# Georgia HB 1208: Civil practice; require depositions to be taken before certified court reporters

Georgia HB 1208, Civil practice; require depositions to be taken before certified court reporters, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by James Burchett (Republican), Stan Gunter (Republican), Trey Kelley (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1208-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 1208
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Civil practice; require depositions to be taken before certified court reporters
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-05
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: James Burchett (Republican), Stan Gunter (Republican), Trey Kelley (Republican), Rob Leverett (Republican), Esther Panitch (Democrat), Tyler Paul Smith (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (186 yes, 17 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Georgia depositions require certified court reporters: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, depositions—sworn questioning of witnesses—held in Georgia must take place before a certified court reporter. Unless a court orders otherwise, a certified court reporter must also record the testimony. The party taking the deposition pays the recording costs; the law sets no…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: James Burchett (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Stan Gunter (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Trey Kelley (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rob Leverett (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Esther Panitch (Democrat), House
- Sponsor: Tyler Paul Smith (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bo Hatchett (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 48 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026-03-07 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 138 | 17 | 7 |

## Actions (15)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-05: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-05: Act 387
- 2026-04-06: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-06: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2026-02-19: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2026-02-09: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-06: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-05: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1208/AP* (v6): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248115)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [HB 1208/AP* (v6) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248115)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1208-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).