Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act; enact
Summary
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions, so as to prohibit courts and administrative officers from deferring to agency interpretations of laws and regulations; to provide for a short title; 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
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 9, 2026
Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
LC 62 0401S/hcs
→
HB 1247/AP*
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was updated from a committee substitute version to its final passed version, expanding its scope from only courts to include the General Assembly, health, revenue, and state government. The new version adds significant provisions for public access to legislative records, enforcement mechanisms, attorney's fees, and periodic reviews of agency rules.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded significantly from solely prohibiting courts from deferring to agencies to also covering the General Assembly, health, revenue, and state government, and adding new requirements for public disclosure and rule reviews.
SCOPE
Expanded the bill's application to include the General Assembly, health, revenue, and state government in addition to courts.
REQUIREMENT
Added requirements for making certain General Assembly records subject to public disclosure.
Established procedures for periodic review and automatic sunset of agency rules.
ENFORCEMENT
Introduced new provisions for attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and penalties for violations.
DEFINITION
Revised the short title and act description to reflect the expanded scope and new provisions.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2026
How they voted
41–2
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 47
Mar 25, 2026
D
Democratic18
77% Yea
R
Republican29
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
17
Key actions
6
Committee
3
Amendments
2
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Act 718
upper
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
House Date Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Introduced
Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub
upper
Apr 2, 2026
Introduced
House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Committee
Senate Read and Referred
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
House Hopper
lower
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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