HB713: HB713 Georgia Legislative Integrity and Representation Act of 2025; enact

Right now Georgia's House and Senate can adopt internal rules that cap how many bills a lawmaker files or that govern how leadership elections and chamber rules are decided. This bill would add new sections to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Title 28) declaring that no rule, statute, or executive action may limit a legislator's ability to introduce or advocate for legislation, and that any attempt to cap the number of bills a member can file is void. It would also require physical, recorded votes, entered into the legislative journal, for electing the Speaker of the House, Speaker Pro Tempore, and Senate President Pro Tempore, and for adopting or amending chamber rules, which would need a two-thirds vote. The bill creates a new position, the Legislative Constitutional Counsel, appointed by two-thirds votes of both chambers, to give legislators independent legal advice and defend them in court over these protections. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law.

• Declares void any rule, statute, or executive action that limits how many bills or resolutions a General Assembly member may introduce.
• Requires a physical, recorded vote, logged in the legislative journal, to elect the Speaker of the House, Speaker Pro Tempore, and Senate President Pro Tempore.
• Requires open debate, a recorded vote, and a two-thirds majority to adopt or amend either chamber's rules, voiding any rule that removes this requirement.
• Creates a new Legislative Constitutional Counsel position, appointed by two-thirds votes of both chambers, to give lawmakers independent legal advice and courtroom representation.
• States that any attempt to override the new bill-limit protections without a recorded vote is null and void.

State representatives and senators in the Georgia General Assembly, who would gain new protections against filing limits and access to a dedicated legal counsel; and the chambers' own leadership and rules processes, which would face new recorded-vote requirements for elections and rule changes.

If enacted, House and Senate leaders would no longer be able to quietly cap how many bills a member files or change chamber rules without a public, recorded, two-thirds vote. Lawmakers could also turn to a dedicated legal counsel to challenge restrictions on their ability to introduce legislation.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Georgia Legislative Integrity and Representation Act of 2025.'
• New Code Section 28-1-17 bars any rule, statute, or executive action from limiting a member's right to introduce, file, or advocate for legislation, and voids bill-filing caps.
• Section 28-1-17(f) lets members of the General Assembly sue over any attempt to suppress their ability to file legislation, with legal help from the new Legislative Constitutional Counsel.
• New Code Section 28-1-18 requires recorded, public votes for electing the Speaker, Speaker Pro Tempore, and Senate President Pro Tempore, and a two-thirds recorded vote to adopt or amend chamber rules.
• New Code Section 28-1-19 creates the Legislative Constitutional Counsel, a State Bar member appointed by two-thirds votes of both chambers, who advises and defends lawmakers and answers only to the General Assembly.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without signature.

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

• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)Primary sponsor
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068)

• legislative rules
• General Assembly procedure
• government transparency
• legislative leadership elections