Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB713 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 28 5001
2	2	House Bill 713
3	3	By: Representatives Scott of the 76
4	4	th
5	5	, Davis of the 87
6	6	th
7	7	, Schofield of the 63
8	8	rd
9	9	, and Jackson of
10	10	the 68
11	11	th
12	12
13	13	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
14	14	AN ACT
15	15	To amend Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
16	16	1
17	17	general provisions regarding the General Assembly, so as to provide that no rule or policy2
18	18	shall be enacted that limits the number of bills or resolutions which a member may file or3
19	19	introduce in a legislative session; to provide that no rule, policy, or procedure shall be4
20	20	enacted by the General Assembly that limits or obstructs the ability of members of the5
21	21	General Assembly to fulfill their duties under the Georgia Constitution; to provide for6
22	22	physical, recorded votes on certain matters; to provide for a Legislative Constitutional7
23	23	Counsel; to provide for appointment, qualifications, compensation, and duties; to provide a8
24	24	short title; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting9
25	25	laws; and for other purposes.10
26	26	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11
27	27	SECTION 1.12
28	28	This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Legislative Integrity and13
29	29	Representation Act of 2025."14
30	30	H. B. 713
31	31	- 1 - 25 LC 28 5001
32	32	SECTION 2.
33	33	15
34	34	Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general16
35	35	provisions regarding the General Assembly, is amended by adding new Code sections to read17
36	36	as follows:18
37	37	"28-1-17.
38	38	19
39	39	(a) No rule, statute, or executive action shall limit the right of members of the General20
40	40	Assembly to introduce, file, or advocate for legislation that represents the interests of their21
41	41	constituents.22
42	42	(b) Any attempt to place a limit on the number of bills or resolutions which a member of23
43	43	the General Assembly may file shall be deemed an unconstitutional restriction on the24
44	44	legislative process which infringes on the right of elected officials to serve the people25
45	45	without arbitrary limitations.26
46	46	(c) The General Assembly is the direct voice of the people, and no rule, statute, or27
47	47	executive action shall diminish the duty of a member of the General Assembly to introduce28
48	48	policies that address the needs and concerns of his or her constituents.29
49	49	(d) This Code section reaffirms the constitutional principle of representative democracy30
50	50	and that elected members of the General Assembly are sent to the General Assembly to31
51	51	serve the best interests of their districts without restriction or interference that would32
52	52	suppress the will of the voters.33
53	53	(e) Therefore, the rights of members of the General Assembly to freely propose, debate,34
54	54	and pass legislation are critical to ensuring a limited, accountable government that35
55	55	functions on behalf of its citizens and not bureaucratic control.36
56	56	(f) Any attempt to suppress a member of the General Assembly's ability to file and37
57	57	introduce legislation shall be subject to judicial review under both state and federal38
58	58	constitutional protections, and members of the General Assembly shall have standing to39
59	59	challenge any such attempt in court, with legal representation to be provided by the40
60	60	Legislative Constitutional Counsel's Office.41
61	61	H. B. 713
62	62	- 2 - 25 LC 28 5001
63	63	(g) Any procedural attempt by the General Assembly to override this Code section without42
64	64	a recorded vote shall be deemed null and void.43
65	65	28-1-18.44
66	66	(a) To ensure transparency and accountability in the General Assembly, the election of the45
67	67	following positions shall require a physical, recorded vote of the house of the General46
68	68	Assembly to which it is applicable:47
69	69	(1) Speaker of the House of Representatives;48
70	70	(2) Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives; and49
71	71	(3) President Pro Tempore of the Senate.50
72	72	(b) In addition, the adoption or amendment of the rules for a house of the General51
73	73	Assembly shall require open debate and a physical, recorded vote and, to be effective, must52
74	74	receive approval by at least a two-thirds' majority vote of the body. The vote shall be53
75	75	conducted publicly, and individual votes shall be entered into the legislative journal to54
76	76	ensure accountability to constituents. Any rule or policy that eliminates or restricts such55
77	77	recorded vote on such items shall be void and unenforceable.56
78	78	28-1-19.57
79	79	(a) There is established the position of Legislative Constitutional Counsel. The Legislative58
80	80	Constitutional Counsel shall be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia. 59
81	81	The Legislative Constitutional Counsel shall provide independent legal support to all60
82	82	members of the General Assembly and shall advise and defend members of the General61
83	83	Assembly in matters concerning constitutional rights, legislative procedures, and potential62
84	84	legal violations which would affect the ability of such members to represent their63
85	85	constituents.64
86	86	H. B. 713
87	87	- 3 - 25 LC 28 5001
88	88	(b) The Legislative Constitutional Counsel shall not be subject to oversight or control by65
89	89	the executive branch of government or any partisan leadership positions of the General66
90	90	Assembly but shall instead be accountable only to the General Assembly as a whole.67
91	91	(c) The Legislative Constitutional Counsel shall be appointed by a two-thirds' majority68
92	92	vote of the House of Representatives and the Senate and shall not be removed without due69
93	93	cause and a two-thirds' majority vote of the House of Representatives and the Senate.70
94	94	(d) The Legislative Constitutional Counsel shall have such compensation and benefits as71
95	95	may be provided by the General Assembly and shall have such staff and office space as72
96	96	may be provided by the General Assembly."73
97	97	SECTION 3.74
98	98	This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law75
99	99	without such approval.76
100	100	SECTION 4.77
101	101	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.78
102	102	H. B. 713
103	103	- 4 -