# Georgia SB 402: Children and Youth; pilot program provision for screenings, clinical evaluations, training for autism spectrum disorder to children in foster care; establish

Georgia SB 402, Children and Youth; pilot program provision for screenings, clinical evaluations, training for autism spectrum disorder to children in foster care; establish, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican) and 17 others; status signed, last action 2026-05-11 (Senate Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB402-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia SB 402
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Children and Youth; pilot program provision for screenings, clinical evaluations, training for autism spectrum disorder to children in foster care; establish
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-15
- Last action: 2026-05-11, Senate Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsors: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Jason T. Dickerson (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Steve Gooch (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Blake Tillery (Republican), Larry Walker (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary Juvenile, Children and Families, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (271 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New autism screenings for Georgia foster children: benefit, medium. The law creates a five-year autism pilot for Georgia children in foster care, subject to available state funding. Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services must develop and run the program. It provides screenings and clinical evaluations to diagnose autism and develop treatment plans. It s…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Timothy Bearden (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Matt Brass (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Max Burns (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Jason T. Dickerson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Clint Dixon (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Drew Echols (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Steve Gooch (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Russ Goodman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Billy Hickman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Mike Hodges (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Chuck Payne (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Randy Robertson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Shawn Still (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Brian Strickland (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Blake Tillery (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Larry Walker (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sam Watson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Rick Williams (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Deborah Silcox (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-02 | Senate | AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE | pass | 52 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-03-31 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 171 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 48 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-05-11: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2026-05-11: Act 491
- 2026-05-11: Effective Date
- 2026-04-10: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-04-02: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-31: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2026-03-12: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2026-02-10: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-09: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-06: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 402/AP* (v9): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249102)

## 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 402/AP* (v9) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249102)

## 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-SB402-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).