HB715: HB715 Fair and Future Ready Housing Act; enact

Georgia's fair housing law already bans discrimination in housing sales, rentals, and financing. This bill, called the Fair and Future Ready Housing Act, adds a new Code section making clear that using artificial intelligence or automated decision tools to discriminate counts as a violation just like human discrimination does. The bill says relying on AI tools cannot be used as a legal defense against a discrimination claim. It also requires that any AI or automated tool used to decide on selling, renting, financing, or brokering a home must have a human reviewing or participating in that decision, and requires disclosure to affected people when such tools are used. The Attorney General can investigate, hold a hearing under the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act (O.C.G.A. Chapter 13 of Title 50), and fine violators up to $10,000 per violation, with a right to judicial review afterward.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 8-3-224) stating that discriminatory housing practices caused by artificial intelligence or automated decision tools are already covered under Georgia's fair housing prohibitions.
• Bars anyone from claiming reliance on AI or automated tools as a defense against a discrimination allegation in any court or administrative proceeding.
• Prohibits using AI or automated decision tools to make housing sale, rental, financing, or brokerage decisions without a human reviewing or participating in that decision.
• Prohibits using such tools to make those same housing decisions without disclosing the tool's use to affected individuals.
• Lets the Attorney General, after notice and a hearing, fine violators up to $10,000 per violation and allows appeal through the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.

Landlords, home sellers, mortgage lenders, real estate brokers, and property management companies that use AI or automated software in housing decisions, along with prospective renters, buyers, and borrowers who could be affected by those automated determinations.

If a landlord, lender, or broker uses software to screen applicants or set terms, this bill would require a person to review those automated decisions and tell affected renters or buyers the tool was used, and would stop companies from blaming an algorithm to avoid discrimination liability.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Fair and Future Ready Housing Act.'
• Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 8-3-224, defining 'artificial intelligence,' 'automated decision tool,' and 'judicatory' for purposes of the fair housing article.
• Subsection (b) confirms that existing bans on discriminatory housing practices already cover discrimination caused by AI or automated tools.
• Subsection (c) bars reliance on AI or automated tools as a legal defense to a discrimination claim before any court or adjudicative body.
• Subsection (d) requires human participation or review whenever AI or automated tools are used to make housing sale, rental, financing, or brokerage decisions.
• Subsection (e) requires disclosure to affected individuals whenever such tools are used in those same housing decisions.
• Subsection (f) authorizes the Attorney General to fine violators up to $10,000 after notice and a hearing, with review rights under the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act (O.C.G.A. Chapter 13 of Title 50).

1. 2025-03-06House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-04House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-03House Hopper (House)

• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)Primary sponsor
• Dar'shun Kendrick (D, HD-095)
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)

• fair housing
• artificial intelligence regulation
• housing discrimination
• real estate technology
• consumer protection