Domestic relations; safe places for newborns; revise provisions
Summary
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to domestic relations, so as to revise provisions relating to safe places for newborns; to authorize ambulance services to accept physical custody of a newborn; to authorize the placement of newborn safety devices; to provide for definitions; to provide for limited liability; to provide for transport of newborns to nearest medical facility; to provide for specifications for newborn safety devices; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 10, 2025
Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
LC 56 0268/a
→
HB 350/AP*
·
5 edits
MODERATE
HB 350 was amended to expand the 'Safe Place for Newborns Act' by increasing the age limit for leaving a newborn from 30 to 45 days and adding 'ambulatory surgery centers' and 'urgent care facilities' to the list of authorized locations. The bill also clarifies that public safety vehicles are authorized sites and adds immunity for individuals assisting mothers in leaving their children. These changes aim to provide more time for mothers to make decisions and increase the number of safe drop-off locations.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include ambulatory surgery centers and urgent care facilities as authorized locations for leaving newborns, and the age threshold for the newborn was increased from 30 to 45 days.
ELIGIBILITY
The maximum age of a newborn that can be left at a safe place was increased from 30 days to 45 days.
SCOPE
Ambulatory surgery centers and urgent care facilities were added to the list of authorized locations where a newborn can be left.
DEFINITION
A new definition for 'public safety vehicle' was added, clarifying that occupied vehicles operated by fire or police stations are authorized locations.
ENFORCEMENT
New language was added to provide immunity from prosecution for any individual assisting or acting at the direction of a mother who leaves a newborn.
REQUIREMENT
The list of facilities required to accept newborns was updated to reflect the new authorized locations.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 2, 2026 · House Feb 3, 2026
How they voted
42–1
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 47
Apr 2, 2026
D
Democratic18
88% Yea
R
Republican29
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
7
Committee
5
Amendments
1
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Act 639
upper
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
House Date Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Introduced
House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Senate Read and Referred
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Passed/Adopted
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee Favorably Reported
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Committee
House Withdrawn, Recommitted
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Committee Favorably Reported
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
House Hopper
lower
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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