PRIA Logo™
GeorgiaSB 2452025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

Grandparents; include within the category of persons who may seek to revoke or amend an existing grandparent visitation order

Sponsored By: John Albers (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Steven McNeel (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican)

Became Law

JudiciaryChildren and FamiliesGeneral Bill

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Grandparent visits when a parent is absent

If one parent dies, is incapacitated, or is incarcerated, a grandparent can ask the court for reasonable visitation while the child is a minor. The court must find by clear and convincing evidence that the child would be harmed without visits and that visits are in the child’s best interest. After visits are granted, the child’s parent or guardian can ask to revoke or change them for good cause, but only once every two years.

Minimum monthly visit time and schedules

If the court grants visitation, family members must get at least 24 hours of visit time each month. If more than one person gets visits, the court divides the time so the total is at least 24 hours that month. Visits cannot interfere with the child’s school or regular activities.

Rules to file or change grandparent visits

A grandparent can file a new visitation case only once every two years. A grandparent also cannot file a new visitation case in a year when another custody case about the child is filed. After a court grants grandparent visitation, the child’s legal custodian, guardian, or a parent can ask to revoke or change it for good cause, but only once every two years.

When family can get court-ordered visits

A court can grant family visits only when clear and convincing evidence shows the child would be harmed without them and it is in the child’s best interest. Judges may weigh facts like living with the family member 6 or more months, giving at least 1 year of basic financial support, and regular visits or childcare. The court gives weight to a parent’s choice but can override it if denying contact would hurt the child; with a prior relationship, harm may be presumed. No harm is found just because there was no chance to form a bond when no substantial prior relationship exists. Judges must write specific factual reasons for their decision.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • John Albers

    Republican • Senate

  • Bo Hatchett

    Republican • Senate

  • Billy Hickman

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Hodges

    Republican • Senate

  • Steven McNeel

    Republican • Senate

  • Kay Kirkpatrick

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Rick Townsend

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 268 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 52 • No: 0

House vote • 3/28/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 160 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 56 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2025

  2. Senate Date Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025Senate

  3. Act 186

    5/13/2025

  4. Senate Sent to Governor

    4/10/2025Senate

  5. Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub

    4/2/2025Senate

  6. House Third Readers

    3/28/2025House

  7. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/28/2025House

  8. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/27/2025House

  9. House Second Readers

    3/11/2025House

  10. House First Readers

    3/10/2025House

  11. Senate Tabled

    3/6/2025Senate

  12. Senate Taken from Table

    3/6/2025Senate

  13. Senate Third Read

    3/6/2025Senate

  14. Senate Passed/Adopted

    3/6/2025Senate

  15. Senate Read Second Time

    3/4/2025Senate

  16. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/3/2025Senate

  17. Senate Read and Referred

    2/26/2025Senate

  18. Senate Hopper

    2/24/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • SB 245/AP* (v7)

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation