summary
Introduced
03/03/2025
03/03/2025
In Committee
03/04/2025
03/04/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
AN ACT To amend Titles 8, 10, 34, 35, 45, and 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing, commerce and trade, labor and industrial relations, law enforcement officers and agencies, public officers and employees, and state government, respectively, so as to provide comprehensive state civil rights laws protecting individuals from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status, or national origin; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to extend protections prohibiting discrimination in housing; to provide for the right to equal enjoyment of and privileges to public accommodations and provide for a civil right of action and remedies; to prohibit discrimination in private and public employment and provide for a private right of action and remedies; to specifically prohibit racial profiling by law enforcement officers and law enforcement agencies; to require certain policies and procedures by law enforcement agencies; to provide for data collection; to provide for regulations by the Attorney General; to provide for an annual report; to provide for a right of action for enforcement; to revise the state waiver of sovereign immunity; to provide for waiver of sovereign immunity under certain circumstances; to repeal the use of the term "handicap" and make conforming changes with the use of the term "disability"; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
AI Summary
This bill enacts the Georgia Civil Rights Act of 2025, which aims to provide comprehensive state-level civil rights protections across multiple areas of law. The bill expands existing legal protections to prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status, and national origin in housing, public accommodations, and employment. Key provisions include establishing new legal frameworks that: (1) prohibit discrimination in housing by expanding protections for home buyers, renters, and those seeking housing-related services; (2) create a new chapter in state law guaranteeing equal access to public accommodations for all individuals; (3) establish employment protections that prevent discrimination in hiring, promotion, compensation, and workplace treatment for employers with 15 or more employees; (4) implement the "End Racial Profiling Act" to prohibit law enforcement from using racial or other protected characteristics as a basis for investigatory activities, requiring data collection and reporting on investigatory practices; and (5) update various state statutes to include the expanded list of protected characteristics. The bill also provides for civil rights enforcement mechanisms, including private rights of action, potential injunctive relief, and the ability for individuals or the Attorney General to bring claims. Notably, the bill includes a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for claims related to discrimination and will become effective on January 1, 2026, marking a significant expansion of civil rights protections in Georgia.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (5)
Last Action
Senate Read and Referred (on 03/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71106 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/234927 |
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