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GeorgiaSB 692025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

"Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act"; enact

Sponsored By: John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Jason T. Dickerson (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), Steven McNeel (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Ed Setzler (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Larry Walker (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)

Became Law

RulesJudiciaryGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New protections for lawsuit funding users

Beginning January 1, 2026, lawsuit funding contracts must be full written agreements and give you five business days to cancel. Key disclosures in bold 14‑point type must appear above your signature, and the funder cannot control your case. Only you can sign for yourself; a contract signed only by a legal representative is void. If a funder breaks these rules, the contract is void and cannot be enforced. Funders must indemnify you and your lawyer for court‑ordered costs or sanctions in the funded case, unless those came from your intentional misconduct. If a funder agrees to provide $25,000 or more, it can be jointly liable for frivolous‑litigation sanctions, with a cap when repayment is a fixed amount.

New court rules on funding and seatbelts

Parties can discover the existence and terms of lawsuit funding tied to a case. For nonparties, this applies only when the funding is $25,000 or more. Information turned over is not automatically admissible at trial. Not wearing a seatbelt is not evidence of negligence or cause, and it cannot be used to cancel coverage or raise insurance rates. The seatbelt rule applies only to cases started on or after the law’s effective date.

Registration and bans for lawsuit funders

Beginning January 1, 2026, anyone offering lawsuit funding in Georgia must register with the Department and update filings within 30 days of changes. These filings are public records. The Department can deny registration if requirements are not met, including for recent felony convictions by key people. People tied to designated foreign adversaries, foreign governments, certain foreign principals, or sovereign wealth funds cannot register or operate. Willful violations are crimes, punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison, up to $10,000 in fines, or both. The Department may use a national licensing system and require applicants and registrants to pay system charges, while keeping final say on registrations.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • John Albers

    Republican • Senate

  • Jason Anavitarte

    Republican • Senate

  • Lee Anderson

    Republican • Senate

  • Jason T. Dickerson

    Republican • Senate

  • Matt Brass

    Republican • Senate

  • Max Burns

    Republican • Senate

  • Bill Cowsert

    Republican • Senate

  • Clint Dixon

    Republican • Senate

  • Greg Dolezal

    Republican • Senate

  • Drew Echols

    Republican • Senate

  • Frank Ginn

    Republican • Senate

  • Steve Gooch

    Republican • Senate

  • Russ Goodman

    Republican • Senate

  • Marty Harbin

    Republican • Senate

  • Bo Hatchett

    Republican • Senate

  • Billy Hickman

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Hodges

    Republican • Senate

  • Steven McNeel

    Republican • Senate

  • Kay Kirkpatrick

    Republican • Senate

  • Chuck Payne

    Republican • Senate

  • Randy Robertson

    Republican • Senate

  • Ed Setzler

    Republican • Senate

  • Shawn Still

    Republican • Senate

  • Larry Walker

    Republican • Senate

  • Ben Watson

    Republican • Senate

  • Sam Watson

    Republican • Senate

  • Rick Williams

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • James Burchett

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 322 • No: 111

House vote • 3/31/2025

Agree to SAm to HSub

Yes: 120 • No: 42

Senate vote • 3/28/2025

AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE AS AMENDED

Yes: 52 • No: 0

House vote • 3/27/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 98 • No: 69

Senate vote • 2/27/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 52 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    1/1/2026

  2. Senate Date Signed by Governor

    4/21/2025Senate

  3. Act 10

    4/21/2025

  4. Senate Sent to Governor

    4/7/2025Senate

  5. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

    3/31/2025House

  6. Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub As Amended

    3/28/2025Senate

  7. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/27/2025House

  8. House Third Readers

    3/27/2025House

  9. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/27/2025House

  10. House Second Readers

    3/3/2025House

  11. House First Readers

    2/28/2025House

  12. Senate Third Read

    2/27/2025Senate

  13. Senate Passed/Adopted

    2/27/2025Senate

  14. Senate Read Second Time

    2/12/2025Senate

  15. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    2/11/2025Senate

  16. Senate Read and Referred

    2/3/2025Senate

  17. Senate Hopper

    1/30/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • SB 69/AP* (v11)

    PDF

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