SB57: SB57 "Freedom of Speech and Belief Act"; enact

This bill, called the Freedom of Speech and Belief Act, targets what its supporters call financial and utility 'debanking' or service cutoffs based on a customer's political or social views. It would add a new part to Georgia's consumer protection law (O.C.G.A. Title 10) making it illegal for large financial institutions (banks or credit unions with over $1 billion in assets, or big payment processors) and utility providers (electric, water and sewer, natural gas, and broadband) to restrict or end essential services for existing customers because of their exercise of rights under the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, or because of a 'social credit score' tied to things like views on climate disclosures, diversity policies, abortion or gender-related services, or lawful business ties to firearms, oil, or gas. Violations would count as unfair or deceptive practices under Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act. Consumers could sue directly, recovering actual damages or $50,000 (whichever is greater), up to triple damages or $150,000 for willful violations, plus attorney's fees and injunctive relief. The bill also repeals conflicting laws.

• Creates a new legal category banning 'essential services providers' (certain large banks, payment processors, and utility companies) from denying service based on a customer's constitutional rights exercise or 'social credit score.'
• Defines 'social credit score' broadly to include views on greenhouse gas disclosures, diversity or gender quotas, abortion or gender-reassignment assistance, and lawful firearms, oil, or gas business activity.
• Exempts financial institutions' risk-based underwriting decisions if those standards are pre-established, impartial, and publicly disclosed to customers.
• Classifies violations as unfair or deceptive acts under the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975, letting the state enforce the law.
• Creates a private right of action letting harmed customers sue for actual damages or a $50,000 minimum, tripled damages or $150,000 for willful violations, plus injunctive relief and attorney's fees.

Large banks and credit unions with over $1 billion in assets, major payment processors and card networks, and utility providers offering electric, water and sewer, natural gas, or broadband service; and any of their existing customers whose service could be cut off over political speech, religion, gun ownership, or related business activities.

If enacted, customers of covered banks and utilities could not lose essential financial or utility services because of their political views, religious beliefs, gun ownership, or lawful business ties to industries like oil, gas, or firearms, and could sue for substantial damages if they did.

• Section 2 lays out legislative findings that financial and utility access is essential and should not depend on a citizen's exercise of constitutional rights.
• Section 3 adds Part 10 to O.C.G.A. Title 10, Article 15, defining 'discriminate in the provision of essential services,' 'essential services,' and 'social credit score' (new Code Section 10-1-439.20).
• New Code Section 10-1-439.21 prohibits essential services providers from discriminating against customers with an established business relationship or coordinating with others to do so.
• New Code Section 10-1-439.22 makes violations an unfair or deceptive practice under the Fair Business Practices Act and creates a private lawsuit option with damages of actual harm or $50,000, tripled or $150,000 for willful violations, plus injunctive relief and attorney's fees.
• The 'social credit score' definition carves out financial institutions' impartial, pre-disclosed, risk-based underwriting standards for activities like firearms, oil, or gas business.
• Section 4 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2025-03-06Senate Lost (Senate)
2. 2025-03-06Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2025-02-24Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2025-02-21Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2025-01-30Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-01-29Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)Primary sponsor
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   32 yea, 22 nay (2 not voting, 0 absent)

   Adoption Of Amend #1a By Sen From The 50th To Amend #1 By Sen From The 13th: Senate Vote #185

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   49 yea, 7 nay

   Adoption Of The Amendment By The Sen From The 13th As Amended: Senate Vote #186

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   33 yea, 22 nay (1 not voting, 0 absent)

   Adoption Of Amend #3b By Sen From The 19th To Amend #3 By Sen From The 18th: Senate Vote #187

4. FailedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   13 yea, 43 nay

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #188

• banking regulation
• utility services
• free speech
• gun rights
• consumer protection law