Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Georgia
Votes with Republicans
97%
on 307 party-line votes · Senate Republicans median 97%
Cast a vote
94%
Yea or Nay on 1,291 of 1,374 roll calls · Senate median 94%
Their bills that became law
186 of 266
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 Sam 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 Sam 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. Sam Watson is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
10 of 307 party-line votes.
HB1116 · Homeownership Opportunity and Market Equalization Act of 2026; enact
Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #974 · 2026-04-02 · Failed 24–28 · most Republicans 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)
Adoption Of Amendment #2 By The Senator From The 9th: Senate Vote #844 · 2026-03-27 · Failed 17–33 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB170 · 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.
Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #504 · 2026-01-28 · Passed 27–22 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB54 · Health; advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to order home healthcare services; authorize
Adoption Of Amendment #2 By The Senator From The 41st: Senate Vote #398 · 2025-04-02 · Failed 23–30 · 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
Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 56th: Senate Vote #294 · 2025-03-27 · Passed 30–23 · 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
SB291 · Special License Plates; establish an "America First" specialty license plate
Adoption Of Amend #1a By Sen From The 14th To Amend #1 By Sen From The 14th: Senate Vote #189 · 2025-03-06 · Passed 34–22 · 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
SB154 · United States Department of Education; references from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; revise or remove
Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 14th: Senate Vote #155 · 2025-03-04 · Failed 21–32 · 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 · 358 shared contested votes
37%
Ed HarbisonDemocrat · District 15 · 386 shared contested votes
36%
Sonya HalpernDemocrat · District 39 · 409 shared contested votes
33%
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 (83 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Georgia Delegation
YeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaNay
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Sam 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.
Introduced266
Out of committee230
Passed one chamber214
Passed both chambers190
Became law186
Never left committee36
For comparison, the median Republican member of the Senate has 186 bills that became law this session.
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
Bona Fide Conservation Use Property; a limitation on leased property; remove
In plain English Removes a limitation on leased property for certain entities receiving preferential tax assessment for conservation use.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to remove a limitation on leased property as…
VetoedVeto V9 · 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
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
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
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
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
Standard, Labeling, and Adulteration of Food; eggs; repeal provisions
In plain English Repeals Georgia's regulations on egg standards, labeling, and adulteration.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to standard, labeling, and adulteration of food, so as to repeal provisions relative to eggs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-06
Retirement and Pension; maximum employer contribution to a 401(k) for certain state law enforcement officers; increase
In plain English Increases the maximum employer contribution to a 401(k) for certain state law enforcement officers.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 47-2-357 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to withdrawal, employer contributions, vesting, and date of election, so as to increase the maximum employer contribution to a 401(k) for certain state law enforcement…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-06
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
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
“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 302-A, Coverdell Legislative Office Building 18 Capitol Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334
District-Mail Office
📍P.O. Box 3914, Moultrie, GA 31776
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