HB 256 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Social services; foster parents bill of rights; revise provisions

Summary
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to programs and protection for children, so as to revise provisions relating to the foster parents bill of rights; to provide for definitions; to provide that such rights include relative caregivers and fictive kin; to provide for the development of administrative procedures; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Signed May 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

LC 48 1711S/hs LC 48 1711S/hcs · 1 edit
MINOR
The changes between these two versions are entirely formatting and presentational. The bill text itself is unchanged. The only substantive difference is in the header: the version now identifies itself as a 'COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' and lists the named sponsors (Wiedower, Gullett, Efstration, Clifton, Hatchett, and others) rather than simply stating that the House Committee on Judiciary, Juvenile offers a substitute.
TECHNICAL

Header changed from a generic committee substitute notice to a formal 'COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' label with named sponsors listed.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2026 · House Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

410
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 47
Mar 31, 2026
D Democratic18
15 Yea 3
83% Yea
R Republican29
26 Yea 3
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
6
Committee
3
Amendments
1
May 11, 2026
Signed into law
Act 475
upper
May 11, 2026
Signed into law
House Date Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Introduced
House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Senate Read and Referred
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Introduced
House Hopper
lower
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors