# Georgia SB 591: Offenses Against Public Order; the disruption of a religious service; prohibit

Georgia SB 591, Offenses Against Public Order; the disruption of a religious service; prohibit, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican) and 13 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB591-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia SB 591
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Offenses Against Public Order; the disruption of a religious service; prohibit
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-25
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Steve Gooch (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Larry Walker (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary Non-Civil, Judiciary, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (167 yes, 52 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New penalties for disrupting worship or funerals: mixed, low. Georgia law protects religious services, funerals, and memorial services by making intentional disorderly or disruptive conduct a misdemeanor. Religious services include public gatherings for worship, religious observance, or another religious purpose. The ban covers interference with services or n…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: John Albers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Lee Anderson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Timothy Bearden (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Bill Cowsert (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Clint Dixon (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Drew Echols (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Frank Ginn (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Steve Gooch (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Russ Goodman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Bo Hatchett (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Randy Robertson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Shawn Still (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Carden Summers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Larry Walker (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Rick Williams (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Deborah Silcox (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-31 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 128 | 39 | 6 |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 39 | 13 | 1 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-12: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: Act 626
- 2026-04-10: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-31: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-25: House Committee Favorably Reported (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)
- 2026-03-04: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 591/AP* (v5): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248682)

## 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 591/AP* (v5) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248682)

## 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-SB591-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).