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Georgia House Bill 485 Repeals Unfunded Code Provisions, Updates Tax and Traffic Laws, and Revises State Oversight
Original title: Official Code of Georgia Annotated; various provisions enacted prior to 2013 which are contingent upon funding and which remain unfunded; repeal
Last action · March 31, 2026: Senate TabledSponsors: Bill Yearta and 5 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.
What This Bill Proposed
Georgia House Bill 485 repeals various unfunded and unconstitutional provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, revises tax and traffic laws, and updates terminology. The legislation establishes new standards for traffic violation bureaus, caps penalties for unpaid income taxes, and modifies the leadership rotation for the Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority Overview Committee.
Why it matters
Residents face updated misdemeanor limits for unpaid state income taxes capped at a $1,000 fine, revised rules for motorist passing distances from bicyclists, and procedural changes regarding traffic violation dispute handling in local courts.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Georgia taxpayers
Taxpayers are subject to revised misdemeanor provisions and a specific $1,000 fine cap for failing to pay income taxes.
Directly affected
Motorists and bicyclists
Drivers and cyclists must follow updated passing distance requirements and speed restrictions on public roadways.
Directly affected
Local governments
Counties and municipalities obtain clear statutory authority to levy occupation taxes and must hold public hearings prior to tax ordinance adoptions.
Key Facts
- Repeals various provisions enacted prior to 2013 that were contingent upon funding and remain unfunded, including prescription medication integrity rules and reports on veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
- Revises Code Section 40-13-60 to clarify that traffic violations under the jurisdiction of a traffic violations bureau are characterized as traffic violations rather than misdemeanors.
- Re-enacts Code Section 48-7-2 to establish that failure to pay income tax, file returns, or supply records is a misdemeanor, with punishment for failure to pay limited to a fine of not more than $1,000.
- Authorizes county and municipal governing authorities to levy, assess, and collect occupation taxes on businesses and professionals, requiring at least one public hearing prior to adopting any related ordinance after April 11, 1995.
Show all 8 facts
- Revises rules for motor vehicles approaching bicyclists, requiring a lane change or a speed reduction to at least 10 miles per hour under the posted limit with at least three feet of clearance.
- Updates the leadership appointment schedule for the Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority Overview Committee between the Senate and the House of Representatives.
- Repeals various unconstitutional or obsolete statutes, including laws regarding private club alcohol licenses, gasoline marketing practices, disrupting lawful meetings, and highway use permits for unregistered trucks.
- Removes outdated references to the federal No Child Left Behind Act and replaces them with references to the Every Student Succeeds Act across educational provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to traffic violations handled by a traffic violations bureau under HB 485?
The bill explicitly classifies traffic violations under the jurisdiction of a as traffic violations rather than misdemeanors.
What is the maximum fine for failing to pay income tax under the revised statute?
Punishment for failure to pay income tax owed is limited to a fine of not more than $1,000.
How must a motor vehicle pass a bicyclist under the updated rules?
Drivers must make a lane change into a non-adjacent lane if possible, or reduce speed to at least 10 mph under the speed limit (or 25 mph, whichever is more) while maintaining at least three feet of clearance.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Tabled in the Senate.
