SB 454 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Regulation of Fire and Other Hazards; use of temporary door locking devices in public buildings during certain emergency situations; authorize

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of fire and other hazards to persons and property generally, so as to authorize the use of temporary door locking devices in public buildings during certain emergency situations; to provide for guidelines for use of such devices; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

LC 63 0148S/hss → LC 63 0182S/hss · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill changed from requiring schools to install key boxes to authorizing them to do so, giving local boards the choice to implement the program. The new version also adds specific requirements for where keys must be placed and what items must be inside the boxes, while keeping the immunity from lawsuits for schools and their employees.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a mandatory requirement for all schools to an optional authorization, allowing local boards to decide whether to participate.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the obligation for schools from 'shall provide for the installation' (mandatory) to 'may provide for the installation' (optional/authorized).

Added specific rules stating key boxes must be located for emergency access and must contain keys for every building and room on the school grounds.

Removed the previous condition that required a documented rapid access program for first responders before schools were required to install key boxes.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026

How they voted

45–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 48

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

R Republican29

27 Yea 2

93% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Committee

House Withdrawn, Recommitted

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

Senate Hopper

upper

13 primary · 0 co-sponsors