Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted 33 R cosponsors

SB 36 — "Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act"; enact

Last action — Senate Date Signed by Governor

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 27, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Brian Kemp (Republican) on April 04, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 33 sponsors

    1 primary, 32 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (33 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide for the preservation of religious freedom; to provide for the granting of relief; to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to provide for statutory interpretation; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and determinations; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Act 6

  2. Effective Date

  3. Senate Date Signed by Governor

  4. Senate Sent to Governor

  5. House Passed/Adopted

  6. House Third Readers

  7. House Committee Favorably Reported

  8. House Second Readers

  9. House First Readers

  10. Senate Passed/Adopted

  11. Senate Third Read

  12. Senate Read Second Time

  13. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

  14. Senate Read and Referred

  15. Senate Hopper

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 32 co-sponsors · 214 not signed on · 93 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (32)

Not signed on (214)

214 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 214 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASSAGE

Passed 96 Yea · 70 Nay · 14 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 168011
Republican 95203
Total 9670014
% of votes cast 53%39%0%8%
How each member voted (180)
Member Party Vote
Al Williams Democrat Not Voting
Angela Moore Democrat Not Voting
Anissa Jones Democrat Nay
Anne Allen Westbrook Democrat Nay
Arlene Beckles Democrat Nay
Betsy Holland Democrat Nay
Billy Mitchell Democrat Nay
Brian Prince Democrat Nay
Bryce Berry Democrat Nay
Carl Gilliard Democrat Not Voting
Carolyn Hugley Democrat Nay
Dar'shun Kendrick Democrat Nay
David Sampson Democrat Nay
David Wilkerson Democrat Nay
Debbie Buckner Democrat Nay
Debra Bazemore Democrat Nay
Demetrius Douglas Democrat Nay
Derrick Jackson Democrat Nay
Dewey McClain Democrat Nay
Dexter Sharper Democrat Nay
Doreen Carter Democrat Nay
Edna Jackson Democrat Nay
El-Mahdi Holly Democrat Nay
Eric Bell Democrat Nay
Esther Panitch Democrat Nay
Floyd Griffin Democrat Nay
Gabe Okoye Democrat Nay
Gabriel Sanchez Democrat Nay
Imani Barnes Democrat Nay
Inga Willis Democrat Nay
Jasmine Clark Democrat Nay
Karen Bennett Democrat Nay
Karen Lupton Democrat Nay
Karla Drenner Democrat Nay
Karlton Howard Democrat Nay
Kim Schofield Democrat Nay
Kimberly Alexander Democrat Nay
L.C. Myles Democrat Nay
Lisa Campbell Democrat Nay
Long Tran Democrat Nay
Lydia Glaize Democrat Not Voting
Lynn Heffner Democrat Yea
Mack Jackson Democrat Not Voting
Marvin Lim Democrat Nay
Mary Ann Santos Democrat Nay
Mary Frances Williams Democrat Not Voting
Mary Oliver Democrat Nay
Mekyah McQueen Democrat Nay
Michael Smith Democrat Nay
Michelle Au Democrat Nay
Miriam Paris Democrat Nay
Omari Crawford Democrat Nay
Park Cannon Democrat Nay
Patty Marie Stinson Democrat Not Voting
Phil Olaleye Democrat Nay
Regina Lewis-Ward Democrat Nay
Rhonda Burnough Democrat Nay
Rhonda Taylor Democrat Nay
Robert Dawson Democrat Nay
Robert Flournoy Democrat Nay
Ruwa Romman Democrat Nay
Saira Draper Democrat Nay
Sam Park Democrat Nay
Sandra Scott Democrat Nay
Scott Holcomb Democrat Nay
Segun Adeyina Democrat Nay
Sharon Henderson Democrat Not Voting
Shea Roberts Democrat Nay
Sheila Jones Democrat Not Voting
Shelly Hutchinson Democrat Not Voting
Solomon Adesanya Democrat Nay
Spencer Frye Democrat Nay
Stacey Evans Democrat Nay
Sylvia Wayfer Baker Democrat Not Voting
Tangie Herring Democrat Nay
Tanya Miller Democrat Nay
Terry Cummings Democrat Nay
Tremaine Reese Democrat Nay
Viola Davis Democrat Nay
Yasmin Neal Democrat Nay
Alan Powell Republican Yea
Angie O'Steen Republican Yea
Beth Camp Republican Yea
Bethany Ballard Republican Yea
Bill Hitchens Republican Yea
Bill Werkheiser Republican Yea
Bill Yearta Republican Yea
Brad Thomas Republican Yea
Brent Cox Republican Yea
Bruce Williamson Republican Yea
Buddy DeLoach Republican Yea
Butch Parrish Republican Yea
Carmen Rice Republican Yea
Carter Barrett Republican Yea
Charles Martin Republican Yea
Charlice Byrd Republican Yea
Chas Cannon Republican Yea
Chris Erwin Republican Yea
Chuck Efstration Republican Yea
Clint Crowe Republican Yea
Dale Washburn Republican Yea
Danny Mathis Republican Yea
Darlene Taylor Republican Yea
David Clark Republican Yea
David Huddleston Republican Yea
David Jenkins Republican Yea
Deborah Silcox Republican Nay
Derrick McCollum Republican Yea
Devan Seabaugh Republican Yea
Don Parsons Republican Yea
Eddie Lumsden Republican Yea
Emory Dunahoo Republican Yea
Gary Richardson Republican Yea
Gerald Greene Republican Not Voting
Ginny Ehrhart Republican Yea
Holt Persinger Republican Yea
