The Act makes significant changes to Georgia’s civil litigation procedures. It stays discovery upon the filing of a motion to dismiss, limits voluntary dismissals after an answer is filed, and allows for bifurcated trials to separate issues of liability and damages. It caps recoverable medical expenses to the reasonable
The Act limits manufacturer liability for the use of fertilizers, plant growth regulators, or pesticides. Under the Act, and with limited exceptions, a manufacturer cannot be held liable for the failure to warn users of the health risks associated with those fertilizers and pesticides above those already required by the
The Act primarily functions to regulate “third-party litigation financing” (TPLF). Also known as the Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act, the Act mandates that all litigation financiers operating within Georgia register with the Department of Banking and Finance and disclose ownership details, including any foreign affiliations. In addition, the
This Act amends various sections of Georgia’s criminal code. Three key changes are particularly noteworthy. First, the Act revises threshold amounts of fentanyl and related substances for the offenses of possessing, selling, distributing, manufacturing, and trafficking such substances. Second, the Act increases the penalties for such offenses. Lastly, the
The Act permits criminal defendants to introduce evidence that they are survivors of family violence, sexual abuse, or related trauma in support of a justification defense. It amends various Code sections to provide for the admissibility of such evidence, clarify the applicability of justification defenses, and establish evidentiary standards. The
This Act establishes a statutory framework to compensate individuals wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in Georgia. Also known as the Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration Compensation Act, the Act allows eligible claimants to seek financial compensation through the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH). The Act also entitles criminal defendants to recover
The Act, prompted by the September 4, 2024, Apalachee High School shooting, establishes sweeping safety, health, and wellness reforms for Georgia schools. The Act (1) requires every public school to install an Alyssa’s Alert mobile panic-alarm system integrated with 911 and first responders by July 1, 2026; (2) mandates
The bill proposed a prohibition on local education agencies and postsecondary institutions from endorsing any programs or activities that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, which includes any efforts to promote the different treatment of individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, or sexual
The Act adds the definition of ‘custodian’ for the purposes of public records requests to make clear that a custodian is the agency that has control over such public records. Further, the Act states that all requests for public records must be made to a custodian. As a result, when
The Act supplements the protection of religious exercise by requiring government actions that could burden religious practices to meet a “compelling interest” test, mirroring a federal counterpart bill from 1993. The Act creates a cause of action against the state government for substantially burdening a person’s free exercise of
The Act prohibits the use of state funds or resources to provide genderaffirming medical care to incarcerated individuals. It bans funding for sex reassignment surgeries, hormone replacement therapy, and any cosmetic or prosthetic procedures intended to alter an inmate’s primary or secondary sex characteristics. The bill includes limited exceptions,
The Act requires Georgia universities to release biannual reports, no later than January 31 and July 31, detailing all funding received from foreign countries, entities, or individuals of concern, as designated by the United States Secretary of Commerce. The Act also provides definitions of these terms and establishes reporting requirements.
The Act establishes statewide requirements for student participation in athletic teams based on biological sex as recorded on a student’s original birth certificate. It requires all public schools, and any private schools that compete against them, to designate school-sponsored athletic teams as male, female, or coeducational. Teams designated for
Law and morality are inextricably linked. Those who make, enforce, or are subject to the law may wish to believe that legal principles rest on objective foundations, but the reality could not be further from the truth. Even our most basic and well-accepted legal prohibitions or legal rights are steeped
Tax law is more than a fiscal framework; it is a moral compass that shapes society's values, governing who bears the burden and who reaps the benefits. Hidden within the tax code are moral judgments on wealth, privilege, responsibility, and fairness, making taxation one of the most profound
