2026 Legislative Session: Week 11 Review from Rep. Bruce Williamson

Dear Friends, 

We have finished week 11 of the legislative session; only one week remains until Sine Die! Thursday, April 2nd, is the final day for legislation to pass both chambers if it is to have a chance at becoming law this year. The House and Senate will be working intensely during these crucial last days. 

This week, the House has been honoring our retiring members. Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones delivered her farewell speech this Friday. She has served our state with distinction, and she will be deeply missed. I wish her all the best in her retirement. 

Over the past week, many important pieces of legislation have received final passage and are headed to the Governor’s desk. Education, public safety, and insurance reform are among the key areas covered in the legislation passed this week. I’ve highlighted a few important ones for you.

Distraction-Free Education Act, part 2, HB 1009, received final passage. This legislation requires that all public school students in grades nine through twelve be prohibited from accessing personal electronic devices, such as cell phones, during the school day, from bell to bell. Students with an IEP or medical plan mandating a cell phone will still be able to use one.

The Math Matters Act, HB 1030, has received final passage. This bill expands opportunities for students to enroll in advanced math courses, increases math instructional time, and updates teacher certification standards to ensure educators possess the necessary math skills to teach evidence-based instructional strategies.

Redshirting Bill and the You Are Not Alone Awareness Act, SB 589 (which incorporates parts of HB 1045), have been sent to the Governor. This legislation allows parents to decide at what age to send their child to kindergarten. It ensures that 4- and 5-year-olds are treated equally for pre-K slots. The You Are Not Alone Awareness Act requires public schools that issue student ID badges to students in grades 6 through 12 to include information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Charter Schools and Dropout Recovery Act, SB 369, has received final passage. This legislation establishes standards for nontraditional education programs such as dropout recovery, credit recovery, and flexible scheduling, as well as how to measure their performance. It allows existing charter schools to adopt this model. It also amends the Dexter Mosley Act to allow virtual school students to participate in extracurricular and athletic activities at their local public schools.

Rio’s Law, SB 433, has received final passage. This bill allows individuals with autism or other developmental disabilities to obtain a specialized Autism Spectrum Disorder or Developmental Disability license plate, enabling law enforcement to be aware of the individual’s diagnosis so they can interact appropriately. The bill also includes provisions for training law enforcement officers on best practices.

Human Trafficking, SB 547 has received final passage. This legislation designates both pimping and pandering as felonies, regardless of whether they are first or subsequent offenses, sending a clear message that Georgia will hold offenders accountable.

AI Companion Chatbots, SB 540 was sent to the Governor. This bill establishes safeguards for minors who engage with chatbots, which are designed to simulate relationships. This bill mandates parental control tools and protocols for responding to self-harm prompts

This week, the House also passed the following House and Senate bills and resolutions.

SB 622 creates the Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia’s Foster Care System. This committee will have 20 members: 6 from the Senate, 6 from the House, 1 appointed by the governor, and officials from the Dept of Human Services, the Dept of Juvenile Justice, and other related organizations. Costs within the foster care system have risen 159% since 2022, and this study committee will address this problem.

SB 500 will expand the behavioral health workforce database and include more provider licensing boards to help address shortages.

SB 503, The Georgia Insurance Fairness Act, updates our state’s insurance laws to enhance consumer protections. This bill will better safeguard those who rent their homes by ensuring that guarantees offered through rental home marketplaces are not classified as property insurance. It will also strengthen oversight of private passenger automobile insurance. Additionally, it extends filing deadlines after declared disasters and sets timelines for processing claims from catastrophic events. Furthermore, it authorizes law enforcement to issue tickets to drivers without valid insurance coverage.

SB 472 will ensure school board accountability and allow the State Board of Education to recommend to the governor that local school board members be suspended without pay when the state auditor flags a district for financial mismanagement or misconduct.

SB 442 will repeal a noncitizen’s commercial driver’s license once their visa has expired. It will also provide for testing requirements for renewal of commercial drivers’ licenses for noncitizens.

SB 150 allows retired public school teachers to return to work and continue receiving their retirement allowance and any post-retirement benefits alongside their teaching compensation, strengthening our teacher workforce. 

HB 428 addresses the gap where individuals need mental health support but do not require institutional care. This bill will enable the Georgia Dept of Community Health to submit waiver requests to Medicare and Medicaid on behalf of people over 21 who need mental health services and have a history of incarceration, homelessness, or hospitalization.

SB 443 establishes an offense for purposefully or recklessly obstructing any highway or street. Individuals who commit this offense will be held civilly liable for any resulting damages.