Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Georgia
Republican
· Representative
Rick Townsend
Represents District 179 in the House of Representatives.
Votes with Republicans
97%
on 118 party-line votes · House Republicans median 98%
Cast a vote
99%
Yea or Nay on 1,143 of 1,146 roll calls · House median 96%
Their bills that became law
32 of 76
as a primary sponsor, this session · Republicans median 47
Roll calls on record
1,146
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 Rick Townsend 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 Rick Townsend sits in the House
Each dot is one member of the House, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Rick Townsend is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
3 of 118 party-line votes.
SB175 · Elections and Primaries; use of ranked-choice voting; prohibit
Passage: House Vote #817 · 2026-03-31 · Passed 89–73 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB125 · Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors; decouple the sequential order of experience and examination requirements
Passage: House Vote #385 · 2025-04-02 · Passed 104–61 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB314 · Professions and businesses; athletic trainers; revise and update definitions
Passage: House Vote #152 · 2025-03-04 · Passed 93–77 · most Republicans voted the other way
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
SB8 · Courts; arrest warrant requirements when juvenile courts are acting as courts of inquiry; provide
Passage: House Vote #348 · 2025-03-31 · Failed 79–87
SB68 · Civil Practice; substantive and comprehensive revision of provisions regarding civil practice, evidentiary matters, damages, and liability in tort actions; provide
Passage: House Vote #290 · 2025-03-20 · Passed 91–82
SB513 · "Every Day Counts Act"; enact
Passage: House Vote #843 · 2026-04-02 · Failed 80–90
HB1324 · Crimes and offenses; possessing a silencer; repeal prohibition
Passage: House Vote #665 · 2026-03-06 · Passed 87–76
HB717 · Medical Practice Act; regulation of the administration of psychedelic-assisted treatment and therapy; provide
In plain English Allows the state to regulate and license clinics that provide psychedelic-assisted treatment and therapy under medical supervision.
Passage: House Vote #586 · 2026-03-03 · Failed 73–88
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.
Patty Marie StinsonDemocrat · District 150 · 100 shared contested votes
59%
Mack JacksonDemocrat · District 128 · 69 shared contested votes
55%
Sheila NelsonDemocrat · District 130 · 68 shared contested votes
54%
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 (3 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Georgia Delegation
YeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Rick Townsend 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.
Introduced76
Out of committee53
Passed one chamber37
Passed both chambers32
Became law32
Never left committee23
For comparison, the median Republican member of the House has 47 bills that became law this session.
Motor vehicles; personal delivery devices; revise operation procedures and restrictions
In plain English Revises operation procedures and restrictions for personal delivery devices.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2A of Article 13 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to electric personal assistive mobility devices and personal delivery devices, so as to revise operation procedures and…
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-wide water management plan; ratify amendments
In plain English Ratifies amendments to the state's comprehensive water management plan.
Official synopsis: A RESOLUTION to ratify amendments to a certain comprehensive state-wide water management plan; to provide for force and effect; to provide for construction; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-06
Food service establishments; require notification of the country of origin of seafood items
In plain English Requires food service establishments to notify customers of the country of origin of seafood items.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 13 of Chapter 2 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to food service establishments, so as to require notification of the country of origin of seafood items; to provide for…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-06
Excellent Teacher Preparation Act; enact
In plain English Requires the Professional Standards Commission to develop and report annual performance measures evaluating each educator preparation provider in the state.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 10 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professional standards, so as to require the Professional Standards Commission to develop and report annual performance…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-05
Income tax credit; business enterprises for leased motor vehicles; repeal and reserve
In plain English Repeals an income tax credit for leased motor vehicles, exempts affordable housing construction materials from sales tax, and repeals other tax exemptions.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, so as to repeal and reserve an income tax credit for business enterprises for leased motor vehicles; to exempt from sales and…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-05
Quality Basic Education Act; expand which healthcare professionals may conduct preparticipation physical examinations
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other educational programs relative to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to expand which healthcare…
Passed one chamberSenate Tabled · 2026-03-31
Quality Basic Education Act; home study students and private school students to enroll in college and career academies located in certain RESA service areas and adjacent local school systems; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other education programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for home study…
Passed one chamberSenate Tabled · 2026-03-31
Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act; expedited completion of a student's first Individualized Education Program; revise provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 33 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act," so as to revise provisions for expedited completion of a student's first Individualized Education Program;…
Passed one chamberSenate Tabled · 2026-03-31
House Study Committee on Environmental Protection Division Permit and Variance Procedures and Rights to Review; create
A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Environmental Protection Division Permit and Variance Procedures and Rights to Review; and for other purposes.