Procedural history
14 actions- Mar 31, 2026SenateSenate Tabled
- Mar 27, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Mar 19, 2026SenateSenate Recommitted
- Feb 12, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Jan 12, 2026SenateSenate Recommitted
- Mar 21, 2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
Show 8 earlier actions
- Mar 20, 2025SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Mar 10, 2025SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
- Mar 6, 2025HouseHouse Third Readers
- Mar 6, 2025HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- Feb 26, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Feb 20, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Feb 19, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Feb 18, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
Version history & redline
6 versions on fileComparing LC 39 4672S/hcs → Sen Ctee Sub LC 39 5113S
removed addedOfficial text
removed: 25 LC 39 4672S
House Bill 485 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By: Representatives Yearta of the 152nd , Efstration of the 104th , Scoggins of the 14th , Smith
of the 18th , and Barrett of the 24th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to repeal various provisions enacted prior to 2013 which are contingent upon funding and which remain unfunded; to revise various provisions to update outdated terminology or references; to repeal various Code sections or portions thereof held to be unconstitutional; to repeal and replace Code Sections 40-13-60, 48-7-2, and 48-13-6, relating to disposition of traffic violations and jurisdiction of bureau, unlawful failure to pay income tax, file return, keep records, supply information, or exhibit books and penalty, and levy of occupation tax by counties and municipalities on businesses and practitioners of professions and occupations and hearing on tax increase, respectively, so as to correct unconstitutional provisions; to provide for conforming changes; to amend an Act revising the "Georgia Veterinary Practice Act," approved June 3, 2003 (Ga. L. 2003, p. 615/HB 347), so as to repeal provisions which are contingent upon funding and which remain unfunded; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: PART I Contingency provisions SECTION 1-1. The Official Code of Georgia Annotated is amended by repealing and reserving the following: (1) Article 12 of Chapter 4 of Title 26, relating to prescription medication integrity. (2) Chapter 30 of Title 31, relating to reports on veterans exposed to Agent Orange. (3) Subsections (d) and (f) of Code Section 35-8-26, relating to TASER and electronic control weapons, requirements for use, establishment of policies, and training. (4) Subsection (k) of Code Section 43-34-8, relating to authority of Georgia Composite Medical Board to refuse license, certificate, or permit or 24,722 more removed characters - read the previous versionadded: 26 LC 39 5113S
The Senate Committee on Rules offered the following
substitute to HB 485:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to repeal various provisions enacted prior to 2013 which are contingent upon funding and which remain unfunded; to revise various provisions to update outdated terminology or references; to repeal various Code sections or portions thereof held to be unconstitutional; to repeal and replace Code Sections 40-13-60, 48-7-2, and 48-13-6, relating to disposition of traffic violations and jurisdiction of bureau, unlawful failure to pay income tax, file return, keep records, supply information, or exhibit books and penalty, and levy of occupation tax by counties and municipalities on businesses and practitioners of professions and occupations and hearing on tax increase, respectively, so as to correct unconstitutional provisions; to provide for conforming changes; to amend an Act revising the "Georgia Veterinary Practice Act," approved June 3, 2003 (Ga. L. 2003, p. 615/HB 347), so as to repeal provisions which are contingent upon funding and which remain unfunded; to provide for appointment of chairperson and vice chairperson for the Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Oversight Authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: PART I Contingency provisions SECTION 1-1. The Official Code of Georgia Annotated is amended by repealing and reserving the following: (1) Article 12 of Chapter 4 of Title 26, relating to prescription medication integrity. (2) Chapter 30 of Title 31, relating to reports on veterans exposed to Agent Orange. (3) Subsections (d) and (f) of Code Section 35-8-26, relating to TASER and electronic control weapons, requirements for use, establishment of policies, and training. (4) Subsection (k) of Code Section 43-34-8, relating to authority of Georgia Composite Medical Board to 19,294 more added characters - read this versionAll laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Voting Record
