All Roll Calls
Yes: 212 • No: 0
GeorgiaSB 982025-2026 Regular SessionSenate
Guardian and Ward; county conservators; provide
Sponsored By: Bill Cowsert (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican)
Became Law
Judiciary JuvenileChildren and FamiliesGeneral Bill
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
County conservator handles intestate estates
Beginning July 1, 2025, if a ward (minor or adult) dies without a will and the county had been the conservator, the conservator must distribute the estate like an administrator. The conservator’s bond sureties can be held responsible if the estate is mismanaged. This clarifies who closes the estate and how heirs are paid.
More county conservator options for families
Beginning July 1, 2025, courts include the county guardian conservator in the order of who is preferred to serve as conservator. Courts must appoint a county guardian conservator or another suitable person as a temporary conservator for both minors and adults when needed. County administrators serve as ex officio county guardians and county conservators when appointed. Public guardians, county guardians, and county conservators who serve the same ward must work together.
County guardians shift to conservator status
Beginning July 1, 2025, the law defines who is a county guardian and who is a county conservator. A county guardian who is serving as a conservator becomes the county conservator by law unless the court orders otherwise. No extra bond is required unless the court orders one for good cause.
More county administrators and annual pay
Beginning July 1, 2025, probate courts may appoint more county administrators with the same powers and duties as the current county administrator. With the county’s consent, county administrators and ex officio county guardians and conservators may receive an annual fee agreed to by the county, the probate court, and the individual. This fee is in addition to any commissions allowed by law.
New $5,000 bond and court oversight
Beginning July 1, 2025, county guardians and county conservators must post an extra $5,000 bond, approved and recorded by the court. The court can require more security, set a 30‑day deadline, and remove the guardian or conservator if they do not comply. The court can also revoke letters or issue other orders for good cause to protect a guardianship or conservatorship. The court issues separate letters for guardianship and conservatorship, and county guardians and county conservators have the same rights and liabilities as other guardians or conservators.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Bill Cowsert
Republican • Senate
Frank Ginn
Republican • Senate
Kay Kirkpatrick
Republican • Senate
Brian Strickland
Republican • Senate
Ben Watson
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Mitchell Scoggins
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/21/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 162 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2025
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE
Yes: 50 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective Date
7/1/2025Senate Date Signed by Governor
5/14/2025SenateAct 283
5/14/2025Senate Sent to Governor
4/7/2025SenateHouse Third Readers
3/21/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
3/21/2025HouseHouse Committee Favorably Reported
3/13/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
2/24/2025HouseHouse First Readers
2/21/2025HouseSenate Third Read
2/20/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
2/20/2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
2/19/2025SenateSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
2/18/2025SenateSenate Read and Referred
2/6/2025SenateSenate Hopper
2/5/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB 98/AP* (v7)
Related Bills
HB 90 — Revenue and taxation; increase maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property
HB 739 — Lawrenceville, City of; annexation of certain territory; provide
HB 579 — Professions and businesses; licensure to engage in trade; provisions
SB 566 — Ad Valorem Taxation of Property; the acceptance of tax digests in the event of a publication error made by a newspaper; provide
SB 284 — "Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008,"; issuance of orders by the Commissioner of Securities directing persons who have violated certain securities provisions to return; authorize
HB 413 — Agriculture; prohibit local ordinances that prohibit operation of mobile sawmills on agricultural land