PRIA Logo™
GeorgiaHB 12472025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act; enact

Sponsored By: Sandy Donatucci (Republican), Scott Hilton (Republican), Mitchell Horner (Republican), Alan Powell (Republican), Matt Reeves (Republican), Steve Tarvin (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Governmental AffairsJudiciaryGeneral Bill

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Less rule paperwork for small businesses

Georgia agencies must reduce rules’ economic impact on qualifying small businesses when legally and practically possible. Businesses must be independently owned and operated, not dominant in their field, and have 100 or fewer employees. Relief can include simpler reports, fewer requirements, different deadlines, performance standards, or exemptions. These changes must still meet the goals of the governing laws.

Agencies must review and limit rule costs

Before adopting, changing, or repealing a covered rule, Georgia agencies must consider its economic impact. They must include an impact statement in the notice; interpretive rules and general policy statements are exempt. An economic analysis accompanying the proposed rule and summary counts as evidence that the agency considered its impact. Agencies must choose a less expensive option that avoids excessive costs when it fully meets the governing laws’ goals.

Charities gain limits on reporting burdens

Agencies generally cannot impose annual filing or reporting requirements on covered charities beyond what applicable law authorizes. This protects 501(c)(3) charities regulated or specifically exempted under Georgia’s charitable solicitation law. Stricter requirements need a compelling state interest and must be narrowly designed to serve that interest. This protection does not apply to the state’s direct spending programs.

Some homeless providers must join database

Some privately funded shelters and homeless outreach groups must participate as authorizing agencies in Georgia’s Homeless Management Information System. Outreach includes medical care, clothing, food, or shelter. The rule covers providers within 1,000 feet of a school, college, child care center, public park, or public playground. The covered property must also be within 10 miles of a city meeting all three requirements. That city must span multiple counties, levy a sales tax for metropolitan transit, and contain an independent school system. Providers serving fewer than 10 people through outreach, employment, or social services in the preceding 12 months are exempt. Violations bring a noncriminal citation to the owner or operator.

Courts independently review agency legal views

Georgia courts and officials hearing administrative cases must independently interpret the state Constitution, statutes, and published rules. They cannot defer to an agency’s written or unwritten legal views, except for formally adopted Georgia Administrative Procedure Act rules. Judicial-review standards expressly set by statute remain unchanged. This removes an advantage for agency interpretations, whether those interpretations favor or oppose a person’s case.

Legislator settlements face disclosure and penalties

Settlement records resolving unlawful employment-practice claims against Georgia legislators must be public for claims made on or after January 1, 2019. Claimants’ and other parties’ identities are hidden, but the legislator’s identity remains public. Records requested by specified legislative leaders must be produced within three business days. Superior Courts enforce disclosure; the Attorney General can seek civil or criminal penalties and attorneys’ fees. Initial violations carry misdemeanor penalties, certain willful repeat violations carry felony penalties, and a good-faith defense is available.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Sandy Donatucci

    Republican • House

  • Scott Hilton

    Republican • House

  • Mitchell Horner

    Republican • House

  • Alan Powell

    Republican • House

  • Matt Reeves

    Republican • House

  • Steve Tarvin

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Bo Hatchett

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 407 • No: 240

Senate vote • 4/3/2026

AGREE TO HOUSE AMENDMENT TO SENATE SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 34 • No: 18 • Other: 3

House vote • 4/2/2026

Agree to Senate Sub as Am

Yes: 98 • No: 70 • Other: 7

House vote • 4/2/2026

AM 62 0077

Yes: 96 • No: 69 • Other: 9

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 48 • No: 2 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT #1 BY THE SENATOR FROM THE 46TH

Yes: 33 • No: 18 • Other: 3

House vote • 3/4/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 98 • No: 63 • Other: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/12/2026House

  2. Act 718

    5/12/2026

  3. Effective Date

    5/12/2026

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/10/2026House

  5. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended

    4/2/2026House

  6. Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub

    4/2/2026Senate

  7. Senate Third Read

    3/25/2026Senate

  8. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/25/2026Senate

  9. Senate Read Second Time

    3/23/2026Senate

  10. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/20/2026Senate

  11. Senate Read and Referred

    3/6/2026Senate

  12. House Third Readers

    3/4/2026House

  13. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/4/2026House

  14. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/19/2026House

  15. House Second Readers

    2/11/2026House

  16. House First Readers

    2/10/2026House

  17. House Hopper

    2/9/2026House

Bill Text

  • HB 1247/AP* (v18)

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation