SB46: SB46 "Government Serves the People Act"; enact

Georgia agencies currently have no single, coordinated system for tracking or improving how residents interact with government, whether in person, online, by phone, or by mail. Senate Bill 46, called the "Government Serves the People Act," would add new sections to Georgia law creating a State of Georgia Government Service Delivery Lead inside the Georgia Technology Authority. That person would set government-wide standards for measuring things like wait times, accessibility, and customer satisfaction across state agencies, excluding the University System of Georgia and its Board of Regents. The bill would also require the head of every other state agency to appoint their own lead agency service delivery official within 180 days, who would submit improvement plans and collect data. Starting in 2026, the statewide lead would send an annual report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and House Speaker on service delivery efforts. The Governor vetoed the bill in May 2025.

• Creates a State of Georgia Government Service Delivery Lead position inside the Georgia Technology Authority to set government-wide service standards for state agencies.
• Requires the head of each state agency (except the University System of Georgia and its Board of Regents) to appoint a lead agency service delivery official within 180 days.
• Directs the statewide lead to develop standards for measuring wait times, accessibility, fairness, and customer satisfaction in agency services.
• Requires each agency's official to submit a 12 month improvement plan when directed and to help collect data on service delivery.
• Requires the statewide director to send an annual report on service delivery efforts to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and House Speaker starting in 2026.

State agency heads and their staff, who must appoint new service delivery officials and report data; the Georgia Technology Authority, which gains a new coordinating role; and, indirectly, Georgia residents, businesses, and organizations who interact with state agencies for benefits or services.

If enacted, Georgians dealing with state agencies for benefits, licenses, or other services could see new tracking of wait times and satisfaction, and agencies would face new internal reporting requirements aimed at making interactions easier, though the bill mainly restructures internal coordination rather than granting new resident rights.

• Section 2 adds Code Section 50-1-14, creating the Government Service Delivery Lead within the Georgia Technology Authority, to be appointed within 180 days of the law taking effect.
• The new law defines 'agency' broadly but excludes the Board of Regents and University System of Georgia institutions.
• The Lead's duties include developing government-wide standards for accessibility, fairness, transparency, and processing times, and evaluating 'high-impact service programs.'
• Code Section 50-1-15 requires each agency head to appoint a lead agency service delivery official within 180 days, who reports to the agency head and coordinates improvement efforts.
• Code Section 50-1-15 also requires agency officials to submit 12 month improvement plans when directed by the statewide Lead.
• Code Section 50-1-16 requires the director to submit an annual report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House starting in 2026, at least 90 days before the next legislative session.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-14Veto V6
2. 2025-05-14Senate Date Vetoed by Governor (Senate)
3. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-02House Passed/Adopted (House)
5. 2025-04-02House Third Readers (House)
6. 2025-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
7. 2025-03-06House Second Readers (House)
8. 2025-03-04House First Readers (House)

• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)Primary sponsor
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 3, 2025

   51 yea, 4 nay (1 not voting, 0 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #118

2. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2025

   128 yea, 35 nay (3 not voting, 14 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #400

• state government efficiency
• customer service standards
• Georgia Technology Authority
• government reporting requirements