SB207: SB207 Professions and Businesses; a preclearance process in the licensing of individuals with criminal records who make application to or are investigated by certain licensing boards and commissions; create

Georgia licensing boards can currently deny professional licenses to people with criminal records without much structured process. SB 207 changes that by requiring licensing boards under the Secretary of State, as well as boards for accountants, chiropractors, appraisers, real estate agents, pest control operators, and insurance producers, to follow specific rules before denying someone a license because of a criminal conviction. Boards must show the conviction directly relates to the job, give applicants a chance to submit evidence of rehabilitation, hold a hearing before denying an application, and issue written findings explaining the denial. The bill also lets people petition a board in advance, even while incarcerated, for a 'predetermination' of whether their record would disqualify them, and requires boards to publish their standards and file annual reports with the Secretary of State on applications and outcomes. It also updates firefighter certification rules, criminal history record restriction procedures, and first offender petition procedures. Most of the bill takes effect July 1, 2027, applying to licensing applications submitted after that date, though some parts take effect July 1, 2026.

• Requires professional licensing boards to hold a hearing before denying an applicant a license based on their criminal record, under the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act (O.C.G.A. Chapter 13 of Title 50).
• Bars boards from automatically denying a license solely because of a felony or covered misdemeanor conviction unless the crime directly relates to the licensed occupation, and lists factors boards must weigh, like age at the time of the offense and evidence of rehabilitation.
• Creates a 'predetermination' process letting a person, even while still incarcerated, ask a board in advance whether their criminal record would disqualify them from a future license.
• Requires boards to post their criminal-record licensing standards and appeals process on their public websites and in applications.
• Requires each licensing board to file an annual report with the Secretary of State by March 31 on how many applicants with criminal records were granted or denied licenses.
• Allows firefighter certification councils discretion to certify as firefighters people who pleaded guilty under Georgia's first offender law and completed their sentence.

The bill affects people with criminal records who apply for licenses from Georgia's professional licensing boards, including accountants, chiropractors, real estate appraisers and brokers, pest control operators, and insurance agents and adjusters. It also affects the licensing boards themselves, the Secretary of State's office, firefighter certification councils, and trafficking victims seeking to vacate sentences.

People with past convictions would get a clearer, more predictable path to obtaining professional licenses in Georgia, including the ability to find out in advance whether their record disqualifies them. Licensing boards would face new procedural requirements, hearings, and reporting duties before denying applicants based on criminal history.

• Section 1-1 revises definitions in O.C.G.A. 43-1-1, adding 'covered misdemeanor' and 'felony' definitions used throughout the bill's licensing standards.
• Section 1-4 rewrites O.C.G.A. 43-1-19(q) to require boards to show a conviction 'directly relates' to the occupation, consider rehabilitation evidence, and hold hearings before denial, with written findings issued within 60 days.
• Section 1-4 also lets applicants reapply for licensure no more than two years after their most recent denied application and creates a predetermination petition process available even to incarcerated individuals.
• Sections 2-1 through 2-8 add similar predetermination and hearing procedures for the accountancy board, chiropractic board, real estate appraiser and broker licensing, and structural pest control certification.
• Part III (Sections 3-1) creates parallel predetermination processes for insurance agents and public adjusters licensed by the Insurance Commissioner.
• Part IV (Section 4-1) lets firefighter certification councils, at their discretion, certify people who completed first offender sentences for a felony.
• Part V (Section 5-1) shortens the required turnaround for trafficking victims' criminal background check reports from ten to three business days and requires related court filings to be sealed.
• Section 6-1 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026 generally, but Parts I through IV covering the licensing preclearance rules take effect July 1, 2027 and apply only to applications filed after that date.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-12Act 628
3. 2026-05-12Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-31House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended (House)
7. 2025-04-04Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub As Amended (Senate)
8. 2025-04-04House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)

• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)Primary sponsor
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   55 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 0 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #178

2. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   170 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 9 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #433

3. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

   52 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To House Amendment To Senate Amendment: Senate Vote #487

4. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

   53 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #488

5. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2026

   160 yea, 3 nay (4 not voting, 9 absent)

   Agree To Sam To Hsub As Ham: House Vote #829

6. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Agree To House Amendment To Senate Amendment To House Substitute: Senate Vote #946

• professional licensing
• criminal records
• occupational licensing reform
• insurance licensing
• firefighter certification