Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB1247: Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act; enact
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions, so as to prohibit courts and administrative officers from deferring to agency interpretations of laws and regulations; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Chapter 1 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions, so as to prohibit courts and administrative officers from deferring to agency interpretations of laws and regulations; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Chapter 1 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions, so as to prohibit courts and administrative officers from deferring to agency interpretations of laws and regulations; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act." SECTION 2. Chapter 1 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "15-1-24. When interpreting this state's Constitution, statutes, regulations, or other subregulatory documents, a court, or an officer hearing an administrative action, shall not defer to a state H. B. 1247 LC 62 0359 agency's determination or interpretation of such authorities, whether such determination or interpretation is written or unwritten." SECTION 3. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. H. B. 1247
Sponsors
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050) · primary sponsor
- Matt Reeves (R, 99) · primary sponsor
- Alan Powell (R, 33)
- Steve Tarvin (R, 2)
- Mitchell Horner (R, 3)
- Sandy Donatucci (R, 105)
- Scott Hilton (R, 48)
Latest actions
- : Act 718
- : Effective Date
- : House Date Signed by Governor
- : House Sent to Governor
- : Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub
- : House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended
- : Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- : Senate Third Read
- : Senate Read Second Time
- : Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
Votes
- Senate Vote #983 (April 3, 2026): 34 yea, 18 nay, passed
- House Vote #854 (April 2, 2026): 98 yea, 70 nay, passed
- House Vote #853 (April 2, 2026): 96 yea, 69 nay, passed
- Senate Vote #812 (March 25, 2026): 48 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Senate Vote #811 (March 25, 2026): 33 yea, 18 nay, passed
- House Vote #640 (March 4, 2026): 98 yea, 63 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB1247?
- HB1247 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act; enact.
- What does HB1247 do?
- In its own words: To amend Chapter 1 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions, so as to prohibit courts and administrative officers from deferring to agency interpretations of laws and regulations; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB1247?
- Signed into law as of May 12, 2026. Latest action: Act 718 (May 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1247?
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1247?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73010
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.