These new GA laws will take effect soon. Here’s when, how they may impact you

There are several new laws taking effect in Georgia in January 2026 that will bring a wide range of changes to everything from taxes to education to health care.

Below is a quick guide to some of the biggest legal changes from the Office of the Governor taking effect Jan. 1, 2026, grouped by topic, so readers can spot what is most relevant to them.

Taxes, homesteads and property

Homestead exemptions

Many of these changes reduce the taxable value of owner-occupied homes for school or county taxes, often with special breaks for seniors, veterans or surviving spouses.​

Georgia didn’t pass a single “mega law” but rather a wave of local bills that affect homestead exemptions in a handful of counties.

• Fulton
• Gwinnett
• Columbia
• Clayton
• Spalding
• Lowndes 

Tax codes and credits

• House Bill 290 updates the state’s conformity to the federal Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
• House Bill 376 revises the historic rehabilitation tax credit under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.8
• House Bill 223 extends the time property owners have to appeal tax assessments from 30 to 45 days

Housing, consumer fees and everyday money

Lawmakers have revised the laws for consumers to protect residents from fraudulent activity.

• House Bill 399 requires landlords to have in‑state staff to handle tenant communications
• House Bill 241 revised rules around convenience fees for electronic payments
• House Bill 240 adds protections for consumers targeting unfair or deceptive practices tied to mortgage-related marketing. 
• Senate Bill 81 act cracks down on how auto dealers and manufacturers handle consumer data in vehicle sales

Health care and public health

New laws will affect insurance coverage and expand funding for some residents.

Insurance related

• House Bill 422 allows the option to include high-deductible health plans in the menu of coverage. 
• House Bill 511 lets taxpayers create catastrophe savings accounts with state income tax deductions.

Patient rights

• House Bill 352 is the Georgia Gestational Diabetes Management Act, which expands medical coverage for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to include recipients with gestational diabetes. 
• Senate Bill 20 sets up loan repayment for veterinarians working in shelter medicine and nonprofit spay‑neuter clinics.

For medical professionals

• Senate Bill 130 expands medical education funding and service cancelable loans for doctors, dentists and physician assistants in underserved areas.
• House Bill 172 expanded the loan repayment program for veterinarians working with food animals in rural areas.

Crime, courts and public safety

Several criminal procedures and court measures take effect in 2026.

Court professionals

• Senate Bill 244 created a formal process for awarding attorney’s fees to defendants when a prosecutor is disqualified for misconduct.
• House Bill 238 requires the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Council to create an at‑risk adult training course for responding to people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
• House Bill 199 updates rules for protecting judges’ and spouses’ personal data by letting them request removal from public records held by state/local governments

Court proceedings

• House Bill 222 mandates that bonds and recognizances in criminal proceedings include specific contact information.
• House Bill 123 reforms how intellectual disability is handled in death‑penalty pretrial proceedings and requires hearings before some competency evaluations are ordered.​

Schools, students and higher education

K-12

• Senate Bill 213 banned commercial cheating services targeting students and professional exam takers by classifying them as unlawful, unfair, and deceptive trade practices under the state’s Fair Business Practices Act (FBPA) 
• Senate Bill 212 bars school systems from releasing student directory information to political candidates or their surrogates

Higher education

• House Bill 38 revised Georgia’s needs‑based college aid program definition of an “eligible student” and passed the “Top State for Talent Act.” 
• House Bill 150 is the Combating Threats from China Act of 2025 – Higher Education which on how Georgia colleges and universities interact with certain foreign entities,

Agriculture, land and environment

Foreign ownership of certain agricultural land and other property will now face new limits.

• Senate Bill 189 will modify the Board of Natural Resources’ powers and duties
• House Bill 912 will update the Environmental Protection Division’s Environmental Advisory Council reference date to current standards, rules, and regulations
• Senate Bill 347 will authorize the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to finance natural gas facility projects, with clearer duties.

Transportation, energy and local government

Residents will see changes that touch everything from how licenses are presented electronically to how temporary operating permits are issued.

Driver services

• House Bill 221 will allow presentation of driver’s licenses in electronic format, with new provisions 
• House Bill 567 will set conditions, procedures, and limitations for temporary motor vehicle operating permits
• House Bill 404 will increase minimum uninsured motorist coverage required for individuals convicted of DUI or reckless driving

Transportation-related

• House Bill 882 will give the Department of Transportation authority over vertiports
• House Bill 566 will authorize the Department of Transportation to notice certain public hearings by electronic publication

Energy

• House Bill 1012 will enact the “South Georgia Energy Authority Act,” which establishes the South Georgia Energy Authority (SGEA) to develop and manage natural gas infrastructure.
• Several other House bills were passed to allow certain individual counties or cities to levy or modify existing excise taxes for local purposes like tourism development.

For a more detailed explanation of the new laws and ordinances coming in January, visit the website of the Office of the Governor for the list of 2025 Signed Legislation.

You can also email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.