Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Georgia
Votes with Democrats
92%
on 306 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 96%
Cast a vote
89%
Yea or Nay on 1,222 of 1,374 roll calls · Senate median 94%
Their bills that became law
250 of 379
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 224.5
Roll calls on record
1,374
2025-2026 Regular Session
Votes and bills updated Oct 10, 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 Sonya Halpern 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 Sonya Halpern 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. Sonya Halpern is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
23 of 306 party-line votes, most recent 10 shown.
HB297 · Ad valorem tax; define multipurpose off-highway vehicle; provisions
In plain English Revises the definition of multipurpose off-highway vehicles and exempts them from ad valorem taxation.
Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #985 · 2026-04-03 · Passed 38–14 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB451 · Quality Basic Education Act; local boards shall be authorized to provide instruction in hunting safety in grades six through 12; provide
Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #832 · 2026-03-27 · Passed 33–18 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB1396 · State government; require certain privately funded organizations that operate a shelter or provide outreach services to homeless individuals participate in the Georgia Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Passage As Amended: Senate Vote #846 · 2026-03-27 · Passed 33–17 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB1009 · Education; enact policies and procedures for use of personal electronic devices at school and school sponsored events by students in grades nine through twelve; require local school systems
In plain English Requires local school systems to establish policies for personal electronic device use by high school students at school and school-sponsored events.
Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 38th: Senate Vote #783 · 2026-03-23 · Failed 13–38 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB61 · Motor vehicles; issuance of separate license plates for hearses and ambulances; provide
Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #769 · 2026-03-20 · Passed 32–18 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB61 · Motor vehicles; issuance of separate license plates for hearses and ambulances; provide
Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 14th: Senate Vote #768 · 2026-03-20 · Failed 22–28 · most Democrats voted the other way
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 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB1379 · Foreign Funding Transparency and Accountability Act; enact
In plain English Requires Georgia universities, technical colleges, and public schools to report semiannual funding received from foreign sources and make reports publicly available.
Passage: Senate Vote #737 · 2026-03-18 · Passed 31–20 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB424 · "Transactional Gold and Silver Act"; enact
Passage: Senate Vote #683 · 2026-03-06 · Passed 29–21 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB442 · Drivers' Licenses; revocation and expiration of commercial drivers' licenses for noncitizens; provide
Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #645 · 2026-03-06 · Passed 41–14 · most Democrats 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
Republicans 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.
Steven McNeelRepublican · District 18 · 224 shared contested votes
41%
Carden SummersRepublican · District 13 · 423 shared contested votes
40%
Rick WilliamsRepublican · District 25 · 426 shared contested votes
37%
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 (152 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Georgia Delegation
NayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayAbsentYeaNayAbsentAbsentAbsentYeaYeaYeaAbsentAbsentYeaYeaYeaAbsentYeaYeaYeaAbsentAbsentNayAbsentYeaAbsentAbsentYeaAbsentYeaYeaAbsentYeaAbsentYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaNayNayYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Sonya Halpern 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.
Introduced379
Out of committee270
Passed one chamber263
Passed both chambers250
Became law250
Never left committee109
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 224.5 bills that became law this session.
Fulton County; written consent for the creation of community improvement districts; provide
In plain English Requires written consent for creating community improvement districts in unincorporated Fulton County.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating one or more community improvement districts in unincorporated Fulton County, approved April 3, 1987 (Ga. L. 1987, p. 5460), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 2, 1998 (Ga. L. 1998, p.…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-12 · 2026-05-12
Atlanta Board of Education; residency limitations on qualifications for employment of the executive assistant to the board, chief financial officer, and internal auditor; remove
In plain English Removes residency requirements for Atlanta school board positions including executive assistant, chief financial officer, and internal auditor.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to continue the existence of the Atlanta Independent School System under the management and control of the Atlanta Board of Education, approved June 3, 2003 (Ga. L. 2003, p. 4154), as amended, so as…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-12 · 2026-05-12
License Plates; specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia; establish
In plain English Establishes specialty license plates honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia and the 250th anniversary of American independence.
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 · 2026-05-11
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
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
Georgia Interagency Council for the Homeless; create
In plain English Creates the Georgia Interagency Council for the Homeless with specified membership, duties, and reporting requirements.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to commissions and other agencies, so as to create the Georgia Interagency Council for the Homeless; to provide for the purpose, membership, and…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 2026-05-11
Georgia Development Authority; rename as the Georgia Agricultural Development Authority
In plain English Renames the Georgia Development Authority to the Georgia Agricultural Development Authority and makes related changes.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to rename the Georgia Development Authority as the Georgia Agricultural Development Authority; to make conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-06
Child Abuse; local child fatality review committees; modify the review
In plain English Modifies how local child fatality review committees operate, including their membership, training requirements, review scope, reporting deadlines, and procedures for identifying deaths to review.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 15 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to child abuse, so as to modify the review to be performed by local child fatality review committees; to add members to such…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-06
Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-6-390.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to reckless stunt driving, so as to replace the forfeiture penalty of a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving with…
Became lawEffective Date 2028-07-01 · 2026-05-06
Education; public schools and postsecondary educational institutions to consider antisemitism in the same manner as discrimination based on religion; authorize
In plain English Allows public schools and colleges to treat antisemitism as religious discrimination, requires a state Title VI coordinator, and authorizes withholding funds for noncompliance.
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 authorize public schools and postsecondary educational institutions to consider antisemitism in the same manner as discrimination based on religion; to require…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-05 · 2026-05-05
Unclaimed Property; property is presumed abandoned; provide for exceptions
In plain English Changes rules for when property is considered abandoned, adds rules for virtual currency, and modifies how unclaimed property claims are handled and paid.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 44 of the O.C.G.A., relating to disposition of unclaimed property, so as to provide for exceptions to when property is presumed abandoned; to provide for abandonment and liquidation of…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-05
"Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008,"; issuance of orders by the Commissioner of Securities directing persons who have violated certain securities provisions to return; authorize
In plain English Allows the Commissioner of Securities to order people who violated securities laws to return money to investors from securities purchases.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008," so as to authorize the issuance of orders by the Commissioner of Securities directing persons who have…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-04-22 · 2026-04-22
100th anniversary of the Atlanta History Center; recognize and commemorate
A RESOLUTION recognizing and commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Atlanta History Center; and for other purposes.
Became lawSenate Read and Adopted · 2026-04-02
Sims, Senator Freddie Powell; recognize and commend
A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Senator Freddie Powell Sims on her outstanding public service; and for other purposes.
Became lawSenate Read and Adopted · 2026-04-02
“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).
Capitol Office
📍Room 303-B, Coverdell Legislative Office Building 18 Capitol Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334
District-Mail Office
📍P.O. Box 13142, Atlanta, GA 30324
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