Part ofTechnology →
The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Did Not Advance
Georgia restricts software licensing limits on hardware and mandates state AI inventory
Original title: Georgia Technology Authority; annual inventory of artificial intelligence usage by state agencies; provide
Last action · March 18, 2026: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By SubstituteSponsors: Brad Thomas and 6 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.
What This Bill Proposed
Georgia prohibits governmental entities from entering into software contracts that restrict installation on hardware of the entity's choosing, and requires the Georgia Technology Authority to conduct an annual inventory of usage by state agencies starting December 31, 2026.
Why it matters
State and local agencies gain the legal right to install licensed software on any desktop or server hardware they select, while state agencies face mandatory reporting and impact assessment tracking for all systems.
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
governmental entities
State and local government bodies, including school systems and municipalities, are prohibited from signing software licensing contracts that restrict hardware choices.
Directly affected
Georgia Technology Authority
The authority is mandated to conduct annual artificial intelligence inventories, prepare reports for legislative leadership, and establish comprehensive AI policies and procedures.
Directly affected
state agencies
Agencies must fully cooperate with the Georgia Technology Authority and have their artificial intelligence systems inventoried and evaluated.
Key Facts
- Governmental entities are prohibited from entering into software licensing contracts that restrict installation or execution on desktop or server hardware of the entity's choosing.
- The Georgia Technology Authority must conduct an initial inventory of all systems employing artificial intelligence used by state agencies by December 31, 2026, and annually thereafter.
- Each AI inventory must include the system name, vendor, general capabilities and uses, and whether an impact assessment was performed prior to implementation.
- The Georgia Technology Authority must develop and establish policies and procedures concerning AI development, procurement, implementation, utilization, and ongoing assessment by December 31, 2027.
Show all 7 facts
- The Georgia Technology Authority must prepare an annual report on agency AI inventory and make it electronically available to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the General Assembly.
- All state agencies are required to cooperate with the Georgia Technology Authority in administering the artificial intelligence provisions.
- The software hardware choice restriction applies to all contracts entered into, renewed, modified, or extended on or after the effective date of the Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the software hardware rule mean for local governments and school systems?
Governmental entities, including counties, municipal corporations, and school systems, cannot sign software contracts that force them to use specific desktop or server hardware brands or models for those applications.
When is the first state agency AI inventory due?
The Georgia Technology Authority must complete the first inventory of systems used by agencies no later than December 31, 2026.
Who receives the annual report on state agency artificial intelligence?
The report must be made electronically available to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the House of Representatives and Senate.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
12 actions- Mar 18, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Jan 12, 2026SenateSenate Recommitted
- Mar 27, 2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
- Mar 25, 2025SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Mar 10, 2025SenateSenate Withdrawn & Recommitted
- Feb 21, 2025SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
Show 6 earlier actions
- Feb 20, 2025HouseHouse Third Readers
- Feb 20, 2025HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted
- Feb 6, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported
- Jan 30, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Jan 29, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Jan 28, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
Version history & redline
3 versions on fileComparing LC 56 0266/a → Sen Ctee Sub LC 64 0102S
removed addedOfficial text
removed: 25 added: 26 LC removed: 56 0266
House Bill 147
By: Representatives Thomas of the 21st , Jones of the 25th , Crowe of the 118 th , Gullett of the
19th , Clifton of the 131st , added: 64 0102S
The Senate Committee on Science and removed: others
added: Technology offered the following
substitute to HB 147:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend added: Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter added: 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general authority, duties, and procedure of the Department of Administrative services relative to state purchasing, so as to prohibit a governmental entity from entering into contracts for the licensing of software applications that limit such governmental entity's ability to install or run such software applications on certain desktop or server hardware of such governmental entity's choosing; to amend Chapter 25 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Technology Authority, so as to provide for an annual
[…]
