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New Georgia laws that go into effect Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Tuesday is the start of the 2026 fiscal year in the state of Georgia, and a slew of new Georgia laws go into effect. Here is a list of some of those laws. Additionally, there are many laws that have already gone into effect or won't got into effect until Jan. 1, 2026. A complete list of bills signed by Gov. Brian Kemp can be found here.
Finances
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Income Tax Cut – HB 111 Georgia’s flat income tax rate drops slightly (from ~5.39% to 5.19%), with plans to reach 4.99% over time.
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Expand Child Tax Credit – HB 136 Increases Georgia’s child and dependent care tax credit and creates a new $250 credit for each child under age 6.
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Fair Pay for People With Disabilities – SB 55 Ends subminimum wages for workers with disabilities.
Law
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Tougher Fentanyl Punishments – SB 79 Sentences and penalties for small amounts of fentanyl trafficking are harsher to help fight the opioid crisis.
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Wrongful Conviction Relief – SB 244 People wrongly convicted can now seek compensation. If prosecutors acted improperly, defendants can reclaim attorney fees.
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Survivor Justice Act – HB 582 Domestic-violence or trafficking survivors who committed crimes under duress can ask for lighter sentences or have them reduced.
Education/Child Safety
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Fairness in Sports – SB 1 Requires school sports teams to be designated by sex and limits participation accordingly.
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Exams for Home Study Students – SB 63 Mandates local schools offer certain exams to home study students.
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Revision of Child Neglect Definition – SB 110 Updates child neglect laws and protects parents who allow safe independent activities.
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No Expulsion for Missing School – SB 123 Students can’t be kicked out just for being absent too much. Schools must now use supportive strategies instead of expulsion.
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Combating Higher Education Threats from China – HB 150 Requires public universities to report funding from Chinese-linked entities.
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Background Checks for Early Childhood Workers – HB 175 Stricter fingerprint and registry checks for daycare and Head Start employees.
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Drug Costs for State Employees – HB 196 Requires drug reimbursements under state health plans to follow transparent pricing.
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Ban on Cellphones in K–8 – HB 340 Elementary and middle schools must keep personal cellphones stowed during school hours. Other personal electronic devices also banned.
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Quality Basic Education Act -- HB 371 Raises funding for education from $300 million to $375 million in effort to improve quality of education.
Health
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Fentanyl Test Strips Now Legal – SB 6 It’s no longer illegal to carry tools that test drugs for fentanyl. This harm-reduction measure can help prevent overdoses.
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Adoptees Get Birth Certificates – SB 100 "Andee’s Law" Adult adoptees can now request their original birth certificates without a court order.
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Hope for Georgia Patients – SB 72 Expands access to experimental treatments for seriously ill patients.
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Gestational Diabetes Care – HB 352 Health insurers must better cover diabetes treatment for pregnant women.
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IVF Protection – HB 428 Guarantees the right to in vitro fertilization and defines it in Georgia law.
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High Deductible Health Plans for State Employees – HB 422 Requires state employee health plans to offer high-deductible options.
Veterans
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Burial in Veterans Cemeteries – HB 53 Expands eligibility for burial in Georgia veterans cemeteries.
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Military tax exemption -- HB266 Exempts military veterans from paying income tax on retirement income.
Infrastructure
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Regulating "Vertiports" – HB 156 The state can plan for future drone or air-taxi ports.
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Let Heavier Trucks Use Local Roads – HB 164 Trucks can be 4,000 lbs heavier (up to 84k lbs) on non-interstate roads.
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Digital Driver’s Licenses OK – HB 296 Your mobile (e.g., phone wallet) driver's license is now legally valid—just remember to keep your physical copy too.
Consumer
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Property Insurance Policies – SB 35 Requires insurers to notify policyholders before canceling a homeowners’ insurance policy.
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Sales of Catalytic Converters – SB 40 Adds registration and recordkeeping requirements for selling used catalytic converters.
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Increased Protection for Homeowners from Contractors – SB 201 Improves contract rules after natural disasters and limits certain insurance assignments.
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Limits on Storage Auction Notices – HB 131 Storage units need just one public auction notice (instead of two).
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Mortgage Privacy Boost – HB 240 Mortgage brokers can’t spam you with calls after your credit check—protecting your privacy.
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Exempt Rideshare Drivers from Motor Carrier Definition – HB 339 Exempts rideshare drivers from motor carrier rules and limits company liability.
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Protect Sale of Homemade Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics – HB 398 Legalizes cottage food production and blocks local regulation.
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Landlords Must Have GA Agent – HB 399 If your landlord lives out of state, they must have a local contact for emergencies.
Animal Protection
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Protect Pets in Domestic Violence Situations – HB 177 Allows protective orders to include pets in family or dating violence cases.
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Roadside Pet Sales Banned – HB 331 No more selling dogs or cats from cars or gas stations—only licensed sellers.
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Ban Air Guns While Hunting & Update Catfish Rules – HB 491 Bans air guns for hunting and updates catfish bowfishing rules.
End of Life
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Human Composting Legal – SB 241 An eco-friendly burial option: bodies can now be composted into soil.
Miscellaneous
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Fluorescent Pink Hunting Gear Allowed – HB 167 Blaze pink is now a legal alternative to orange for deer hunting safety.
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State Stew Named – HB 233 Designates Brunswick stew as Georgia’s official state stew.
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New Specialty License Plates – SB 291 Creates an "America First" specialty license plate.
Historic Battlefields
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Vince Dooley Battlefield Trust Fund Act – HB 454 Creates a grant fund to preserve historic battlefields.