# Georgia SB 440: Department of Public Health; provisions relative to duties or functions; modernize and update

Georgia SB 440, Department of Public Health; provisions relative to duties or functions; modernize and update, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Matt Brass (Republican), Greg Dolezal (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican) and 4 others; status failed, last action 2026-04-02 (House Third Readers); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB440-2025-2026
- 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 440
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Department of Public Health; provisions relative to duties or functions; modernize and update
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-29
- Last action: 2026-04-02, House Third Readers
- Sponsors: Matt Brass (Republican), Greg Dolezal (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Sonya Halpern (Democrat), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Public and Community Health, Health and Human Services, General Bill
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 4 (211 yes, 116 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Matt Brass (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Greg Dolezal (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Drew Echols (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sonya Halpern (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Bo Hatchett (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ben Watson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Rob Clifton (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-02 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 98 | 76 | 5 |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT BY THE SEN FROM THE 41ST AS AMENDED | pass | 31 | 20 | 2 |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | ADOPTION OF AMEND #1B BY SEN FROM THE 19TH TO AMEND #1 BY SEN FROM THE 41ST | pass | 31 | 20 | 2 |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | PASSAGE AS AMENDED | pass | 51 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-04-02: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-04-02: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2026-03-20: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2026-03-18: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- 2026-03-06: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-02-25: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-24: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-20: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- LC 60 0375S/hrcs (v12): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248702)

## 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
- [LC 60 0375S/hrcs (v12) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248702)

## 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)
- [Georgia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia/bills)
- [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB440-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).