# Georgia HB 651: Motor vehicles; use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zones; revise provisions

Georgia HB 651, Motor vehicles; use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zones; revise provisions, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by James Burchett (Republican), John Corbett (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB651-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 651
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Motor vehicles; use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zones; revise provisions
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-02-26
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: James Burchett (Republican), John Corbett (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican), Rob Leverett (Republican), Alan Powell (Republican), Bruce Williamson (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Motor Vehicles, Rules, General Bill
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 7 (623 yes, 97 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Drivers get speed thresholds and warnings: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, county, city, and campus officers can bring device-based speeding cases only above 10 mph over the posted limit. The law removes exceptions for marked school zones, historic districts, and residential zones. Beginning July 1, 2027, school-zone cameras require visible warning…
- Camera operators face fines for misuse: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Georgia's public safety commissioner may investigate agents after complaints about improper device use or law or permit violations. Intentional camera-rule violations carry a $2,500 fine for the first violation and $5,000 for the second. After a third or later finding, the c…
- Voters decide on school-zone camera contracts: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, local governments and their police agencies need voter approval to enter or renew most school-zone camera contracts. More than half the votes cast must support approval, which allows camera enforcement for six years. After rejection, the question cannot return for three year…
- Local governments can challenge camera suspensions: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, local governments have a right to a hearing after a camera permit is suspended or revoked. The transportation commissioner must hold it within 10 days after the order takes effect and issue a written decision. Affected governments may appeal to the proper superior court with…
- New rules for camera enforcement cases: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, school-zone traffic cameras are exempt from state approval and design requirements for radar or laser devices. But the special evidence rule treating approved laser readings as reliable and admissible does not apply to these cameras. Listed district attorneys, solicitors-gen…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: James Burchett (Republican), House
- Sponsor: John Corbett (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Chris Erwin (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rob Leverett (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Alan Powell (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Bruce Williamson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Randy Robertson (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Agree to Senate Amend to HAm to SSub | pass | 156 | 14 | 9 |
| 2026-03-25 | Senate | ADOPTION OF AMEND #1A BY SEN FROM THE 30TH TO AMEND #1 BY SEN FROM THE 29TH | fail | 23 | 27 | 4 |
| 2026-03-25 | Senate | AGREE TO HOUSE AMENDMENT TO SENATE SUBSTITUTE AS AMENDED | pass | 49 | 1 | 3 |
| 2025-04-04 | House | Agree to Senate Sub as House Amended | pass | 140 | 29 | 3 |
| 2025-04-04 | Senate | ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT #1 BY THE SENATOR FROM THE 44TH | pass | 40 | 15 |   |
| 2025-04-04 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 51 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025-03-04 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 164 | 8 | 4 |

## Actions (22)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-12: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-12: Act 711
- 2026-04-10: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-04-02: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- 2026-03-25: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub As Amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-25: Senate Transmitted House (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended (House)
- 2025-04-02: Senate Tabled (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: Senate Withdrawn & Recommitted (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: House Third Readers (House)
- 2025-03-04: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2025-02-28: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2025-02-27: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-02-26: House Hopper (House)
- 2025-02-26: House First Readers (House)

## Bill text

- HB 651/AP* (v15): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249092)

## 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 651/AP* (v15) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249092)

## 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-HB651-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).