Senate first readers, 2026 February 11

SENATE FIRST READERS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026 SEVENTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 484.

By Senators Setzler of the 37th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Watson of the 1st and Hodges of the 3rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 1 of Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20, relating to certificated professional personnel, so as to provide a pathway to certification by the Professional Standards Commission for experienced teachers; to provide requirements for such certification; to prohibit discriminatory or disparate treatment of teachers and candidates for such certification; to provide a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 485.

By Senators Payne of the 54th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Setzler of the 37th, Robertson of the 29th and others:

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 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; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SB 486.

By Senators Dolezal of the 27th, Bearden of the 30th, Dickerson of the 21st, Summers of the 13th, Brass of the 6th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to laws and statutes, so as to revise provisions relating to the effect and enforcement of foreign laws; to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding venue, so as to provide for a cross-reference; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 487.

By Senators Hickman of the 4th, Payne of the 54th, Dixon of the 45th, Anavitarte of the 31st and Kemp of the 38th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 14 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Office of Student Achievement, so as to establish the Education Workforce Data Governance Advisory Committee within the Office of Student Achievement to advise and assist with matters relating to collection, analysis, and use of education workforce data and educator recruitment and retention; to provide for membership of the advisory committee; to provide for meetings of the advisory committee; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 488.

By Senators Setzler of the 37th, Harbin of the 16th, Harrell of the 40th, Strickland of the 42nd and Parent of the 44th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to torts, so as to provide that generative artificial intelligence systems shall constitute personal property for purposes of certain actions for product liability alleging injury to a minor; to provide for liability of product sellers in such actions; to establish rebuttable presumptions relative to manufacturers and product sellers in such actions; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 489.

By Senators Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Summers of the 13th, Dixon of the 45th, Hodges of the 3rd and others:

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 the Probate Courts Retirement Fund of Georgia to set monthly dues; to provide for limitations on such authority; to provide for factors in such determination; to increase the fee on marriage licenses; to increase the fee on civil filings; to increase the fee on certain fines and bond forfeitures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

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SB 490.

By Senators Wicks of the 34th, Kemp of the 38th, Harrell of the 40th, Jones II of the 22nd, Mangham of the 55th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to compulsory attendance relative to elementary and secondary school students, so as to require the local governing body for each school system and public school to adopt a policy providing that students shall be granted excused absences for up to three mental health days per school year; to require local school systems and public schools to provide information to students and parents about available mental health resources; to require the State Board of Education to develop a model policy; to provide a definition; to provide a short title; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 491.

By Senators Setzler of the 37th, Rhett of the 33rd, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Howard of the 35th and James of the 28th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the Cobb Judicial Circuit, approved February 19, 1951 (Ga. L. 1951, p. 184), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 27, 1995 (Ga. L. 1995, p. 3619), an Act approved April 4, 1997 (Ga. L. 1997, p. 3879), and an Act approved March 27, 1998 (Ga. L. 1998, p. 3894), so as to change the salaries of assistant district attorneys; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 492.

By Senators Setzler of the 37th, Rhett of the 33rd, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Howard of the 35th and James of the 28th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the State Court of Cobb County, approved March 26, 1964 (Ga. L. 1964, p. 3211), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 3, 2017 (Ga. L. 2017, p. 3750), so as to provide for additional assistant solicitor positions; to change the salaries of certain staff of the solicitor-general; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

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SB 493.

By Senators Kemp of the 38th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 44th, Sims of the 12th, Howard of the 35th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2B of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to promise scholarship accounts, so as to establish accountability measures for private schools participating in the promise scholarship program; to require the education savings authority to establish an academic performance standard for participating schools; to require the education savings authority to conduct annual eligibility review of participating schools; to require the education savings authority to take certain measures if a participating school is no longer eligible to enroll participating students or fails to meet the academic performance standard; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 494. By Senator Summers of the 13th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the Board of Commissioners of Irwin County, approved February 16, 1933 (Ga. L. 1933, p. 571), as amended, so as to revise provisions relating to the compensation of the board of commissioners; to revise provisions relating to appointment of the clerk of the board of commissioners; to provide for the duties of the chairperson of the board of commissioners; to provide for a vice chairperson of the board of commissioners; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SR 744.