by state agencies; to provide for annual reports of such; to provide for the authority to develop and establish certain policies; to provide for added: definitions; to provide for related matters; to added: provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. added: Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter added: 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general authority, duties, and procedure of the Department of Administrative Services relative to state purchasing, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "50-5-86. (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'governmental entity' means any department, agency, board, bureau, commission, authority, county, municipal corporation, school system, or other political subdivision of this state. (b) A contract procured by a governmental entity for the licensing of software applications designed to run on generally available desktop or server hardware shall not limit such governmental entity's ability to install or run such software applications on the desktop or server hardware of such governmental entity's choosing." SECTION 2. Chapter 25 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Technology Authority, is amended by revising Code Section 50-25-7.9,
[…]
an automated manner, and use model inference to formulate options for information or action. (b) The authority shall: (1) Not later than December 31, removed: 2025, added: 2026, and annually thereafter, conduct an inventory of all systems that employ artificial intelligence removed: and added: which are removed: in use added: used to inform or materially support a conclusion, decision, or judgment made by any agency. Each inventory shall include, but not be limited to, the following information for each such system: (A) The name of the system and the vendor, if any, that provided such system; (B) A description of the general capabilities and uses of such system; removed: (C) Whether such system was used to independently make, inform, or materially support a conclusion, decision, or judgment; and removed: (D) added: (C) Whether such system underwent an impact assessment prior to implementation; and (2) Not later than December 31, removed: 2026, added: 2027, develop and establish policies and procedures concerning the development, procurement, implementation, utilization, and ongoing assessment of systems that employ artificial intelligence and are in use by agencies. removed: Such policies and procedures shall, at a minimum: (A) Govern the procurement, implementation, and ongoing assessment of such systems by agencies; and (B) Ensure that no such system results in any unlawful discrimination against any individual or group of individuals. (c) The authority shall prepare an annual report on the inventory of artificial intelligence in use by agencies, as provided for in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section. Such report shall be removed: provided added: made electronically available to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the House of Representatives and removed: Senate; provided, however, that the authority shall not be required to distribute copies of the report but shall notify the recipients of the availability of such report in the manner deemed by the authority to be most effective and efficient. added: Senate. (d) All state agencies shall cooperate with the authority in the administration of this Code section. Reserved." SECTION removed: 2. added: 3. (a) This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval. (b) This Act shall apply to all contracts for the licensing of software applications entered into by governmental entities on or after the effective date of this Act and to any renewals, modifications, or extensions of such agreements entered into on or after such date. SECTION 4. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. removed: H. B. 1
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Voting Record
PASSAGE
Total
174
- Yes
- 168
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 3
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 3
How they voted (174)
Carl GilliardParty not recordedyes
Chris ErwinParty not recordedyes
Bruce WilliamsonParty not recordedyes
Buddy DeLoachParty not recordedyes
Will WadeParty not recordedyes
Johnny ChastainParty not recordedyes
Debra BazemoreParty not recordedyes
Chuck EfstrationParty not recordedyes
Trey RhodesParty not recordedyes
Sharon HendersonParty not recordedyes
Eric BellParty not recordedyes
Jordan RidleyParty not recordedyes
Esther PanitchParty not recordedyes
Park CannonParty not recordedyes
Bill WerkheiserParty not recordedyes
Charlice ByrdParty not recordedyes
Michelle AuParty not recordedyes
Doreen CarterParty not recordedyes
Lauren McDonaldParty not recordedyes
Rick JasperseParty not recordedyes
Houston GainesParty not recordedyes
El-Mahdi HollyParty not recordedyes
Karen LuptonParty not recordedyes
Tim FlemingParty not recordedyes
150 more members
Bill HitchensParty not recordedyes
Rey MartinezParty not recordedyes
Derrick McCollumParty not recordedyes
Steve TarvinParty not recordedyes
Robert FlournoyParty not recordedyes
Matt DubnikParty not recordedyes
Robert DickeyParty not recordedyes
Karlton HowardParty not recordedyes
David HuddlestonParty not recordedyes
Rick TownsendParty not recordedyes
Nissa JonesParty not recordedyes
Debbie BucknerParty not recordedyes
Derrick JacksonParty not recordedyes
Long TranParty not recordedyes
Don ParsonsParty not recordedyes
Kimberly AlexanderParty not recordedyes
Mary Frances WilliamsParty not recordedexcused
Tangie HerringParty not recordedyes
John LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Inga WillisParty not recordedyes
David SampsonParty not recordedyes
