Motor vehicles; sale of food or beverages; provide vehicle equipment standards
In plain English Requires motor vehicles used to sell food or beverages on roadways to meet specified equipment standards.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to equipment of motor vehicles, so as to provide for vehicle equipment standards…
Became lawEffective Date 2028-01-01 · 2026-05-12
Springfield, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum
In plain English Authorizes the City of Springfield to exercise redevelopment powers under state law, subject to voter approval through a referendum.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the City of Springfield, Georgia, to exercise all redevelopment and other powers provided for under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Georgia Constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 2026-05-11
Chatham County; school district ad valorem tax; homestead exemption; provisions
In plain English Allows homeowners receiving a state homestead exemption to automatically receive a Chatham County school district property tax exemption based on the difference between current and base year assessed values.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing a homestead exemption from Chatham County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 2026-05-11
Chatham County; City of Savannah; school district ad valorem tax; homestead exemption; provisions
In plain English Freezes the adjusted base year assessed value of homestead-exempt properties in Chatham County and City of Savannah schools at their 2025 tax year value.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for a base year assessed value homestead exemption from Chatham County and City of Savannah School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes, approved April 12, 1999 (Ga. L. 1999, p. 4215), as…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 2026-05-11
Garden City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority; repeal Act
In plain English Repeals the law creating the Garden City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority and addresses its assets and liabilities.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to repeal an Act creating the Garden City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority, approved May 17, 2004 (Ga. L. 2004, p. 3983); to provide for the assets and liabilities thereof; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 2026-05-11
Veterans affairs; revise terms of eligibility for persons to be buried in Georgia veteran cemeteries
In plain English Revises eligibility requirements for burial in Georgia veteran cemeteries and allows the Veterans Service Board discretion in certain circumstances.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Georgia veterans cemeteries, so as to revise the terms of eligibility for persons to be buried…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; allow certain sworn law enforcement officers to be eligible for retirement benefits at age 55; provisions
In plain English Allows sworn law enforcement officers and certain Department of Public Safety officials to receive retirement benefits starting at age 55.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, so as to allow all sworn law enforcement officers serving in and the commissioner and deputy…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Natural Resources, Department of; certain notice upon registration of a vessel; provide
In plain English Requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide notice upon vessel registration and authorizes restitution for costs of removing and storing abandoned vessels.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to provide for certain notice upon registration of a vessel with the Department of…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
State Board of Workers' Compensation; notice of eligibility for compensation to an injured employee to his or her legal guardian; provide
In plain English Requires the State Board of Workers' Compensation and law enforcement agencies to notify injured employees' legal guardians of compensation eligibility, and creates an application window for officers with organic brain damage.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 34-9-26 of the O.C.G.A., relating to required notice regarding injured peace officers, so as to provide that the State Board of Workers' Compensation shall provide for notice of eligibility for compensation to an injured…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-06
Motor vehicles; federal regulations regarding safe operation of commercial motor carriers and commercial vehicles; update reference date
In plain English Updates Georgia's reference to federal regulations on safe operation of commercial motor carriers and vehicles.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to safe operations of motor carriers, commercial motor vehicles, and drivers and safe transportation of hazardous materials, so as to update the reference date to…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-06
Peace officers; extend time frame for which reimbursement of total training expenses by a subsequent employer may be sought
In plain English Extends the time frame for seeking reimbursement of peace officer training expenses from a subsequent employer.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 35-8-22 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to reimbursement of training expenses by subsequent employer of peace officer, collection procedure, and required documentation, so as to extend the time frame for which…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-06
Aviation; prohibit operation of unmanned aircraft systems over a place of incarceration
In plain English Prohibits operating unmanned aircraft over prisons and requires warning signs, with exceptions and penalties for violations.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding aviation, so as to prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft systems over a place of incarceration; to provide for…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-05
“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.