HB 1071: Georgia Workplace Safety and Heat Protection Act; enact

Georgia currently has no state law specifically requiring employers to protect workers from heat-related illness on the job. This bill, called the Georgia Workplace Safety and Heat Protection Act, would add a new section to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated requiring employers to create written heat illness prevention programs once conditions reach certain temperature and humidity thresholds. Large and small employers would have until January 1, 2027 to comply, while micro-businesses, seasonal businesses, and nonprofits would have until January 1, 2028, though the smallest of those (fewer than five employees) could request an exemption. Programs must provide water, shade, paid rest breaks, risk assessments, emergency response plans, and training in English and employees' most common other language. The Department of Labor would run a public awareness campaign, post multilingual materials online, inspect workplaces, fine violators up to $5,000 per violation, offer settlement agreements, run a grant program for rural employers, and report annually to legislative committees on heat illness data.

• Requires large employers (over 25 employees) and small businesses (6-25 employees) to implement a written heat illness prevention program by January 1, 2027.
• Requires micro-businesses, seasonal businesses, and nonprofit employers to implement the same programs by January 1, 2028, with an exemption option for employers with fewer than five workers.
• Sets mandatory protections including free water, shaded rest areas, paid rest breaks, risk assessments, emergency response protocols, and multilingual training.
• Authorizes the Commissioner of Labor to issue civil fines up to $2,500 per violation, or up to $5,000 if the employer knew or should have known of the violation.
• Directs the Department of Labor to run a public awareness campaign, post multilingual compliance templates online, and monitor compliance through inspections and complaint investigations.
• Creates a grant program to help rural employers comply and requires annual reports to legislative labor committees on heat illness data starting December 31, 2027.

Employers of all sizes in Georgia, including large companies, small businesses, micro-businesses, seasonal businesses, and nonprofits, especially in agriculture, landscaping, construction, manufacturing, and warehousing. It also affects outdoor and indoor workers, particularly high-risk workers such as pregnant employees, those over 60, and people with chronic illnesses, plus the Department of Labor, which gains new enforcement duties.

Workers in hot environments would gain guaranteed access to water, shade, paid rest breaks, and training on recognizing heat illness, which the bill's findings say can cause conditions ranging from heat rash to death. Employers would face new compliance costs and possible fines, with smaller and rural employers given extra time or grant support.

• Section 3 adds new O.C.G.A. § 34-2-10.1 defining key terms like 'extreme heat environment' (heat index above 80°F) and 'dangerous heat index trigger' (above 90°F).
• Subsection (b) sets phased compliance deadlines: January 1, 2027 for large and small employers, January 1, 2028 for micro-businesses, seasonal businesses, and nonprofits.
• Subsection (c) lets micro-businesses, seasonal businesses, and nonprofits with fewer than five employees request an exemption from the program requirement.
• Subsection (d) requires the Department of Labor to run public awareness efforts and post multilingual checklists, posters, and training materials online.
• Subsection (f) authorizes civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation, rising to $5,000 if the employer knew or should have known of the violation, and allows settlement agreements and corrective action plans.
• Subsection (g) creates a grant program, subject to available state funding, to help rural employers comply.
• Subsection (h) requires an annual report starting December 31, 2027 to House and Senate labor committees on heat illness data such as emergency room visits, workers' compensation claims, and deaths.

1. 2026-02-02House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-29House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-28House Hopper (House)

• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)Primary sponsor
• Dewey McClain (D, HD-109)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)
• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)
• Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068)

• workplace safety
• heat illness prevention
• labor law
• employer regulations
• occupational health