SB 485 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Professional Counselors; applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; authorize

Summary
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10A of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to examination regarding professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, so as to authorize applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 10, 2026 Signed May 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

LC 56 0672S/hss SB 485/AP* · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill text was updated to reflect its passage by the Senate, changing the title from a House substitute version to the official Senate Bill 485. This indicates the legislation has successfully moved through the legislative process and is now in its final form for potential enactment.
Scope change
The bill's substantive scope regarding nail technician regulations remains unchanged; only the document metadata and versioning were updated.
TECHNICAL

The header was updated to identify the document as 'Senate Bill 485' by specific Senators, replacing the previous 'House Committee on Regulated Industries' substitute title.

The page headers were changed from 'S. B. 485 (SUB)' to 'S. B. 485', indicating the bill is no longer a substitute draft but the enacted version.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Mar 23, 2026

How they voted

420
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 48
Mar 6, 2026
D Democratic19
17 Yea 2
89% Yea
R Republican29
25 Yea 4
86% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
6
Committee
3
Amendments
1
May 11, 2026
Signed into law
Act 514
upper
May 11, 2026
Signed into law
Senate Date Signed by Governor
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Introduced
Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Passed/Adopted
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Favorably Reported
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Senate Read and Referred
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Introduced
Senate Hopper
upper
14 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors