Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB1479: Civil practice; certain alleged acts by clergy members; extend statute of limitations
Status: In committee, March 4, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to specific periods of limitation, so as to extend the statute of limitations for certain alleged acts by clergy members; to provide for liability for certain entities; to provide for the extension of certain claims; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to specific periods of limitation, so as to extend the statute of limitations for certain alleged acts by clergy members; to provide for liability for certain entities; to provide for the extension of certain claims; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to specific periods of limitation, so as to extend the statute of limitations for certain alleged acts by clergy members; to provide for liability for certain entities; to provide for the extension of certain claims; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; 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 "Hayle's Law." SECTION 2. Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to specific periods of limitation, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "9-3-33.2. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Clergy member' means any person, whether licensed or unlicensed, who represents himself or herself as a minister, pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, or other spiritual leader of an H. B. 1479 LC 62 0450 organization claiming to be a faith based organization in this state or any other state, or any person who provides or purports to provide spiritual guidance, pastoral counseling, religious instruction, or spiritual direction to another person in a …
Sponsors
- Gabriel Sanchez (D, 42) · primary sponsor
- Stacey Evans (D, 57)
- Campbell, Lisa (D, 35)
- Scott Holcomb (D, 101)
- Mary Ann Santos (D, 117)
- Tanya Miller (D, 62)
Latest actions
- : House Second Readers
- : House First Readers
- : House Hopper
Common questions
- What is HB1479?
- HB1479 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Civil practice; certain alleged acts by clergy members; extend statute of limitations.
- What does HB1479 do?
- In its own words: To amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to specific periods of limitation, so as to extend the statute of limitations for certain alleged acts by clergy members; to provide for liability for certain entities; to provide for the extension of certain claims; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB1479?
- In committee as of March 4, 2026. Latest action: House Second Readers (March 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1479?
- Gabriel Sanchez (D, 42), with 5 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1479?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73760
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.