SENATE FIRST READERS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2026 TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATIVE DAY SB 552. By Senators Watson of the 1st, Strickland of the 42nd, Cowsert of the 46th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Walker III of the 20th and others: 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 for students engaging in political or philosophical expression; to authorize the organization of partisan and nonpartisan student groups and gatherings; to provide for school disclaimers of sponsorship; to prohibit discrimination based on the content of student speech within a limited open forum; to provide for the maintenance of order and discipline; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Judiciary Committee. SB 553. By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Walker III of the 20th, Cowsert of the 46th, Brass of the 6th, Payne of the 54th and others: 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; to amend Code Section 48-7-38 of the O.C.G.A., relating to deduction for payments to classified subcontractors, disclosure of tax returns, and maintenance of list of classified subcontractors, so as to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. - 1 - SB 554. By Senators Payne of the 54th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Halpern of the 39th, Anderson of the 43rd, Hickman of the 4th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding early care and learning, so as to provide for a grant program to expand access to child care and preschool programs; to provide that the Department of Early Care and Learning shall establish grant criteria; to provide for such department to establish grant amounts; to provide for grant purposes; to provide for a grant condition; to provide for technical assistance; to provide for the promulgation of rules and regulations; to provide for definitions; to provide legislative findings and purpose; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Education and Youth Committee. SB 555. By Senators Williams of the 25th, Payne of the 54th, Cowsert of the 46th, Burns of the 23rd, Ginn of the 47th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to war veterans home, so as to authorize the admission of eligible nonveteran residents to a Georgia War Veterans' Home under certain circumstances; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee. SB 556. By Senators Payne of the 54th, Still of the 48th, Williams of the 25th, Sims of the 12th and Hickman of the 4th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-157 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to uniform reporting system for certain purposes, dual credit courses, and academic eligibility requirements to receive HOPE scholarship, so as to provide for the inclusion of advanced placement and international baccalaureate fine arts courses in the calculation of grade point averages for determining student eligibility for the HOPE scholarships and other scholarships; to provide for applicability; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Higher Education Committee. - 2 - SB 557. By Senators Payne of the 54th, Albers of the 56th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Summers of the 13th, Hickman of the 4th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapters 2 and 14 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education and education accountability, respectively, so as to revise various provisions regarding student discipline and working conditions of teachers and other school personnel; 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 558. By Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Mallow of the 2nd, Harbison of the 15th, Howard of the 35th, Harrell of the 40th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to controlled substances, so as to provide that possession of certain quantities of marijuana constitute a misdemeanor; to revise a definition; to change provisions relating to punishment; to amend Title 15, Title 16, Title 17, and Code Section 36-326 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, crimes and offenses, criminal procedure, and municipal court jurisdiction in marijuana possession cases, respectively, so as to provide for conforming crossreferences; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Judiciary Committee. - 3 - SB 559. By Senators Rahman of the 5th, James of the 28th, Jones II of the 22nd, Halpern of the 39th, Merritt of the 9th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Fair Business Practices Act of 1975," so as to prohibit any person from facilitating noncompete agreements between residential rental property owners or managers, including by use of algorithmic coordinating functions; to prohibit rental property owners or managers from setting or adjusting rental prices, lease renewal terms, occupancy levels, or other lease terms and conditions based on recommendations from software, data analytics service, or algorithmic devices; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date and for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. SB 560. By Senators Jones of the 10th, Jackson of the 41st, Anderson of the 43rd, Mangham of the 55th, Harrell of the 40th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create and establish in DeKalb County, Georgia, districts from which the members of the County Board of Education of DeKalb County shall be elected, approved April 12, 1963 (Ga. L. 1963, p. 3424), as amended, so as to provide provisions governing the use of third party search firms in selecting a superintendent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. - 4 - SB 561. By Senators Harbin of the 16th, Parent of the 44th, Still of the 48th, Anavitarte of the 31st and Strickland of the 42nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, so as to provide for an additional license plate design honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States of America's independence; to establish a specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia with proceeds distributed to the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia organization; to provide for related matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Public Safety Committee. SB 562. By Senators Mangham of the 55th, Jackson of the 41st, James of the 28th, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 21-2-217 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to rules for determining residence relative to registration of voters, so as to allow persons of this state who are homeless and without a permanent address to use the address of the registrar's office of the county in which such person resides, a postsecondary educational institution in which such person is enrolled, or a place of worship with which such person is affiliated for election purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Ethics Committee. SB 563. By Senators Mangham of the 55th, Wicks of the 34th, Kemp of the 38th and Jones II of the 22nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 9 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to access to hearing and records relative to the juvenile code, so as to provide for the automatic sealing of files and records in certain circumstances; to provide for exceptions; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Judiciary Committee. - 5 - SB 564. By Senators Mangham of the 55th, Wicks of the 34th, Kemp of the 38th and Jones II of the 22nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to investigating sexual assault, so as to extend the maintenance of physical evidence collected from an alleged sexual assault; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Public Safety Committee. SB 565. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Albers of the 56th, Strickland of the 42nd and Hatchett of the 50th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 35-8-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to employment and training of peace officers, so as to revise the definition of law enforcement unit and peace officer to include members of police forces of nonprofit private colleges and universities; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Public Safety Committee. SB 566. By Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Anavitarte of the 31st, Albers of the 56th, Hickman of the 4th and Still of the 48th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to ad valorem taxation of property, so as to provide for the acceptance of tax digests in the event of a publication error made by a newspaper; to revise required information for bills and notices of assessment for ad valorem taxation of property; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Finance Committee. - 6 - SB 567. By Senator Harbison of the 15th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the Ellaville-Schley County Parks and Recreation Authority and to authorize such authority to provide recreational services throughout Schley County; to provide a short title; to provide for audits; to provide for funding; to authorize employment of officers, agents, and employees; to provide for construction of this Act; to provide for conveyance of property upon dissolution; to provide for related matters; to provide for activation of the authority; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. SB 568. By Senators Dolezal of the 27th, Burns of the 23rd, Summers of the 13th, Gooch of the 51st, Brass of the 6th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to require that the list of eligible voters is posted and made public prior to each primary or election; to provide for civil fines in the event that registrars fail to remove a person from the list of registered voters following a successful challenge; to provide conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Ethics Committee. SB 569. By Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Robertson of the 29th, Jones of the 10th, Summers of the 13th, Mallow of the 2nd and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to provide for the issuance of emergency vehicle light permits for towing service companies in certain instances; to revise a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Public Safety Committee. - 7 - SB 570. By Senators Still of the 48th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Albers of the 56th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and Dixon of the 45th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 21 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to rights, duties, and liabilities of innkeepers, so as to provide for a required human trafficking training program for inns and short-term rental properties; to provide for definitions; to provide for training policies and procedures; to provide for the retention of certain records; to provide for limitations; to provide for penalties; to provide an effective date; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Public Safety Committee. SB 571. By Senators Still of the 48th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Albers of the 56th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and Dixon of the 45th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 39 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to online internet safety, so as to require age verification to access gambling content on the internet; to provide for a private right of action; to provide for enforcement by the Attorney General; to provide for exceptions; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Children and Families Committee. SB 572. By Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Anavitarte of the 31st, Robertson of the 29th, McNeel of the 18th, Hatchett of the 50th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse in defenses to criminal prosecutions, so as to provide for an additional justification for use of force in defense of self or others; to amend Code Section 51-11-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to no duty to retreat and immunity in certain instances of threat or use of force, so as to extend immunity from civil liability in justified use of force cases to legal representatives and heirs of the person against whom force was used; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Judiciary Committee. - 8 - SB 573. By Senators Setzler of the 37th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Albers of the 56th, Still of the 48th and Dixon of the 45th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to provide for the nonpartisan election for county officers and district attorneys in certain counties; to provide for the qualifying for such offices; to provide a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Ethics Committee. SB 574. By Senator Hickman of the 4th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from City of Metter ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of $2,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that city; 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 575. By Senator Hickman of the 4th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from City of Metter ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of $4,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that city who are 65 years of age or older and whose income does not exceed $10,000.00; 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. - 9 - SB 576. By Senator Tillery of the 19th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to ad valorem taxation of property, so as to provide for assessment of tangible real property used for community housing provider properties; to provide for supporting affidavits; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Finance Committee. SR 837. By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Albers of the 56th, Summers of the 13th, Setzler of the 37th, Watson of the 1st and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing February 26, 2026, as Dale Murphy Day and urging the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Committee to induct Dale Murphy into the National Baseball Hall of Fame; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 838. By Senators Dolezal of the 27th, Still of the 48th, Albers of the 56th, Echols of the 49th, Walker III of the 20th and others: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to clarify that only citizens of the United States shall have a right to vote in elections in this state; to require electors to present photographic identification prior to casting a ballot; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. Referred to Ethics Committee. SR 839. By Senators Dolezal of the 27th, Still of the 48th, Albers of the 56th, Echols of the 49th, Walker III of the 20th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing March 18, 2026, as Georgia Runs on Trucking Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. - 10 - SR 840. By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Albers of the 56th, Still of the 48th, Dickerson of the 21st, Watson of the 1st and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Resurgens Roswell Surgery Center on the grand occasion of its 25th anniversary; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 841. By Senators Davenport of the 17th, Anderson of the 43rd, James of the 28th, Wicks of the 34th and Merritt of the 9th: A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Toya Davis-Stevenson for receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 842. By Senators Davenport of the 17th, Jones II of the 22nd, Jones