Sen. Bill Cowsert

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 8 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to State Board of Education under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to require local school systems to maintain and publish a registry of all contracts worth more than $10,000.00 involving the use of any state funds; to provide for such information to be included on the contract registry; to require local boards of education to adopt policies; to provide for enforcement; to prohibit waivers; 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 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and licensing generally, so as to revise the authorized use of money distributed from the Back the Blue Fund; to revise collection procedures; to provide for legislative intent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to education, so as to provide that public schools and public postsecondary institutions shall not accept funding from or enter into contracts with foreign adversaries; to provide definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution creates a Joint Study Committee to examine Georgia's outdated 9-1-1 funding system, which dates to 1977 and was designed for landline phones. The committee, composed of legislative members from public safety and utilities committees plus state agency directors, will study how modern mobile/VoIP technology impacts 9-1-1 funding needs and recommend potential reforms. It will report findings by December 2025 but does not enact new funding or laws itself. The study directly affects Georgia's 9-1-1 centers and public safety infrastructure, as the current $1.50 per landline fee model no longer aligns with today's communication technology.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 13 of Title 45 and Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Capitol Art Standards Commission and state flag, seal, and other symbols, respectively, so as to provide for duties and responsibilities of the commission; to provide for the placement of a monument in honor of the Honorable Clarence Thomas within the Nathan Deal Judicial Center; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summarySB 291 creates a new "America First" specialty license plate in Georgia, featuring an American flag and the phrase "America First" to promote patriotism. Georgia drivers who choose this plate will pay an additional fee, with all proceeds deposited into the state's general fund. The bill requires 1,000 prepaid applications to continue manufacturing the plate after 2027; if this threshold isn't met by January 1, 2028, production stops. The plate becomes available starting January 1, 2026, and replaces conflicting laws. This is a standard specialty plate with no direct funding for specific organizations.

Maddy summarySB 35 increases the required notice period for homeowners' insurance nonrenewal in Georgia from 30 to 60 days. It directly affects Georgia homeowners whose insurers plan to stop covering their properties, requiring insurers to provide written notice at least 60 days before nonrenewal takes effect. The bill amends Georgia law to mandate this extended notice period, ensuring policyholders have more time to secure new coverage. The change applies to all homeowners' insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Georgia on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 69, the "Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act," prohibits courts from considering a driver’s failure to wear a seat belt as evidence of negligence or fault in car accident lawsuits. It also prevents insurance companies from canceling coverage or raising rates due to not wearing a seat belt. The law amends Georgia’s seat belt statute (Code Section 40-8-76.1) to explicitly block such evidence and insurance penalties, effective January 1, 2026. This directly affects drivers involved in civil cases related to vehicle accidents and insurers handling those claims. The bill repeals conflicting laws but does not apply to cases already pending before its effective date.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to education, so as to provide generally for competitively fair and safe student participation in middle school, high school, and college sports; to promote fair and safe competition; to provide for equal athletic opportunities and safety; to provide for specific designations of teams operated or sponsored by local school systems, public schools, participating private schools, and postsecondary educational institutions in this state; to prohibit males from participating in interscholastic and intercollegiate competitions on teams designated as female; to prohibit females from participating in competition on intercollegiate teams designated as male, subject to exceptions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to revise, modernize, correct errors or omissions in, and reenact the statutory portion of said Code, as amended, in furtherance of the work of the Code Revision Commission; to repeal portions of said Code, or Acts in amendment thereof, which have become obsolete, have been declared to be unconstitutional, or have been preempted or superseded by subsequent laws; to codify principles of law derived from decisions of the state Supreme Court; to provide for other matters relating to revision, reenactment, and publication of said Code; to provide for effect in event of conflicts; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.