# Georgia SB 485: Professional Counselors; applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; authorize

Georgia SB 485, Professional Counselors; applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; authorize, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican) and 11 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB485-2025-2026
- 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 485
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Professional Counselors; applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; authorize
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-10
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Ed Setzler (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Regulated Industries, Regulated Industries and Utilities, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (215 yes, 46 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Social work students can test earlier: benefit, low. Georgia social work license applicants can take the master's licensing exam during their program's final semester. Their master's social work program must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. This allows testing before graduation; it does not waive other licensing requirements.
- New ID rules for nail technicians: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2028, Georgia nail technician applicants must submit a copy of a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID. Certificate renewals require the same document. Registered nail technicians must clearly display a copy of their ID photo beside their certificate at work. The photo mu…
- Salon owners must check apprentice IDs: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2028, Georgia shop and salon owners registering nail technician apprentices must submit copies of their IDs. Each apprentice's driver's license or state ID must meet federal REAL ID standards. Owners must also clearly display a copy of the ID photo in the shop or salon. The photo…
- Behavior analysis certifiers must be nonprofits: cost, low. Organizations certifying behavior analysis professionals in Georgia must be nonprofits with federal tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3). They must also be accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute. These rules limit which organi…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Max Burns (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Bill Cowsert (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Frank Ginn (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Bo Hatchett (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Billy Hickman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Mike Hodges (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Chuck Payne (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Randy Robertson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ed Setzler (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Carden Summers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ben Watson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Alan Powell (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE | pass | 46 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026-03-23 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 121 | 46 | 5 |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 48 | 0 | 4 |

## Actions (18)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-11: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2026-05-11: Act 514
- 2026-04-10: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-23: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2026-03-18: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2026-03-10: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-03-09: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Tabled (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 485/AP* (v7): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248127)

## 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 485/AP* (v7) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248127)

## 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-SB485-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).