Rep. Marcus Wiedower

Maddy summaryHB 579 revises Georgia's licensing laws for professions and businesses, directly affecting licensed professionals (like doctors, therapists, and tradespeople) and the state agencies that oversee their licenses. It updates procedures for license applications, renewals, and board meetings, requires licensing rules to protect public health and safety, and repeals outdated committees for certain counseling boards. The bill also clarifies that licensing board members receive standard state expense allowances and mandates public access to meeting schedules. Signed into law as Act 89, it takes effect on July 1, 2026.

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.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county police, so as to require adoption of a resolution or ordinance and voter approval prior to abolishment of a police force that was created by such method; to provide for a referendum; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to require health benefit policy coverage for medically necessary orthotic devices and prosthetic devices and their materials and components; to provide for definitions; to provide for requirements; to provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 8 of Chapter 14 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mechanics and materialmen relative to liens, so as to provide for a fine for any frivolous mechanic lien filed; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to state government, so as to authorize and provide for the regulation and taxation of sports betting in this state; to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to gambling, so as to exclude from the definition of "bet" any consideration paid to a sports betting licensee; to provide for the exemption of persons lawfully engaged in online sports betting from regulations and restrictions regarding gambling information; to amend Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to revenue and taxation, so as to exempt wagers placed as part of sports betting; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to authorize the Georgia General Assembly to provide by general law for sports betting in this state; to provide for the regulation and allocation of revenues of such activities; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the regulation of trailer manufacturers; to establish the State Board of Trailer Manufacturers; to provide for membership, meetings, and duties of such board; to provide for the issuance of licenses to manufacture trailers within this state; to provide for application and licensing requirements; to require maintenance of certain records; to provide for inspections; to authorize the suspension and revocation of such licenses; to provide for the power to enjoin unlawful activity; to provide for a penalty; to provide for punishment; to provide for timing for compliance; to provide for legislative purpose; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, so as to revise a provision relating to the use of a deadly weapon; to provide for additional offenses where the superior court has exclusive jurisdiction in juvenile cases; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to issuance, expiration, and renewal of drivers' licenses, so as to provide that presentation of a driver's license in a certain electronic format satisfies the requirement to possess a driver's license while operating a motor vehicle; to prohibit the compelling of a licensee to produce a wireless telecommunications device to a law enforcement officer; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.