HB 1305 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Home Inspector Licensing Act of Georgia; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 41 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to residential and commercial general contractors, so as to provide for licensure of home inspectors; to provide for reciprocity of licensure; to provide for licensure of companies performing home inspections; to provide for minimum requirements to apply for licensure; to provide for continuing education requirements; to require home inspectors to maintain insurance; to provide for standards of practice and unfair trade practices; to provide for exceptions; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for a legislative purpose; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Last action Feb 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC 62 0381/a → LC 62 0425S/hs · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended by the House Committee on Regulated Industries to simplify requirements for home inspector licensure, remove continuing education mandates, and add a delayed implementation date of January 1, 2028. The changes reduce barriers to entry by eliminating classroom hour requirements and replacing them with experience alternatives, while adding a competency maintenance requirement instead of annual continuing education.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on regulating home inspection practices, but eligibility criteria were modified to allow experience as an alternative to formal education.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for 120 hours of classroom or online coursework and 40 hours of supervised inspections for applicants.

Replaced annual continuing education requirements with a requirement to maintain competency in current standards and building codes.

Changed the examination requirement from 'administered by the board' to 'approved by the board', giving the board flexibility in selecting exam providers.

Added a requirement that licenses be renewable every four years based on the licensee's birth month.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an alternative eligibility path allowing applicants with ten years of experience in home inspection or residential contracting to qualify without formal education.

TIMELINE

Added a delayed implementation date of January 1, 2028 for both home inspectors and inspection companies to begin licensure requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors