# Georgia SB 36: "Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act"; enact

Georgia SB 36, "Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act"; enact, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican) and 29 others; status signed, last action 2025-04-04 (Senate Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12).

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## Facts
- Bill: Georgia SB 36
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: "Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act"; enact
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-27
- Last action: 2025-04-04, Senate Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsors: John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Brandon Beach (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Greg Dolezal (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Steve Gooch (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Marty Harbin (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), John F. Kennedy (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Colton Moore (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Ed Setzler (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Blake Tillery (Republican), Larry Walker (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (128 yes, 93 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger religious freedom protections in Georgia: benefit, medium. Georgia state and local governments cannot substantially burden religious practice, even through rules that apply to everyone. Government must prove a compelling public interest and use the least restrictive way to achieve it. Protection covers religious practices even when they are not required by…
- Constitutionally allowed government grants stay protected: benefit, low. Government funding, benefits, or exemptions do not violate this law when allowed under the Constitution's Establishment Clause. That clause limits government establishment of religion, and this law does not change or interpret it. This protection covers grants, not denials of funding, benefits, or…
- Legal fee help with judge protections: mixed, low. Courts can award reasonable attorney fees as court costs to a non-government party who wins a case enforcing this law. An award is not automatic. Judges sued for actions in their judicial role are protected from paying costs and attorney fees. That protection does not apply when the judge acted cle…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: John Albers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Lee Anderson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Brandon Beach (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Timothy Bearden (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Matt Brass (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Max Burns (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Bill Cowsert (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Clint Dixon (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Greg Dolezal (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Drew Echols (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Frank Ginn (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Steve Gooch (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Russ Goodman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Marty Harbin (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Bo Hatchett (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Billy Hickman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Mike Hodges (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: John F. Kennedy (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Colton Moore (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Randy Robertson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ed Setzler (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Shawn Still (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Brian Strickland (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Carden Summers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Blake Tillery (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Larry Walker (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ben Watson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sam Watson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Rick Williams (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Tyler Paul Smith (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-02 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 96 | 70 | 2 |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 32 | 23 |   |

## Actions (15)

- 2025-04-04: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Act 6
- 2025-04-04: Effective Date
- 2025-04-03: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: House Third Readers (House)
- 2025-04-02: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2025-03-27: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2025-03-10: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-03-06: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-03-04: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-03-03: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 36/AP* (v5): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/239099)

## 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
- [SB 36/AP* (v5) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/239099)

## 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-SB36-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).