Houston Gaines Republican Yea
Jaclyn Ford Republican Yea
James Burchett Republican Yea
Jan Jones Republican Yea
Jason Ridley Republican Yea
Jesse Petrea Republican Yea
Joe Campbell Republican Yea
John Carson Republican Yea
John Corbett Republican Yea
John LaHood Republican Yea
Johnny Chastain Republican Yea
Jon Burns Republican Not Voting
Jordan Ridley Republican Yea
Joseph Gullett Republican Yea
Josh Bonner Republican Yea
Justin Howard Republican Yea
Karen Mathiak Republican Yea
Kasey Carpenter Republican Yea
Katie Dempsey Republican Yea
Kimberly New Republican Yea
Lauren McDonald III Republican Yea
Lee Hawkins Republican Yea
Leesa Hagan Republican Yea
Lehman Franklin Republican Yea
Lynn Smith Republican Yea
Mandi Ballinger Republican Yea
Marcus Wiedower Republican Not Voting
Mark Newton Republican Yea
Martin Momtahan Republican Yea
Matt Barton Republican Yea
Matt Dubnik Republican Yea
Matt Hatchett Republican Yea
Matt Reeves Republican Yea
Matthew Gambill Republican Yea
Mike Cameron Republican Yea
Mike Cheokas Republican Yea
Mitchell Horner Republican Yea
Mitchell Scoggins Republican Yea
Noel Williams, Jr. Republican Yea
Noelle Kahaian Republican Yea
Reynaldo Martinez Republican Yea
Rick Jasperse Republican Yea
Rick Townsend Republican Yea
Rob Clifton Republican Yea
Rob Leverett Republican Yea
Robert Dickey Republican Yea
Ron Stephens Republican Yea
Sandy Donatucci Republican Yea
Scott Hilton Republican Yea
Sharon Cooper Republican Yea
Shaw Blackmon Republican Yea
Soo Hong Republican Yea
Stan Gunter Republican Yea
Steve Tarvin Republican Yea
Steven Meeks Republican Yea
Steven Sainz Republican Nay
Tim Fleming Republican Yea
Todd Jones Republican Yea
Trey Kelley Republican Yea
Trey Rhodes Republican Yea
Tyler Paul Smith Republican Yea
Vance Smith Republican Yea
Victor Anderson Republican Yea
Will Wade Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 32 Yea · 23 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 32001
Democrat 02300
Total 322301
% of votes cast 57%41%0%2%
How each member voted (56)
Member Party Vote
David Lucas Democrat Nay
Derek Mallow Democrat Nay
Donzella James Democrat Nay
Ed Harbison Democrat Nay
Elena Parent Democrat Nay
Emanuel Jones Democrat Nay
Freddie Powell Sims Democrat Nay
Gail Davenport Democrat Nay
Harold Jones II Democrat Nay
Jason Esteves Democrat Nay
Josh McLaurin Democrat Nay
Kenya Wicks Democrat Nay
Kim Jackson Democrat Nay
Michael 'Doc' Rhett Democrat Nay
Nabilah Parkes Democrat Nay
Nan Orrock Democrat Nay
Nikki Merritt Democrat Nay
RaShaun Kemp Democrat Nay
Randal Mangham Democrat Nay
Sally Harrell Democrat Nay
Sheikh Rahman Democrat Nay
Sonya Halpern Democrat Nay
Tonya Anderson Democrat Nay
Ben Watson Republican Yea
Bill Cowsert Republican Yea
Billy Hickman Republican Yea
Blake Tillery Republican Yea
Bo Hatchett Republican Yea
Brandon Beach Republican Yea
Brian Strickland Republican Yea
Carden Summers Republican Yea
Chuck Hufstetler Republican Not Voting
Chuck Payne Republican Yea
Clint Dixon Republican Yea
Colton Moore Republican Yea
Drew Echols Republican Yea
Ed Setzler Republican Yea
Frank Ginn Republican Yea
Greg Dolezal Republican Yea
Jason Anavitarte Republican Yea
John Albers Republican Yea
John F. Kennedy Republican Yea
Kay Kirkpatrick Republican Yea
Larry Walker, III Republican Yea
Lee Anderson Republican Yea
Marty Harbin Republican Yea
Matt Brass Republican Yea
Max Burns Republican Yea
Mike Hodges Republican Yea
Randy Robertson Republican Yea
Rick Williams Republican Yea
Russ Goodman Republican Yea
Sam Watson Republican Yea
Shawn Still Republican Yea
Steve Gooch Republican Yea
Timothy Bearden Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 36 do?
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide for the preservation of religious freedom; to provide for the granting of relief; to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to provide for statutory interpretation; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and determinations; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Who sponsors SB 36?
SB 36 is sponsored by Ben Watson (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), John F. Kennedy (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican), Brandon Beach (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Colton Moore (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Larry Walker, III (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Greg Dolezal (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Blake Tillery (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Marty Harbin (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), John Albers (Republican), Steve Gooch (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican), and Ed Setzler (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 36?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 27, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 36?
Track SB 36 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 36

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 36

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →