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GA HB579

GA HB579
Professions and businesses; licensure to engage in trade; provisions


summary

Introduced
02/21/2025
In Committee
03/20/2025
Crossed Over
03/06/2025
Passed
04/10/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/09/2025

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT To amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to revise provisions relating to licensure to engage in the practice of a profession, business, or trade in this state; to revise provisions relating to meetings of professional licensing boards; to revise provisions relating to the roster of licensees; to revise provisions relating to the duties of the division director; to provide for the review and granting of applications for the issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of licenses by the director of the professional licensing boards division; to revise provisions relating to the renewal of professional licenses; to revise provisions relating to the removal of members of a professional licensing board; to require that the rules and regulations promulgated by professional licensing boards be designed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public; to repeal provisions creating separate standards committees of the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill proposes several modifications to Georgia's professional licensing regulations, primarily focusing on streamlining and standardizing licensing processes. The bill empowers the division director of professional licensing boards to review and grant license applications, renewals, and reinstatements on behalf of professional licensing boards, provided the applicant meets all required qualifications. It allows the division director to establish administrative standards for professional licensing examinations and grants flexibility in verifying educational requirements. The bill also revises provisions related to board meetings, license renewals (now allowing a 45-day grace period), and board member removal, with the Governor now able to remove board members without a formal hearing. Additionally, the bill mandates that professional licensing boards' rules and regulations must be designed to protect public health, safety, and welfare, and removes separate standards committees for certain professional specialties. The changes aim to make professional licensing processes more efficient while maintaining regulatory oversight, with the bill set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Effective Date 2026-07-01 (on 05/09/2025)

bill text


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