of the 10th, Merritt of the 9th and James of the 28th: A RESOLUTION recognizing Reverend James H. Miller and dedicating a road in his honor; and for other purposes. Referred to Transportation Committee. SR 843. By Senators Parkes of the 7th, Jackson of the 41st, Kemp of the 38th, Merritt of the 9th, Mallow of the 2nd and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing March 9, 2026, as Young Democrats of Georgia Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 844. By Senators Albers of the 56th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Watson of the 1st, Still of the 48th, Bearden of the 30th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing June 9, 2026, as FSGS Awareness Day in Georgia; and for other purposes. Referred to Rules Committee. - 11 - SR 845. By Senators Mangham of the 55th, Wicks of the 34th and Kemp of the 38th: A RESOLUTION commending and honoring former President Barack Obama during Black History Month and condemning racist attacks and rhetoric directed toward him, including the Obamas' caricaturization as monkeys; and for other purposes. Referred to Rules Committee. SR 846. By Senators Mangham of the 55th, Wicks of the 34th, Kemp of the 38th and Jones II of the 22nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing February 17, 2026, as Next Gen Youth Entrepreneurship Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 847. By Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Anavitarte of the 31st, Walker III of the 20th, Parent of the 44th, Robertson of the 29th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the 1980 and 2026 United States Olympic Men's Hockey Teams for their historic achievements and contributions to national unity; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 848. By Senators Dixon of the 45th, Still of the 48th, Payne of the 54th, Dickerson of the 21st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others: A RESOLUTION commending the benefits and contributions of purebred dogs to the State of Georgia and recognizing May 1, 2026, as Georgia Purebred Dog Day; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. - 12 - SR 849. By Senators Harbison of the 15th, Jones of the 10th, Still of the 48th, Rhett of the 33rd, Anderson of the 43rd and others: A RESOLUTION honoring Colonel (Ret.) Paul Longgrear for his distinguished military service, professional achievements, and continued dedication to leadership and national security; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 850. By Senators Dixon of the 45th and Still of the 48th: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Denise Rumbaugh; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 851. By Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Watson of the 1st, Echols of the 49th, Still of the 48th, Summers of the 13th and others: A RESOLUTION encouraging the creation of a life sciences caucus in the Georgia Senate; and for other purposes. Referred to Ethics Committee. HB 310. By Representatives Olaleye of the 59th, Hugley of the 141st, Ballard of the 147th, Barnes of the 86th, Hagan of the 156th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to grants for educational programs, so as to establish a program to support recruitment of teachers by providing grant funds to be paid by public schools to student teachers participating in the required student teaching component of their teacher education programs; to provide for applications for grants; to provide for maximum payments; to require the State Board of Education to establish rules and regulations to implement the program; 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 Education and Youth Committee. - 13 - HB 372. By Representatives Ballard of the 147th, Erwin of the 32nd, Blackmon of the 146th, Persinger of the 119th, Townsend of the 179th and others: 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 as an area of highest need for certain beneficiaries of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia to be hired to work in such areas; to provide for the extension of provisions to 2030; to provide for areas of highest need to be determined for a public school system rather than a RESA; to provide for related matters; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Retirement Committee. HB 385. By Representatives Holcomb of the 101st and Barrett of the 24th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-3-519.2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship and award amount, so as to allow academically successful students who are concurrently seeking a baccalaureate degree and a first professional degree to use the full number of hours of HOPE scholarship eligibility; to allow academically successful students who commence a graduate program at an eligible postsecondary institution within 18 months of earning a baccalaureate degree to use the full number of hours of HOPE scholarship eligibility; to provide for exceptions based on previous participation in the dual enrollment program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Higher Education Committee. - 14 - HB 971. By Representatives Townsend of the 179th, Jones of the 25th, DeLoach of the 167th, Smith of the 70th, Horner of the 3rd and others: 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 students and private school students to enroll in college and career academies located in certain RESA service areas and adjacent local school systems; to revise what courses are available to such students; to revise a definition; 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. HB 1009. By Representatives Hilton of the 48th, Jones of the 47th, Donatucci of the 105th, Reeves of the 99th, Silcox of the 53rd and others: 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 local school systems and public schools to enact policies and procedures for use of personal electronic devices at school and school sponsored events by students in grades nine through twelve; to revise provisions relative to permissible student use of personal electronic devices; to revise a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Children and Families Committee. HB 1023. By Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Burns of the 159th, Erwin of the 32nd, Hatchett of the 155th, Persinger of the 119th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 27 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to loitering at or disrupting schools, so as to require local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to utilize weapon detection systems to aid in the prevention of any individual attempting to unlawfully possess or carry a weapon in certain school buildings; to provide for exceptions; to authorize the use of funding; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Public Safety Committee. - 15 - HB 1123. By Representatives Jones of the 47th, Erwin of the 32nd, Hilton of the 48th, Ballard of the 147th, Donatucci of the 105th and others: 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 under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to require certain schools that offer after-school programs to make such programs available to pre-kindergarten students on the same basis as the school's other students; to provide for limited waivers of such requirement; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Children and Families Committee. HB 1193. By Representatives Erwin of the 32nd, Burns of the 159th, Hatchett of the 155th, Dubnik of the 29th, Jones of the 47th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to education, so as to promote and advance state-wide literacy and reading education efforts; to substantially revise the "Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act"; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Education and Youth Committee. - 16 -