By Senators Brass of the 6th, Walker III of the 20th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Still of the 48th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing May 2, 2026, as Stilettos on Steel Day and International Female Ride Day in Georgia; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 745.

By Senators Brass of the 6th, Walker III of the 20th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Still of the 48th, Hodges of the 3rd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Georgia's Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted. - 4 -

SR 746.

By Senators Brass of the 6th, Watson of the 1st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Hodges of the 3rd, Setzler of the 37th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing March 18, 2026, as Self-Direction Day; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 747.

By Senators Parent of the 44th, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Harbison of the 15th, Jones II of the 22nd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Wayne Collins; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 748.

By Senators Harrell of the 40th, McLaurin of the 14th, Orrock of the 36th, Halpern of the 39th, Parent of the 44th and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the lives and memory of Anne Isenhower and her son, Max Podowitz; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 749.

By Senators Goodman of the 8th, Sims of the 12th, Anderson of the 24th, Howard of the 35th, Watson of the 11th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia peanut industry and recognizing March 2026 as Georgia Peanut Month at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 750.

By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Watson of the 1st, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Tillery of the 19th, Anavitarte of the 31st and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing March 10, 2026, as Georgia Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 751. By Senators Wicks of the 34th, Anderson of the 43rd and Rhett of the 33rd:

A RESOLUTION honoring Shontell Saunders-Murphy; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 752.

By Senators Parent of the 44th, Mangham of the 55th, Jones of the 10th, Harrell of the 40th, Anderson of the 43rd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Jana Johnson; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 753.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Wicks of the 34th, Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Jones II of the 22nd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Brianne Drake; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 754.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Wicks of the 34th, Davenport of the 17th, Cowsert of the 46th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Ms. Libby Saylor Wright; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 755.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Anderson of the 43rd, Wicks of the 34th, Davenport of the 17th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Dr. Thomas L. Coleman; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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HB 944.

By Representatives McDonald III of the 26th, Crowe of the 118th, Hitchens of the 161st and Lumsden of the 12th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to safe operations of motor carriers, commercial motor vehicles, and drivers and safe transportation of hazardous materials, so as to update the reference date to federal regulations regarding the safe operation of motor carriers and commercial motor vehicles; to revise a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

HB 1015. By Representative Werkheiser of the 157th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 10 of Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Self-insurers Guaranty Trust Fund regarding workers' compensation, so as to revise certain funded levels of such fund; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

HR 1050. By Representatives Greene of the 154th, Dunahoo of the 31st, Beckles of the 96th, Buckner of the 137th and Flournoy of the 74th:

A RESOLUTION authorizing the conveyance of certain state owned property in Clayton County; authorizing the lease of certain state owned property in Dawson County; authorizing the conveyance of certain state owned property in DeKalb County; authorizing the lease of certain state owned property in Troup County; to provide an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State Institutions and Property Committee.

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HR 1051. By Representatives Greene of the 154th, Dunahoo of the 31st, Beckles of the 96th, Buckner of the 137th and Flournoy of the 74th: A RESOLUTION authorizing the granting of non-exclusive easements for the construction, operation and maintenance of facilities, utilities, roads, and ingress and egress in, on, over, under, upon, across, or through property owned by the State of Georgia in Baldwin, Bartow, Bulloch, Camden, Catoosa, Chattooga, Clayton, Colquitt, DeKalb, Emanuel, Glynn, Habersham, Hall, Laurens, McDuffie, Morgan, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Talbot, Tift, and Walton Counties, Georgia and Hamilton County, Tennessee; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State Institutions and Property Committee.
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