All Roll Calls
Yes: 221 • No: 0
GeorgiaHB 2872025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Environmental Protection Division; Environmental Advisory Council; update reference date to standards, rules, and regulations
Sponsored By: Chas Cannon (Republican), John Corbett (Republican), John LaHood (Republican), Lauren McDonald III (Republican), Trey Rhodes (Republican)
Became Law
Game, Fish & ParksNatural Resources and the EnvironmentGeneral Bill
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Extra turkey weekend for kids and disabled
People age 16 or younger and mobility‑impaired people can hunt turkeys the weekend before the regular open season. A doctor must verify a listed permanent condition, such as wheelchair dependence, hemiplegia, monoplegia, paraplegia, or a single above‑knee leg amputation. The Board sets the detailed rules, and all other hunting laws still apply.
Free short-term licenses for disabled anglers and hunters
Nonresident paralyzed or disabled veterans can get a free fishing license for a department‑approved tournament. It is valid only during the event dates and for up to seven days, with the same privileges as a nonresident fishing license, including trout. Paralyzed or disabled people can get a free hunting license for a department‑approved organized hunt, resident or nonresident, also limited to the event dates and seven days. If a disability is due to a mental impairment, the person gets a courtesy fishing license instead of hunting. These licenses follow all wildlife laws, cannot be used by others or outside the event, and may be revoked.
New shellfish crew licenses and fees
Commercial shellfish operations can buy a resident crew license: $200 per year for up to ten harvesters, or $400 per year for unlimited harvesters. Individual harvesters normally need a personal commercial fishing license, a shellfish endorsement, and a boat license if they use a boat. When they work under a master harvester with a valid crew license, they may work without those individual licenses. Master and harvester permits are issued yearly and can be denied or revoked.
2025 rules govern environmental, hunting, and boating crimes
Georgia uses Board of Natural Resources rules in effect on January 1, 2025 to define environmental, game‑and‑fish, and watercraft crimes. This replaces the January 1, 2024 snapshot. Enforcement and compliance now track the 2025 rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Chas Cannon
Republican • House
John Corbett
Republican • House
John LaHood
Republican • House
Lauren McDonald III
Republican • House
Trey Rhodes
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Lee Anderson
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/11/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 50 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 171 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective Date
7/1/2025House Date Signed by Governor
5/13/2025HouseAct 178
5/13/2025House Sent to Governor
4/7/2025HouseSenate Third Read
3/11/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted
3/11/2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
3/3/2025SenateSenate Committee Favorably Reported
2/28/2025SenateSenate Read and Referred
2/26/2025SenateHouse Third Readers
2/24/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
2/24/2025HouseHouse Committee Favorably Reported
2/19/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
2/10/2025HouseHouse First Readers
2/6/2025HouseHouse Hopper
2/5/2025House
Bill Text
HB 287/AP* (v3)
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