MOTION TO TABLE REMAINING LEGISLATION ON THE RULES CALENDAR
Total
54
- Yes
- 39
- No
- 10
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 2
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 3
How they voted (54)
Nan OrrockParty not recordedno
Gail DavenportParty not recordedyes
Russ GoodmanParty not recordedyes
Larry WalkerParty not recordedyes
Bill CowsertParty not recordedyes
Jason DickersonParty not recordedyes
Ed SetzlerParty not recordedyes
Bo HatchettParty not recordedyes
Steven McNeelParty not recordedyes
Donzella JamesParty not recordedexcused
Drew EcholsParty not recordedyes
Elena ParentParty not recordedyes
Nikki MerrittParty not recordedno
Kim JacksonParty not recordedyes
Chuck HufstetlerParty not recordedno
Frank GinnParty not recordedyes
Emanuel JonesParty not recordedexcused
Greg DolezalParty not recordedyes
RaShaun KempParty not recordedyes
Matt BrassParty not recordedno
Derek MallowParty not recordedyes
Billy HickmanParty not recordednot voting
Tonya AndersonParty not recordedno
Lee AndersonParty not recordedyes
30 more members
Steve GoochParty not recordedyes
Jason AnavitarteParty not recordedyes
Kenya WicksParty not recordedyes
Sheikh RahmanParty not recordedyes
Harold JonesParty not recordedyes
Max BurnsParty not recordedyes
Sally HarrellParty not recordedno
Ed HarbisonParty not recordedyes
Randy RobertsonParty not recordedyes
David LucasParty not recordedyes
Ben WatsonParty not recordedyes
Chuck PayneParty not recordedyes
Rick WilliamsParty not recordedyes
John AlbersParty not recordedyes
Randal ManghamParty not recordedyes
Sonya HalpernParty not recordedyes
Jaha HowardParty not recordedno
Brian StricklandParty not recordedyes
Mike HodgesParty not recordednot voting
Tim BeardenParty not recordedno
Carden SummersParty not recordedyes
Marty HarbinParty not recordedyes
Freddie Powell SimsParty not recordedexcused
Josh McLaurinParty not recordedno
Blake TilleryParty not recordedyes
Doc RhettParty not recordedno
Clint DixonParty not recordedyes
Shawn StillParty not recordedyes
Kay KirkpatrickParty not recordedyes
Sam WatsonParty not recordedyes
Show 1 earlier roll call
PASSAGE
Total
174
- Yes
- 170
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 2
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 2
How they voted (174)
Noelle KahaianParty not recordedyes
Jesse PetreaParty not recordedyes
Gerald GreeneParty not recordedyes
Edna JacksonParty not recordedyes
Karlton HowardParty not recordedyes
Inga WillisParty not recordedyes
Emory DunahooParty not recordedyes
Chuck MartinParty not recordedyes
Viola DavisParty not recordedyes
Sharon CooperParty not recordedyes
Teddy ReeseParty not recordedyes
Omari CrawfordParty not recordedyes
Jan JonesParty not recordedyes
Esther PanitchParty not recordedyes
Matthew GambillParty not recordedyes
Darlene TaylorParty not recordedyes
Matt BartonParty not recordedyes
Don ParsonsParty not recordedyes
Steven MeeksParty not recordedyes
Imani BarnesParty not recordedyes
Kasey CarpenterParty not recordedyes
Jaclyn FordParty not recordedyes
Lydia GlaizeParty not recordedyes
Mary Frances WilliamsParty not recordedyes
150 more members
David ClarkParty not recordedyes
Rob LeverettParty not recordedyes
Shea RobertsParty not recordedyes
Trey RhodesParty not recordedyes
Stacey EvansParty not recordedyes
Mike CameronParty not recordedyes
Mitchell ScogginsParty not recordedyes
Billy MitchellParty not recordedyes
Josh BonnerParty not recordedyes
Sharon HendersonParty not recordedyes
Rick JasperseParty not recordedyes
Lee HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Chuck EfstrationParty not recordedyes
Rick TownsendParty not recordedyes
Ginny EhrhartParty not recordedyes
Phil OlaleyeParty not recordedyes
Lauren McDonaldParty not recordedyes
Ron StephensParty not recordedyes
Park CannonParty not recordedyes
Betsy HollandParty not recordedyes
Holt PersingerParty not recordedyes
Scott HolcombParty not recordedyes
Brent CoxParty not recordedyes
Buddy DeLoachParty not recordedyes
Martin MomtahanParty not recordedyes
Joseph GullettParty not recordedyes
David WilkersonParty not recordedyes
John CorbettParty not recordedyes
Eddie LumsdenParty not recordedyes
Chas CannonParty not recordedyes
Leesa HaganParty not recordedyes
Alan PowellParty not recordedyes
Al WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Bill HitchensParty not recordedyes
Jason RidleyParty not recordedyes
Johnny ChastainParty not recordedyes
Matt ReevesParty not recordedyes
Derrick JacksonParty not recordedyes
Rhonda BurnoughParty not recordedyes
Derrick McCollumParty not recordedyes
Matt DubnikParty not recordedyes
Carolyn HugleyParty not recordedyes
Debra BazemoreParty not recordedyes
Angie O'SteenParty not recordedyes
Todd JonesParty not recordedyes
Mike CheokasParty not recordedexcused
John LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Nissa JonesParty not recordedyes
Terry CummingsParty not recordedyes
Sheila JonesParty not recordedyes
Gabe OkoyeParty not recordedyes
Jasmine ClarkParty not recordedyes
Will WadeParty not recordedyes
Robert DickeyParty not recordedyes
Lehman FranklinParty not recordedyes
El-Mahdi HollyParty not recordedyes
Gary RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Bill YeartaParty not recordedyes
Trey KelleyParty not recordedyes
Sandra ScottParty not recordedyes
Charlice ByrdParty not recordedyes
David HuddlestonParty not recordedyes
Anne WestbrookParty not recordedyes
David SampsonParty not recordedyes
Yasmin NealParty not recordedyes
Segun AdeyinaParty not recordedyes
Jordan RidleyParty not recordedyes
Brian PrinceParty not recordedyes
Mekyah McQueenParty not recordedyes
Bill WerkheiserParty not recordedyes
Matt HatchettParty not recordedyes
Katie DempseyParty not recordedyes
Victor AndersonParty not recordedyes
Chris ErwinParty not recordedyes
Dewey McClainParty not recordedyes
Spencer FryeParty not recordedyes
Demetrius DouglasParty not recordedyes
Robert DawsonParty not recordedyes
Doreen CarterParty not recordedyes
Jutt HowardParty not recordedyes
Kimberly NewParty not recordedyes
Stan GunterParty not recordedyes
Michael SmithParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann SantosParty not recordedyes
Lisa CampbellParty not recordedyes
Robert FlournoyParty not recordedyes
Bryce BerryParty not recordedyes
David JenkinsParty not recordedyes
Kimberly AlexanderParty not recordedyes
Kim SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Lynn SmithParty not recordedyes
Floyd GriffinParty not recordedyes
Debbie BucknerParty not recordedyes
Carmen RiceParty not recordedyes
Sandy DonatucciParty not recordedyes
Deborah SilcoxParty not recordedyes
Steve TarvinParty not recordedyes
Mack JacksonParty not recordedyes
Michelle AuParty not recordedyes
Houston GainesParty not recordedyes
Long TranParty not recordedyes
Bethany BallardParty not recordedyes
Mark NewtonParty not recordedyes
Devan SeabaughParty not recordedyes
Rey MartinezParty not recordedyes
Joe CampbellParty not recordedyes
Shaw BlackmonParty not recordednot voting
Rob CliftonParty not recordedyes
Angela MooreParty not recordedyes
Clint CroweParty not recordedyes
Bruce WilliamsonParty not recordedyes
Mary Margaret OliverParty not recordedyes
Mitchell HornerParty not recordedyes
Steven SainzParty not recordedyes
Beth CampParty not recordedyes
Dar'shun KendrickParty not recordedexcused
John CarsonParty not recordedyes
Soo HongParty not recordedyes
Patty Marie StinsonParty not recordedyes
Tangie HerringParty not recordedyes
Arlene BecklesParty not recordedyes
Karen MathiakParty not recordedyes
Tanya MillerParty not recordedyes
Vance SmithParty not recordedyes
Jon BurnsParty not recordednot voting
Karla DrennerParty not recordedyes
Gabriel SanchezParty not recordedyes
Karen LuptonParty not recordedyes
Eric BellParty not recordedyes
Brad ThomasParty not recordedyes
Marvin LimParty not recordedyes
Noel WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Saira DraperParty not recordedyes
Carl GilliardParty not recordedyes
L.C. MylesParty not recordedyes
Sam ParkParty not recordedyes
Scott HiltonParty not recordedyes
Tim FlemingParty not recordedyes
Butch ParrishParty not recordedyes
James BurchettParty not recordedyes
Regina Lewis-WardParty not recordedyes
Rhonda TaylorParty not recordedyes
Miriam ParisParty not recordedyes
Danny MathisParty not recordedyes
Dale WashburnParty not recordedyes
Solomon AdesanyaParty not recordedyes
Ruwa RommanParty not recordedyes
Sylvia Wayfer BakerParty not recordedyes
Carter BarrettParty not recordedyes
Tyler SmithParty not recordedyes
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 1 more sponsor
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift98% confidence
Systemic Code Cleanup of Pre-2013 Unfunded Mandates
The General Assembly is systematically removing obsolete, unconstitutional, and unfunded statutory provisions enacted prior to 2013 across multiple titles of the state code.
Connected Entities
OrganizationGeo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority Overview Committee“Joint committee of the General Assembly whose leadership rotation is revised”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Community Affairs“State department referenced in conflict of interest definitions”Map →
OrganizationGeorgia Composite Medical Board“Medical board referenced in repealed contingency provisions”Map →
OrganizationProfessional Standards Commission“Entity approving alternative teacher certification programs”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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