New laws that go into effect July 1 in Georgia

Published 4:58 pm Monday, June 30, 2025

Money & Finances 

Income Tax Cut – HB 111
Georgia’s flat income tax rate drops slightly (from ~5.39% to 5.19%), with plans to reach 4.99% over time. 

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Expand Child Tax Credit – HB 136
Increases Georgia’s child and dependent care tax credit and creates a new $250 credit for each child under age 6.

Fair Pay for People With Disabilities – SB 55
Ends subminimum wages for workers with disabilities.

Law & Crime

Tougher Fentanyl Punishments – SB 79
Sentences and penalties for small amounts of fentanyl trafficking are harsher to help fight the opioid crisis.

Wrongful Conviction Relief – SB 244
People wrongly convicted can now seek compensation. If prosecutors acted improperly, defendants can reclaim attorney fees.

Survivor Justice Act – HB 582
Domestic-violence or trafficking survivors who committed crimes under duress can ask for lighter sentences or have them reduced.

Education & Child Safety

Fairness in Sports – SB 1
Requires school sports teams to be designated by sex and limits participation accordingly.

Exams for Home Study Students – SB 63
Mandates local schools offer certain exams to home study students.

Revision of Child Neglect Definition – SB 110
Updates child neglect laws and protects parents who allow safe independent activities.

No Expulsion for Missing School – SB 123
Students can’t be kicked out just for being absent too much. Schools must now use supportive strategies instead of expulsion.

Combating Higher Education Threats from China – HB 150
Requires public universities to report funding from Chinese-linked entities.

Background Checks for Early Childhood Workers – HB 175
Stricter fingerprint and registry checks for daycare and Head Start employees.

Drug Costs for State Employees – HB 196
Requires drug reimbursements under state health plans to follow transparent pricing.

Ban on Cellphones in K–8 – HB 340
Elementary and middle schools must keep personal cellphones stowed during school hours. Other personal electronic devices also banned. 

Quality Basic Education Act — HB 371
Raises funding for education from $300 million to $375 million in effort to improve quality of education.

Family & Health

Fentanyl Test Strips Now Legal – SB 6
It’s no longer illegal to carry tools that test drugs for fentanyl. This harm-reduction measure can help prevent overdoses.

Adoptees Get Birth Certificates – SB 100 “Andee’s Law”
Adult adoptees can now request their original birth certificates without a court order.

Hope for Georgia Patients – SB 72
Expands access to experimental treatments for seriously ill patients.

Gestational Diabetes Care – HB 352
Health insurers must better cover diabetes treatment for pregnant women.

IVF Protection – HB 428
Guarantees the right to in vitro fertilization and defines it in Georgia law.

High Deductible Health Plans for State Employees – HB 422
Requires state employee health plans to offer high-deductible options.

Military & Veterans

Burial in Veterans Cemeteries – HB 53
Expands eligibility for burial in Georgia veterans cemeteries.

Military tax exemption — HB266
Exempts military veterans from paying income tax on retirement income.

Infrastructure & Transportation

Regulating “Vertiports” – HB 156
The state can plan for future drone or air-taxi ports.

Let Heavier Trucks Use Local Roads – HB 164
Trucks can be 4,000 lbs heavier (up to 84k lbs) on non-interstate roads.

Digital Driver’s Licenses OK – HB 296
Your mobile (e.g., phone wallet) driver’s license is now legally valid—just remember to keep your physical copy too.

Consumer Protection

Property Insurance Policies – SB 35
Requires insurers to notify policyholders before canceling a homeowners’ insurance policy.

Sales of Catalytic Converters – SB 40
Adds registration and recordkeeping requirements for selling used catalytic converters.

Increased Protection for Homeowners from Contractors – SB 201
Improves contract rules after natural disasters and limits certain insurance assignments.

Limits on Storage Auction Notices – HB 131
Storage units need just one public auction notice (instead of two).

Mortgage Privacy Boost – HB 240
Mortgage brokers can’t spam you with calls after your credit check—protecting your privacy.

Exempt Rideshare Drivers from Motor Carrier Definition – HB 339
Exempts rideshare drivers from motor carrier rules and limits company liability.

Protect Sale of Homemade Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics – HB 398
Legalizes cottage food production and blocks local regulation.

Landlords Must Have GA Agent – HB 399
If your landlord lives out of state, they must have a local contact for emergencies.

Animal Protection

Protect Pets in Domestic Violence Situations – HB 177
Allows protective orders to include pets in family or dating violence cases.

Roadside Pet Sales Banned – HB 331
No more selling dogs or cats from cars or gas stations—only licensed sellers.

Ban Air Guns While Hunting & Update Catfish Rules – HB 491
Bans air guns for hunting and updates catfish bowfishing rules.

End of Life

Human Composting Legal – SB 241
An eco-friendly burial option: bodies can now be composted into soil.

Fun & Symbolic Moments 

Fluorescent Pink Hunting Gear Allowed – HB 167
Blaze pink is now a legal alternative to orange for deer hunting safety.

State Stew Named – HB 233
Designates Brunswick stew as Georgia’s official state stew.

New Specialty License Plates – SB 291
Creates an “America First” specialty license plate. 

History

Vince Dooley Battlefield Trust Fund Act – HB 454
Creates a grant fund to preserve historic battlefields.