Out of committeeHouse Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute · 2026-03-25
Teachers Retirement System; certain beneficiaries hired to work in certain areas; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement allowances, disability benefits, and spouses' benefits, so as to remove the requirement that certain subject areas be designated…
Passed one chamberSenate Read Second Time · 2026-03-25
House Study Committee on Restoring Georgia's Salt-Water Ecosystems; create
A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Restoring Georgia's Salt-Water Ecosystems; and for other purposes.
Not out of committeeHouse Second Readers · 2026-03-19
Goodman, Patricia; receipt of a Lifetime Achievement Award; commend
A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Patricia Goodman upon her receipt of a Lifetime Achievement Award; and for other purposes.
Became lawHouse Read and Adopted · 2026-03-18
Education; replace term auto-injectable epinephrine with epinephrine and consolidate provisions relating to epinephrine and schools
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to replace the term "auto-injectable epinephrine" with…
Out of committeeHouse Committee Favorably Reported · 2026-03-06
Crimes and offenses; court order to locate an alleged victim of child or elder abuse; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes against the person, so as to provide for a court order to locate an alleged victim of child or elder abuse;…
Out of committeeHouse Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute · 2026-03-06
“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.
Loading committees…
HB1409 · 2026-04-03
Domestic relations; revise mandated reporting of child abuse (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #880)
SB33 · 2026-04-03
"Georgia Hemp Farming Act"; total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; provide limits (Agree To Senate Amend To House Sub: House Vote #879)
HB651 · 2026-04-03
Motor vehicles; use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zones; revise provisions (Agree To Senate Amend To Ham To Ssub: House Vote #878)
HB350 · 2026-04-03
Domestic relations; safe places for newborns; revise provisions (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #877)
HB413 · 2026-04-02
Agriculture; prohibit local ordinances that prohibit operation of mobile sawmills on agricultural land (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #861)
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 (Passage: House Vote #842)
SB625 · 2026-04-02
City of Decatur Public Facilities Authority; a referendum for issuing revenue bonds for certain projects requested by the City Schools of Decatur; require (Local Calendar : House Vote #846)
HB334 · 2026-04-02
Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act; enact (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #867)
SB622 · 2026-04-02
City of Tucker; annexation of certain territory into the boundaries of the city; provide (Local Calendar : House Vote #846)
HB445 · 2026-04-02
Ad valorem tax; language required to be included in notices of current assessment; revise (Agree To Senate Sub As Am: House Vote #838)
HB1161 · 2026-04-02
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 Senate Sub As Am: House Vote #864)
SB618 · 2026-04-02
Municipal Court of the City of Decatur; the assessment and collection of a technology fee; authorize (Local Calendar : House Vote #846)
SB627 · 2026-04-02
City of Dallas; ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes; provide a homestead exemption (Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857)
SB627 · 2026-04-02
City of Dallas; ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes; provide a homestead exemption (Sb614 & Sb627 Recon: House Vote #858)
SB619 · 2026-04-02
Board of Education of Hancock County; the description of the education districts; change (Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857)
SB601 · 2026-04-02
Atlanta Board of Education; residency limitations on qualifications for employment of the executive assistant to the board, chief financial officer, and internal auditor; remove (Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857)
HB1277 · 2026-04-02
Conservation and natural resources; increase project cost threshold for public roads or airports requiring environmental evaluations (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #873)
SB76 · 2026-04-02
License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (Passage: House Vote #839)
SB76 · 2026-04-02
License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (Agree To Senate Amend To House Sub: House Vote #870)
SB621 · 2026-04-02
"Barrow County Public Facilities Authority Act"; enact (Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857)
SB503 · 2026-04-02
Insurance; rental home marketplace guarantees from the definition of property insurance; exempt (Agree To Senate Amend To House Sub: House Vote #850)
SB620 · 2026-04-02
State Court of Barrow County; a full-time solicitor-general; provide (Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857)
HB1129 · 2026-04-02
Local government; designation of enterprise zones; provisions (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #868)
HB1247 · 2026-04-02
Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act; enact (Am 62 0077: House Vote #853)
HB1247 · 2026-04-02
Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act; enact (Agree To Senate Sub As Am: House Vote #854)
HB1567 · 2026-04-02
Quitman, City of; transfer of all legal rights, privileges, and assets to Brooks County; provide (Remove From Local Cal/vote Separately: House Vote #845)
SB411 · 2026-04-02
Professions and Businesses; dry needling to be performed by certain licensed professionals; provide (Passage: House Vote #855)
SB440 · 2026-04-02
Department of Public Health; provisions relative to duties or functions; modernize and update (Passage: House Vote #847)
HB463 · 2026-04-02
Ad valorem tax; certain senior citizens who volunteer with local governments; provide homestead exemption (Agree To Senate Sub As Am: House Vote #849)
HB1344 · 2026-04-02
Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #860)
SB52 · 2026-04-02
"Timberlands Recovery, Exemption, and Earnings Stability (TREES) Act"; enact (Passage: House Vote #872)
HB1283 · 2026-04-02
Family Justice Center Act; enact (Agree To Senate Amendment: House Vote #834)
HB506 · 2026-04-02
Social services; Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation treatments; provide (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #835)
HB466 · 2026-04-02
State symbols; marsh tacky horse as official Georgia heritage horse breed; designate (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #863)
HB297 · 2026-04-02
Ad valorem tax; define multipurpose off-highway vehicle; provisions (Agree To Senate Sub As Am: House Vote #841)
HB1534 · 2026-04-02
Chatham County; State Court; provide additional judge (Supplemental Local Calendar #2: House Vote #871)
HB974 · 2026-04-02
General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 (Adopt Ccr: House Vote #876)
HB1116 · 2026-04-02
Homeownership Opportunity and Market Equalization Act of 2026; enact (Agree To Senate Sub As Am: House Vote #848)
HB1075 · 2026-04-02
Sexual offenses; modify penalty for offenders previously convicted of the offense of trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #875)
HB659 · 2026-04-02
Health; rural assistance; expand medical education funding and the service cancelable loan program to include optometrists (Agree To Senate Amendment: House Vote #840)
SB513 · 2026-04-02
"Every Day Counts Act"; enact (Passage: House Vote #843)
SB513 · 2026-04-02
"Every Day Counts Act"; enact (Reconsider: House Vote #844)
HB1112 · 2026-04-02
Commerce and trade; rounding of total price of sale of goods or services when using legal tender; provide (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #833)
HB256 · 2026-04-02
Social services; foster parents bill of rights; revise provisions (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #836)
HB1131 · 2026-04-02
Criminal procedure; personal service of process for notice of a warrant application hearing; provide (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #865)
HB1238 · 2026-04-02
Community Health, Department of; submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize the qualification of certain caregivers for Medicaid reimbursement (Agree To Senate Sub As Am: House Vote #852)
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 (Agree To Senate Amend As Ham: House Vote #866)
HB1138 · 2026-04-02
Increasing Access to Contraceptives Act; enact (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #874)
HB1434 · 2026-04-02
Aviation; air facilities; identification of airport affected areas; provide (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #869)
SB214 · 2026-04-02
Elections and Primaries; electors to cast physical absentee on-request ballots as an alternative to using other authorized means of casting in-person votes; authorize (Passage: House Vote #856)
SB609 · 2026-04-02
DeKalb County; County Board of Education; changes in boundaries of school district; revise provisions (Local Calendar : House Vote #846)
HB1215 · 2026-04-02
Middle Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for a third judge (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #837)
HB1396 · 2026-04-02
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) (Agree To Senate Am As Am: House Vote #851)
SB614 · 2026-04-02
City of Hampton; homestead exemption; ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes; provide (Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857)
SB614 · 2026-04-02
City of Hampton; homestead exemption; ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes; provide (Sb614 & Sb627 Recon: House Vote #858)
SB616 · 2026-04-02
Fulton County; written consent for the creation of community improvement districts; provide (Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857)
HR1300 · 2026-04-02
Representative Penny Houston Roundabout; Cook County; dedicate (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #862)
SR624 · 2026-04-02
Officer Drew Haynes Brown Memorial Intersection; Cobb County; dedicate (Adopt: House Vote #859)
SB447 · 2026-03-31
Control of Soil Erosion and Sedimentation; denial or nonacceptance of permits; revise provisions (Passage: House Vote #805)
HB1374 · 2026-03-31
Insurance; methods of payment to healthcare providers; provide certain requirements (Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #814)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 1146 total roll-call votes this session).
Capitol Office
📍Room 501-G, Coverdell Legislative Office Building 18 Capitol Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334
District-Mail Office
📍P.O. Box 20514, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
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