Special to the WJH
ATLANTA — Most new laws from the 2025 legislative session took effect last July, but a handful of significant bills didn’t become law until January 1.
The measures address shortages in accounting and dentistry, and they increase homeowner protections. They also update campaign finance and vehicle licensing requirements. Another adds a new look for car tags.
Following are the bills that led to the changes:
• House Bill 148 — The Public Accountancy Act of 2025, was brought by Rep. John Carson, R-Marietta, a certified public accountant trying to address a shortage of accountants. It updates a licensing framework established nearly three decades ago by offering new paths to becoming a certified public account. It also lets accounting firms do some work in Georgia without having an office in the state.
• House Bill 551 — The legislation by Rep. Jason Ridley, RChatsworth, updates rules for owning and operating a motor vehicle, adding numerous new requirements around the issuance of temporary operating permits and setting standards for a new electronic system for issuing them. It also lets permitted property owners install an immobilization device on trespassing vehicles rather than just having them towed.
• House Bill 567 — The legislation by Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, address regional shortages in dentistry, authorizing licensed dentists to practice online, with regulation by the Georgia Board of Dentistry. It also permits coverage of teledentistry by dental benefits plans.
“Geography should not be a barrier to dental care,” Kristen Morgan, the Georgia Dental Association executive director, said in May when Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law.
• Senate Bill 35 — The legislation by Sen. Larry Walker, III, R-Perry, gives homeowners more time to prepare for loss of insurance. It doubles the minimum notice period for nonrenewal of certain residential policies to 60 days, from 30.
• Senate Bill 112 — The legislation by Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Buford, requires that manufacturer warranties of residential HVAC systems transfer to home buyers. It also requires that warranties take effect on the date a system is installed by a licensed contractor and prohibits requiring product registration as a condition of warranty.
• Senate Bill 199 — The legislation by Sen. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie, prohibits the State Ethics Commission initiating investigations of candidates within 60 days of their election. It also requires that local elected officials file mandatory financial disclosures with the Commission rather than locally.
And it requires that political action committees maintain bank accounts with detailed reporting when they contribute to candidates in the state. It also establishes uniform reporting dates for campaigns for all levels of office and requires redaction of home addresses from any records the Commission makes available to the public.
• Senate Bill 291 — The act by Sen. Steve Gooch, RDahlonega, dubbed “America First’ establishes a special license plate featuring the American flag and the words “America First.” Funds raised from the sale of this plate will go to the state general fund. Gooch pushed the bill through as Senate Majority Leader, a post he’s gave up after the legislative session to run for Lieutenant Governor.
