Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Georgia
Votes with Republicans
97%
on 316 party-line votes · Senate Republicans median 97%
Cast a vote
98%
Yea or Nay on 1,340 of 1,374 roll calls · Senate median 94%
Their bills that became law
174 of 269
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 Steve Gooch 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 Steve Gooch 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. Steve Gooch is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
8 of 316 party-line votes.
HB295 · Local government; procedures for real property owners to make claims for compensation for loss of property value or expenses incurred; provisions
In plain English Allows property owners to file claims against local governments for compensation when the government fails to enforce laws or maintains a public nuisance that causes property value loss or expenses.
Motion To Table: Senate Vote #934 · 2026-04-02 · Failed 23–30 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB1215 · Middle Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for a third judge
Adoption Of The Amendment By The Sen From The 39th As Amended: Senate Vote #882 · 2026-03-31 · Passed 28–20 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB472 · Local Boards of Education; audit findings or findings by the state auditor of financial mismanagement or misconduct; provide for the suspension of members
In plain English Allows suspension of local school board members following audit findings of financial mismanagement or misconduct, and caps advance distributions of state funds to school districts.
Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #841 · 2026-03-27 · Passed 29–17 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB573 · Primaries and Elections; the nonpartisan election for county officers and district attorneys in certain counties; provide
Passage: Senate Vote #655 · 2026-03-06 · Failed 24–29 · 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
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
SB57 · "Freedom of Speech and Belief Act"; enact
Adoption Of Amend #3b By Sen From The 19th To Amend #3 By Sen From The 18th: Senate Vote #187 · 2025-03-06 · Passed 33–22 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB57 · "Freedom of Speech and Belief Act"; enact
Adoption Of Amend #1a By Sen From The 50th To Amend #1 By Sen From The 13th: Senate Vote #185 · 2025-03-06 · Passed 32–22 · 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.
Ed HarbisonDemocrat · District 15 · 399 shared contested votes
31%
David LucasDemocrat · District 26 · 372 shared contested votes
31%
Sonya HalpernDemocrat · District 39 · 421 shared contested votes
30%
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 (34 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Georgia Delegation
YeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNVYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAbsentYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAbsentNVYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Steve Gooch 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.
Introduced269
Out of committee226
Passed one chamber207
Passed both chambers175
Became law174
Never left committee43
For comparison, the median Republican member of the Senate has 186 bills that became law this session.
Offenses Against Public Order; the disruption of a religious service; prohibit
In plain English Prohibits disrupting a religious service and provides enhanced penalties for doing so.
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 prohibit the disruption of a religious service; to provide for enhanced penalties;…
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
Education; the academic and disciplinary records of each transferring student shall be provided within five days; require
In plain English Requires schools to send a transferring student's academic and disciplinary records to the new school within five days, among other changes.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to require that the academic and disciplinary records of each transferring student shall be provided by…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-12
Prosecuting Attorneys; additional grounds for discipline of a district attorney or solicitor-general or for his or her removal or involuntary retirement from office; provide
In plain English Adds grounds for disciplining, removing, or forcing retirement of district attorneys and solicitors-general.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding prosecuting attorneys, so as to provide for additional grounds for discipline of a district attorney or…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 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
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
Education; enrollment of foster care students within two school days of a request for enrollment by such student's parent or legal custodian; require
In plain English Requires school districts to enroll foster care students within two school days of a parent or legal custodian's enrollment request.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-670 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to disclosures and information required for permanent enrollment in a grade higher than third, provisional enrollment, and transfer of education records, so as to require…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-05-11 · 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
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
Magistrates Retirement Fund; early retirement benefit; provide
In plain English Allows magistrates to retire early, increases employee contributions, and changes how retirement benefits are calculated.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 25 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the magistrates retirement fund, so as to provide for an early retirement benefit; to provide for an employee contribution increase; to replace…
Became lawEffective Date 2026-07-01 · 2026-05-11
Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission; shall be assigned for administrative purposes only to the Administrative Office of the Courts; provide
In plain English Assigns the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission to the Administrative Office of the Courts for administrative purposes and funds it through the judicial branch.
Official synopsis: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, so as to provide that the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission shall be assigned for administrative purposes only to the Administrative Office of the Courts…
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
“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 301-B, Coverdell Legislative Office Building 18 Capitol Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334
District-Mail Office
📍P.O. Box 600, Dahlonega, GA 30533
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