# Georgia SB 96: Official Code of Georgia Annotated; provisions creating certain boards, panels, authorities, centers, commissions, committees, councils, task forces, and other such bodies; update and modernize

Georgia SB 96, Official Code of Georgia Annotated; provisions creating certain boards, panels, authorities, centers, commissions, committees, councils, task forces, and other such bodies; update and modernize, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by John Albers (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican) and 19 others; status signed, last action 2025-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB96-2025-2026
- 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 96
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Official Code of Georgia Annotated; provisions creating certain boards, panels, authorities, centers, commissions, committees, councils, task forces, and other such bodies; update and modernize
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-04
- Last action: 2025-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: John Albers (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Greg Dolezal (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Steve Gooch (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Blake Tillery (Republican), Larry Walker (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Code Revision, Government Oversight, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (248 yes, 18 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 8

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Volunteer firefighter checks protect private records: benefit, low. Local fire departments use authorized agencies to check prospective volunteers for Georgia felony convictions when determining eligibility. The department receives only a form stating whether a felony conviction exists. Conviction details and related records are protected and generally not public.
- Erosion training gets new state oversight: benefit, low. The Erosion and Sediment Control Overview Council takes over the former advisory board’s training oversight roles. It maintains programs and reviews course materials, exams, trainer qualifications, and audit results. It approves trainers and instructors and sets passing grades. The awareness semina…
- Georgia assigns homeland security planning duties: benefit, low. When the Governor decides a new statewide security strategy is needed, Georgia’s emergency management and homeland security director must develop it. The strategy addresses domestic terrorism and other security threats and hazards. Its goals include better protection, response, recovery, and reduce…
- Lupus council guides education and funding: benefit, low. The lupus education council sits within Georgia’s Department of Public Health. It includes the public health commissioner and six members appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and Lieutenant Governor. The council studies education needs, develops government-endorsed information, and recommends…
- Disability services prioritize integrated paid work: benefit, low. Georgia’s vocational rehabilitation board advises state leaders on making competitive integrated employment the preferred option in state-funded disability services. This means working alongside people without disabilities, with pay and benefits at least matching those for similar work. The policy…
- Volunteer fire departments face compliance rules: mixed, medium. Volunteer-only fire departments are included in Georgia’s fire department standards and certification system. Departments must document that they meet minimum standards to receive a compliance certificate. The state firefighter council can suspend or revoke certificates for failing to maintain requ…
- Firefighters get transfers and broader standards: mixed, low. The state firefighter council takes over the volunteer council’s training and certification duties. It sets minimum employment and training standards for firefighters, safety educators, inspectors, investigators, and other covered fire-service workers. Airport firefighters are expressly covered by…
- Georgia shifts control of youth grants: mixed, low. Only the Department of Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice Coordinating Council can control federal Justice Department juvenile justice grants. The Governor’s Office for Children and Families loses that role. On July 1, 2025, Georgia takes over the office’s assets, liabilities, and obligations ex…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: John Albers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Lee Anderson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Timothy Bearden (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Clint Dixon (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Greg Dolezal (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: Chuck Hufstetler (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: Carden Summers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Blake Tillery (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Larry Walker (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ben Watson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sam Watson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Rick Williams (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Matthew Gambill (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-27 | Senate | AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE | pass | 51 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-03-21 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 162 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 35 | 18 | 1 |

## Actions (16)

- 2025-07-01: Effective Date
- 2025-05-09: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2025-05-09: Act 92
- 2025-04-07: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: House Third Readers (House)
- 2025-03-21: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2025-03-18: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2025-02-24: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-02-21: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-02-20: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 96/AP* (v7): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/237900)

## 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 96/AP* (v7) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/237900)

## 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-SB96-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).