Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Introduced Bipartisan · 5 R · 1 D cosponsors

HB 253 — Ethan's Law; enact

Last action — House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended

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

This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced February 04, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (5 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 and Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 19 of the Official Code Georgia Annotated, relating to the juvenile code and general provisions relative to child custody proceedings, so as to enact "Ethan's Law"; to provide limitations on ordering a child to be sent to a family reunification program; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended

  2. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

  3. Senate Third Read

  4. Senate Taken from Table

  5. Senate Tabled

  6. Senate Read Second Time

  7. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

  8. Senate Read and Referred

  9. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

  10. House Third Readers

  11. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

  12. House Second Readers

  13. House First Readers

  14. House Hopper

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 241 not signed on · 15 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (241)

241 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 241 →

"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

Agree to Senate Sub as Amended by House

Passed 146 Yea · 15 Nay · 19 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 5115014
Republican 95005
Total 14615019
% of votes cast 81%8%0%11%
How each member voted (180)
Member Party Vote
Al Williams Democrat Not Voting
Angela Moore Democrat Not Voting
Anissa Jones Democrat Yea
Anne Allen Westbrook Democrat Nay
Arlene Beckles Democrat Yea
Betsy Holland Democrat Yea
Billy Mitchell Democrat Yea
Brian Prince Democrat Yea
Bryce Berry Democrat Nay
Carl Gilliard Democrat Not Voting
Carolyn Hugley Democrat Not Voting
Dar'shun Kendrick Democrat Yea
David Sampson Democrat Not Voting
David Wilkerson Democrat Yea
Debbie Buckner Democrat Not Voting
Debra Bazemore Democrat Yea
Demetrius Douglas Democrat Yea
Derrick Jackson Democrat Nay
Dewey McClain Democrat Not Voting
Dexter Sharper Democrat Yea
Doreen Carter Democrat Nay
Edna Jackson Democrat Yea
El-Mahdi Holly Democrat Nay
Eric Bell Democrat Not Voting
Esther Panitch Democrat Nay
Floyd Griffin Democrat Yea
Gabe Okoye Democrat Yea
Gabriel Sanchez Democrat Nay
Imani Barnes Democrat Not Voting
Inga Willis Democrat Yea
Jasmine Clark Democrat Nay
Karen Bennett Democrat Yea
Karen Lupton Democrat Nay
Karla Drenner Democrat Yea
Karlton Howard Democrat Yea
Kim Schofield Democrat Yea
Kimberly Alexander Democrat Yea
L.C. Myles Democrat Yea
Lisa Campbell Democrat Nay
Long Tran Democrat Yea
Lydia Glaize Democrat Yea
Lynn Heffner Democrat Yea
Mack Jackson Democrat Not Voting
Marvin Lim Democrat Yea
Mary Ann Santos Democrat Yea
Mary Frances Williams Democrat Yea
Mary Oliver Democrat Yea
Mekyah McQueen Democrat Nay
Michael Smith Democrat Not Voting
Michelle Au Democrat Nay
Miriam Paris Democrat Yea
Omari Crawford Democrat Yea
Park Cannon Democrat Yea
Patty Marie Stinson Democrat Yea
Phil Olaleye Democrat Yea
Regina Lewis-Ward Democrat Yea
Rhonda Burnough Democrat Yea
Rhonda Taylor Democrat Yea
Robert Dawson Democrat Yea
Robert Flournoy Democrat Yea
Ruwa Romman Democrat Nay
Saira Draper Democrat Yea
Sam Park Democrat Yea
Sandra Scott Democrat Yea
Scott Holcomb Democrat Yea
Segun Adeyina Democrat Yea
Sharon Henderson Democrat Not Voting
Shea Roberts Democrat Yea
Sheila Jones Democrat Yea
Shelly Hutchinson Democrat Not Voting
Solomon Adesanya Democrat Yea
Spencer Frye Democrat Nay
Stacey Evans Democrat Yea
Sylvia Wayfer Baker Democrat Not Voting
Tangie Herring Democrat Yea
Tanya Miller Democrat Yea
Terry Cummings Democrat Yea
Tremaine Reese Democrat Nay
Viola Davis Democrat Yea
Yasmin Neal Democrat Yea
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 Yea
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 Yea
Ginny Ehrhart Republican Yea
Holt Persinger Republican Yea
Houston Gaines Republican Yea
Jaclyn Ford Republican Yea
James Burchett Republican Yea
Jan Jones Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
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 BY SUBSTITUTE

Passed 55 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 32001
Democrat 23000
Total 55001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (56)
Member Party Vote
David Lucas Democrat Yea
Derek Mallow Democrat Yea
Donzella James Democrat Yea
Ed Harbison Democrat Yea
Elena Parent Democrat Yea
Emanuel Jones Democrat Yea
Freddie Powell Sims Democrat Yea
Gail Davenport Democrat Yea
Harold Jones II Democrat Yea
Jason Esteves Democrat Yea
Josh McLaurin Democrat Yea
Kenya Wicks Democrat Yea
Kim Jackson Democrat Yea
Michael 'Doc' Rhett Democrat Yea
Nabilah Parkes Democrat Yea
Nan Orrock Democrat Yea
Nikki Merritt Democrat Yea
RaShaun Kemp Democrat Yea
Randal Mangham Democrat Yea
Sally Harrell Democrat Yea
Sheikh Rahman Democrat Yea
Sonya Halpern Democrat Yea
Tonya Anderson Democrat Yea
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 Yea
Chuck Payne Republican Yea
Clint Dixon Republican Yea
Colton Moore Republican Yea
Drew Echols Republican Yea
Ed Setzler Republican Not Voting
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 →

PASSAGE

Passed 166 Yea · 0 Nay · 14 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 71009
Republican 95005
Total 1660014
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (180)
Member Party Vote
Al Williams Democrat Yea
Angela Moore Democrat Yea
Anissa Jones Democrat Not Voting
Anne Allen Westbrook Democrat Yea
Arlene Beckles Democrat Yea
Betsy Holland Democrat Yea
Billy Mitchell Democrat Yea
Brian Prince Democrat Not Voting
Bryce Berry Democrat Yea
Carl Gilliard Democrat Yea
Carolyn Hugley Democrat Yea
Dar'shun Kendrick Democrat Yea
David Sampson Democrat Yea
David Wilkerson Democrat Yea
Debbie Buckner Democrat Yea
Debra Bazemore Democrat Yea
Demetrius Douglas Democrat Yea
Derrick Jackson Democrat Yea
Dewey McClain Democrat Yea
Dexter Sharper Democrat Yea
Doreen Carter Democrat Yea
Edna Jackson Democrat Yea
El-Mahdi Holly Democrat Yea
Eric Bell Democrat Yea
Esther Panitch Democrat Yea
Floyd Griffin Democrat Yea
Gabe Okoye Democrat Yea
Gabriel Sanchez Democrat Not Voting
Imani Barnes Democrat Yea
Inga Willis Democrat Yea
Jasmine Clark Democrat Yea
Karen Bennett Democrat Not Voting
Karen Lupton Democrat Yea
Karla Drenner Democrat Yea
Karlton Howard Democrat Yea
Kim Schofield Democrat Yea
Kimberly Alexander Democrat Yea
L.C. Myles Democrat Yea
Lisa Campbell Democrat Yea
Long Tran Democrat Yea
Lydia Glaize Democrat Yea
Lynn Heffner Democrat Yea
Mack Jackson Democrat Yea
Marvin Lim Democrat Yea
Mary Ann Santos Democrat Yea
Mary Frances Williams Democrat Yea
Mary Oliver Democrat Yea
Mekyah McQueen Democrat Yea
Michael Smith Democrat Yea
Michelle Au Democrat Yea
Miriam Paris Democrat Yea
Omari Crawford Democrat Yea
Park Cannon Democrat Not Voting
Patty Marie Stinson Democrat Yea
Phil Olaleye Democrat Not Voting
Regina Lewis-Ward Democrat Yea
Rhonda Burnough Democrat Yea
Rhonda Taylor Democrat Yea
Robert Dawson Democrat Yea
Robert Flournoy Democrat Yea
Ruwa Romman Democrat Yea
Saira Draper Democrat Yea
Sam Park Democrat Not Voting
Sandra Scott Democrat Yea
Scott Holcomb Democrat Yea
Segun Adeyina Democrat Yea
Sharon Henderson Democrat Yea
Shea Roberts Democrat Yea
Sheila Jones Democrat Yea
Shelly Hutchinson Democrat Not Voting
Solomon Adesanya Democrat Yea
Spencer Frye Democrat Yea
Stacey Evans Democrat Yea
Sylvia Wayfer Baker Democrat Not Voting
Tangie Herring Democrat Yea
Tanya Miller Democrat Yea
Terry Cummings Democrat Yea
Tremaine Reese Democrat Yea
Viola Davis Democrat Yea
Yasmin Neal Democrat Yea
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 Yea
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 Yea
Ginny Ehrhart Republican Yea
Holt Persinger Republican Yea
Houston Gaines Republican Yea
Jaclyn Ford Republican Yea
James Burchett Republican Yea
Jan Jones Republican Not Voting
Jason Ridley Republican Yea
Jesse Petrea Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
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 →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 253 do?
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 and Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 19 of the Official Code Georgia Annotated, relating to the juvenile code and general provisions relative to child custody proceedings, so as to enact "Ethan's Law"; to provide limitations on ordering a child to be sent to a family reunification program; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Who sponsors HB 253?
HB 253 is sponsored by Stan Gunter (Republican), Trey Kelley (Republican), Stacey Evans (Democrat), Todd Jones (Republican), Houston Gaines (Republican), and David Clark (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 253?
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced February 04, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 253?
Track HB 253 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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