SB 175 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Elections and Primaries; use of ranked-choice voting; prohibit

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding elections and primaries, so as to prohibit the use of ranked-choice voting; to provide for certain exceptions; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status failed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Mar 31, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

LC 47 3697S/hss → LC 48 1838S/hss · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift its focus from election administration to the protection of state monuments and symbols. The new version removes all provisions regarding the State Election Board and voter registration, replacing them with laws that define what constitutes a protected monument and establish strict penalties for damaging or removing them.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed entirely from governing elections and the State Election Board to protecting government statues, monuments, and commemorative symbols.

SCOPE

All text related to the State Election Board, voter list maintenance, and election procedures was deleted.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'Agency', 'Monument', and 'Officer' to clarify which entities and items are protected under the law.

ENFORCEMENT

Significant new penalties were introduced, including treble damages (three times the cost of repair or replacement), attorney's fees, and the right for any interested person to sue for damages.

TIMELINE

The effective date for a previous provision regarding the State Election Board was removed, while the new bill focuses on protecting monuments without specific new effective dates in this excerpt.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2025 · House Mar 31, 2026

How they voted

37–17

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 55

Mar 3, 2025

D Democratic22

4 Yea 17 Nay 1

77% Nay

R Republican33

33 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 31, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (78-61-11)

house

Mar 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

House Withdrawn, Recommitted

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Engrossed

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Senate Hopper

upper

11 primary · 0 co-sponsors