Michael SmithParty not recordedyes
Chuck MartinParty not recordedyes
Omari CrawfordParty not recordednot voting
Lynn SmithParty not recordedyes
Victor AndersonParty not recordedyes
David ClarkParty not recordedyes
Karla DrennerParty not recordedyes
Brian PrinceParty not recordedyes
Dar'shun KendrickParty not recordedexcused
Lydia GlaizeParty not recordedexcused
Mary Margaret OliverParty not recordedyes
David WilkersonParty not recordedyes
Spencer FryeParty not recordedyes
Miriam ParisParty not recordedyes
Beth CampParty not recordedyes
Martin MomtahanParty not recordedyes
Mitchell ScogginsParty not recordedyes
Brad ThomasParty not recordedyes
Ginny EhrhartParty not recordedyes
Scott HolcombParty not recordedyes
Matt BartonParty not recordedyes
Sam ParkParty not recordedyes
Gabriel SanchezParty not recordedyes
Joe CampbellParty not recordedyes
Shaw BlackmonParty not recordedyes
Chas CannonParty not recordedyes
Gabe OkoyeParty not recordedyes
Solomon AdesanyaParty not recordedyes
Mike CameronParty not recordedyes
Scott HiltonParty not recordedyes
Matt ReevesParty not recordedyes
Rob LeverettParty not recordedyes
Tyler SmithParty not recordedyes
Dale WashburnParty not recordedyes
Rob CliftonParty not recordedyes
Mack JacksonParty not recordedyes
Lehman FranklinParty not recordedyes
Josh BonnerParty not recordedyes
Lisa CampbellParty not recordednot voting
Dewey McClainParty not recordedyes
Bethany BallardParty not recordedyes
Stacey EvansParty not recordedyes
Devan SeabaughParty not recordedyes
Marvin LimParty not recordedyes
Todd JonesParty not recordedyes
David JenkinsParty not recordedyes
Kimberly NewParty not recordedyes
Betsy HollandParty not recordedyes
Robert DawsonParty not recordedyes
Gerald GreeneParty not recordedyes
Leesa HaganParty not recordedyes
Tanya MillerParty not recordedyes
Jaclyn FordParty not recordedyes
Alan PowellParty not recordedyes
Ruwa RommanParty not recordedyes
Butch ParrishParty not recordedyes
Jan JonesParty not recordedyes
Phil OlaleyeParty not recordedyes
Teddy ReeseParty not recordedyes
Carter BarrettParty not recordedyes
Anne WestbrookParty not recordedyes
John CarsonParty not recordedyes
Steven SainzParty not recordedyes
Clint CroweParty not recordedyes
Noelle KahaianParty not recordedyes
Danny MathisParty not recordedyes
Mitchell HornerParty not recordedyes
James BurchettParty not recordedyes
Katie DempseyParty not recordedyes
Sandy DonatucciParty not recordedyes
John CorbettParty not recordedyes
Mark NewtonParty not recordedyes
Sandra ScottParty not recordedyes
Darlene TaylorParty not recordedyes
Mekyah McQueenParty not recordedyes
Sheila JonesParty not recordedyes
Brent CoxParty not recordedyes
Ron StephensParty not recordedyes
Carmen RiceParty not recordedyes
Stan GunterParty not recordedyes
Bryce BerryParty not recordedyes
Kim SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Sharon CooperParty not recordedyes
Joseph GullettParty not recordedyes
L.C. MylesParty not recordedyes
Imani BarnesParty not recordedyes
Emory DunahooParty not recordedyes
Demetrius DouglasParty not recordedyes
Holt PersingerParty not recordedyes
Sylvia Wayfer BakerParty not recordedyes
Gary RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Matthew GambillParty not recordedyes
Viola DavisParty not recordedyes
Edna JacksonParty not recordedyes
Bill YeartaParty not recordedyes
Deborah SilcoxParty not recordedyes
Rhonda TaylorParty not recordedyes
Matt HatchettParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann SantosParty not recordedyes
Mike CheokasParty not recordedyes
Carolyn HugleyParty not recordedyes
Patty Marie StinsonParty not recordedyes
Kasey CarpenterParty not recordedyes
Trey KelleyParty not recordedyes
Segun AdeyinaParty not recordedyes
Floyd GriffinParty not recordedyes
Jason RidleyParty not recordedyes
Jutt HowardParty not recordedyes
Shea RobertsParty not recordedyes
Yasmin NealParty not recordedyes
Soo HongParty not recordedyes
Steven MeeksParty not recordedyes
Angie O'SteenParty not recordedyes
Lee HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Karen MathiakParty not recordedyes
Billy MitchellParty not recordedyes
Vance SmithParty not recordedyes
Eddie LumsdenParty not recordedyes
Jon BurnsParty not recordednot voting
Regina Lewis-WardParty not recordedyes
Jasmine ClarkParty not recordedyes
Saira DraperParty not recordedyes
Terry CummingsParty not recordedyes
Al WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Angela MooreParty not recordedyes
Rhonda BurnoughParty not recordedyes
Jesse PetreaParty not recordedyes
Arlene BecklesParty not recordedyes
Noel WilliamsParty 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift95% confidence
Establishment of State AI Oversight
The bill transitions state technology policy from decentralized agency adoption to centralized inventory tracking and mandatory impact assessment reporting overseen by the Georgia Technology Authority.
Connected Entities
OrganizationSenate“Members receive electronically available annual reports on artificial intelligen”Map →
OrganizationHouse of Representatives“Members receive electronically available annual reports on artificial intelligen”Map →
PersonGovernor“Receives electronically available annual reports on artificial intelligence inve”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Administrative Services“Mentioned in relation to state purchasing and general authority, duties, and pro”Map →
OrganizationGeorgia Technology Authority“Tasked with conducting an annual inventory of AI usage and establishing policies”Map →
PersonLieutenant Governor“Receives electronically available annual reports on artificial intelligence inve”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools