SB 555 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

War Veterans Home; the admission of eligible nonveteran residents to a Georgia War Veterans' Home under certain circumstances; authorize

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to war veterans home, so as to authorize the admission of eligible nonveteran residents to a Georgia War Veterans' Home under certain circumstances; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 24, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed Senate → LC 46 1551S/hss · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands Georgia War Veterans' Home eligibility to include certain nonveteran residents (spouses of veterans and parents of deceased veterans) while maintaining veterans' priority for beds. It also broadens the bill's scope to amend multiple state titles and adds new authority for agents to handle public benefits applications for deceased individuals under power of attorney arrangements.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from amending only Title 38 (veterans affairs) to also amending Titles 10, 29, 31, and 50, adding provisions for power of attorney authority after death.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for nonveteran residents who are spouses of veterans or parents whose children died while serving in the armed forces.

DEFINITION

Updated definition of 'Eligible nonveteran resident' to include parents of deceased war veterans in addition to spouses.

REQUIREMENT

Added authority for agents under power of attorney to complete public benefits applications and attend hearings for deceased principals.

Changed co-residency requirement from 'maintaining co-residency' to 'co-occupancy of a room' for eligible nonveteran spouse residents.

SCOPE

Expanded bill to amend five state titles instead of one, adding provisions for commerce, guardianship, health, and state government.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026

How they voted

47–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 48

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

R Republican29

29 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

House Withdrawn, Recommitted

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Introduced

Senate Hopper

upper

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors