"Quality Basic Education Act"; the date by which a child must attain a certain age to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten or first grade; revise
In plain English Changes the age requirement for kindergarten and first grade enrollment and allows parents to enroll four- or five-year-olds in voluntary pre-kindergarten programs.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise the date by which…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-12
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
Outdoor Stewardship; provide for a sunset
In plain English Adds a sunset provision to Georgia's outdoor stewardship program and increases the percentage of appropriated money allocated to it.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6A of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to outdoor stewardship, so as to provide for a sunset; to raise the percentage of moneys appropriated; to provide for related matters; to…
VetoedVeto V11 · 2026-05-12
"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.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend various provisions of the O.C.G.A., so as to rename low THC oil as medical cannabis; to amend Chapter 12 of Title 16, Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16, and Article 1 of Chapter 2A…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-12
Retirement; total percentage of funds that the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia may invest in alternative investments; raise the limit
In plain English Raises the limit on how much of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia's funds can be invested in alternative investments.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 20 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Public Retirement Systems Investment Authority Law," so as to raise the limit for the total percentage of funds that the…
VetoedVeto V8 · 2026-05-12
Offenses Against Public Health and Morals; the establishment of an animal cruelty database; provide
In plain English Requires the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council to create and maintain a database of animal cruelty offenses.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding offenses against public health and morals, so as to provide for the establishment of an animal…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
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
Board of Commissioners of the Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund of Georgia; allow to set monthly dues
In plain English Allows the Board of Commissioners of the Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund to set monthly dues and increases certain court fees.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund of Georgia, so as to allow the Board of Commissioners of the Judges of…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 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
Offenses Against Public Order; the punishment for the offense of obstructing highways, streets, sidewalks, or other public passages; increase
In plain English Increases criminal penalties for obstructing highways, streets, sidewalks, or other public passages, with enhanced punishment in certain instances and civil liability for damages.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public order, so as to increase the punishment for the offense of obstructing highways, streets, sidewalks, or…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
License, Permit, Tag, and Stamp Fees; fees for reef and migratory fish endorsement; provide
In plain English Establishes fees for reef and migratory fish endorsements and revises effective dates for environmental permit and fishing violation rules.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 27-2-23 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license, permit, tag, and stamp fees, so as to provide for fees for reef and migratory fish endorsements; to amend Code Section 12-2-2 of…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Children and Youth; pilot program provision for screenings, clinical evaluations, training for autism spectrum disorder to children in foster care; establish
In plain English Establishes a pilot program providing autism screenings, clinical evaluations, training, and services to children in foster care.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to programs and protection for children and youth, so as to establish a pilot program relating to the provision of screenings, clinical evaluations,…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 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
“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.