Senate first readers, 2026 February 24

SENATE FIRST READERS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026 TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 541.

By Senators McLaurin of the 14th, Merritt of the 9th, Rahman of the 5th, Harbison of the 15th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to property, so as to prohibit the placement of wheel restraints on trespassing motor vehicles; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Interstate Cooperation Committee.

SB 542.

By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Hatchett of the 50th, Strickland of the 42nd, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Hickman of the 4th and others:

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

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 543.

By Senators Williams of the 25th, Anderson of the 24th and Strickland of the 42nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues for Butts County, approved February 24, 1941 (Ga. L. 1941, p. 793), as amended, so as to provide that the board of commissioners shall only be required to read an ordinance, resolution, or other matter before the board at one meeting prior to the adoption of such ordinance, resolution, or other matter; 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 544.

By Senators Williams of the 25th, Anderson of the 24th and Strickland of the 42nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Butts County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of $70,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county who are 62 years of age or older; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 545.

By Senators Williams of the 25th, Anderson of the 24th and Strickland of the 42nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Butts County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of $50,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; 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 546.

By Senators Williams of the 25th, Dolezal of the 27th, Anderson of the 24th, Harbin of the 16th and Strickland of the 42nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 16 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to death investigations, so as to require coroners and medical examiners to include microscopic and toxicology studies and immunization records in the investigation of a sudden and unexpected death of a child; to amend Code Section 31-12-3.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to vaccination registry, reporting requirements, maintenance, and use of information, so as to allow coroners and medical examiners to access vaccination records; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

SB 547.

By Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Robertson of the 29th, Hatchett of the 50th, Bearden of the 30th, Williams of the 25th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-6-13 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penalties for violating Code Sections 16-6-9 through 16-6-12, so as to modify the penalties for the offenses of pimping and pandering; to provide that all such offenses shall be punishable as felony offenses; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date and for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 548.

By Senators Summers of the 13th, Dickerson of the 21st, Hodges of the 3rd, Williams of the 25th, Still of the 48th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fraud and related offenses, so as to exempt certain for profit organizations from the term "credit repair services organization"; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.

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SB 549.

By Senators Howard of the 35th, Kemp of the 38th, Harrell of the 40th, Wicks of the 34th and Anderson of the 43rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to prohibit covered governmental entities from providing funding or resources in support of the operation of immigration detention centers; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Interstate Cooperation Committee.

SB 550.

By Senators Summers of the 13th, Gooch of the 51st, Goodman of the 8th, Dickerson of the 21st, Ginn of the 47th and others:

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 limit liability for manufacturers of firearms relative to absence or inclusion of safety features in certain instances; to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 551.

By Senators Watson of the 11th, Anderson of the 24th, Echols of the 49th and Goodman of the 8th:

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 laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

SR 823.

By Senators Harbison of the 15th, Orrock of the 36th, Payne of the 54th, Goodman of the 8th, Bearden of the 30th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Colonel Rick White for his extraordinary military service, leadership, and continued dedication to veterans of the State of Georgia; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 824.

By Senators Harbison of the 15th, Jones II of the 22nd, Orrock of the 36th, Payne of the 54th, Goodman of the 8th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the 68th Annual Southeast District Conference of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., and honoring its longstanding commitment to leadership, service, and economic empowerment; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 825.

By Senators Harbison of the 15th, Orrock of the 36th, Payne of the 54th, Goodman of the 8th, Bearden of the 30th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending The Robert "Bob" Barr Community Band for its longstanding service, musical excellence, and positive impact on the Columbus community; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 826.

By Senators Harbison of the 15th, Orrock of the 36th, Payne of the 54th, Goodman of the 8th, Bearden of the 30th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and honoring Our Community Salutes and the high school enlistees committed to military service; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 827.

By Senators Williams of the 25th, Anderson of the 24th, Goodman of the 8th, Harbin of the 16th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring Georgia's retirees and the Georgia State Retirees Association; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 828.

By Senators Brass of the 6th, Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Anderson of the 24th, Sims of the 12th and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Darvin Eason; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 829.

By Senators Brass of the 6th, Watson of the 1st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Setzler of the 37th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing March 11, 2026, as Nurses Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 830.

By Senators Brass of the 6th, Bearden of the 30th, Goodman of the 8th, Burns of the 23rd, Robertson of the 29th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc., and designating February 25, 2026, as Georgia ACT Housing Day at the Capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 831.

By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Tillery of the 19th, Echols of the 49th, Brass of the 6th and others:

A RESOLUTION celebrating the Birth of Charles "Beau" Donald Barrett IV; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 832. By Senator Strickland of the 42nd:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and legacy of George Walter Stephens; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 833.

By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Anderson of the 24th, Jones II of the 22nd, Davenport of the 17th, Harbison of the 15th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Honorable Willie E. Burns; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 834.

By Senators Rahman of the 5th, Harbison of the 15th, Still of the 48th, Brass of the 6th, Rhett of the 33rd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the outstanding contributions and sacrifices of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 835.

By Senators Ginn of the 47th, Echols of the 49th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Hufstetler of the 52nd, James of the 28th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending and congratulating the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority on the occasion of its 40th anniversary; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 836.

By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Summers of the 13th, Echols of the 49th, Tillery of the 19th and Dolezal of the 27th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 25, 2026, as Georgia Airports Association Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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HB 1061. By Representatives Camp of the 135th, Burchett of the 176th, Reeves of the 99th, Gunter of the 8th, Santos of the 117th and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Juvenile Code, so as to enact the "Mandi Ballinger Act"; to provide for an implementation committee; to provide for the powers, composition, and appointment of such committee; to change the jurisdiction of the juvenile court to include certain children who are 17 years of age; to amend Titles 15, 16, 17, 27, 37, 42, and 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, crimes and offenses, criminal procedure, game and fish, mental health, penal institutions, and social services, respectively, so as to make conforming cross-references; to provide for effective dates and automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Judiciary Committee.
HB 1086. By Representatives Chastain of the 7th, McDonald III of the 26th, Cannon of the 172nd, McCollum of the 30th, Jasperse of the 11th and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of fire and other hazards to persons and property generally, so as to require notice to be posted upon certain buildings of the use of light-frame truss-type construction; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for enforcement; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Public Safety Committee.
HB 1120. By Representative Gunter of the 8th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide for an advisory referendum for the purpose of ascertaining whether the electors of Union County desire the governing authority of that county to be changed from a sole commissioner to a five-member board of commissioners; to provide for mandatory execution of election and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative purposes and findings; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
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HB 1199. By Representatives Carson of the 46th, Blackmon of the 146th, Kelley of the 16th and Williamson of the 112th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-1-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions regarding revenue and taxation, so as to revise the definition of the terms "Internal Revenue Code" and "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" to incorporate certain provisions of the federal law into Georgia law; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Finance Committee.
HB 1213. By Representatives Cummings of the 39th, McQueen of the 61st, Sanchez of the 42nd, Smith of the 41st, Ridley of the 22nd and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the City of Mableton, Georgia, to exercise all redevelopment and other powers provided for under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Georgia Constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment Powers Law," as amended; to provide for a referendum; to provide for effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1297. By Representative Meeks of the 178th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Magistrate Court of Pierce County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds; 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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