---
title: HB 1081. Handicapped persons; adults with cognitive decline to be considered disabled adults; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1081
cite_as: HB 1081, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1081
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1081.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1081/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72508
date: 2026-02-02
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1081.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1081
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-28
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Yasmin Neal
- Todd Jones
- Mary Oliver
- Katie Dempsey
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1081/2025
upstream_id: 2100300
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- elder abuse protections
- cognitive decline
- disabled adults
- dementia and Alzheimer's law
- adult protective services
---
# HB 1081. Handicapped persons; adults with cognitive decline to be considered disabled adults; provide
## Text
House Bill 1081
By: Representatives Neal of the 79th, Jones of the 25th, Oliver of the 84th, and Dempsey of the
13th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 5 of Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
protection of disabled adults and elder persons, so as to provide for adults with cognitive
decline to be considered disabled adults; to provide for definitions; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 5 of Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to protection of
disabled adults and elder persons, is amended by revising paragraph (5) of Code Section
30-5-3, relating to definitions, and adding a new paragraph to read as follows:
"(2.1) 'Cognitive decline' means an irreversible loss of cognitive function exceeding that
of normal aging and impacting daily functions as indicated by one or more of the
following symptoms:
(A) Significant memory loss;
(B) Difficulty with complex tasks, including, but not limited to, planning, problem
solving, following multistep instructions, or managing finances;
(C) Confusion about time or place;
(D) Difficulty communicating with words and language;
(E) Poor judgment, including, but not limited to, making uncharacteristic financial
decisions or neglecting personal hygiene;
(F) Behavioral changes, including, but not limited to, increased irritability, anxiety,
depression, or uncharacteristic mood swings; or
(G) Social withdrawal, including, but not limited to, withdrawing from work, hobbies,
or social activities."
"(5) 'Disabled adult' means a person 18 years of age or older who is not a resident, but
who:
(A) Is mentally or physically incapacitated;
(B) Has Alzheimer's disease, as defined in Code Section 31-8-180; or
(C) Has dementia, as defined in Code Section 16-5-100; or
(D) Is exhibiting symptoms of cognitive decline."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would expand the legal definition of a disabled adult to include people showing signs of cognitive decline, extending elder abuse protections beyond those with Alzheimer's or dementia diagnoses.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law currently protects certain adults, such as those with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, under rules against abuse, neglect, and exploitation of disabled adults and elder persons (O.C.G.A. Chapter 5 of Title 30). This bill would add a new category: adults 18 or older who are not diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's but show symptoms of general cognitive decline.
The bill defines cognitive decline as an irreversible loss of mental function beyond normal aging that affects daily life, listing specific signs such as memory loss, trouble with complex tasks like managing money, confusion about time or place, communication problems, poor judgment, behavioral changes, and social withdrawal. Anyone showing one or more of these signs would count as a disabled adult under this chapter, making them eligible for the same legal protections against abuse and exploitation. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a separate effective date.
### What it does
- Adds a new legal definition of 'cognitive decline' to Georgia's disabled adults and elder persons protection law (O.C.G.A. § 30-5-3).
- Expands the definition of 'disabled adult' to include people exhibiting symptoms of cognitive decline, not just those diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia.
- Lists seven specific symptoms, including memory loss, trouble with complex tasks, confusion, communication difficulty, poor judgment, behavioral changes, and social withdrawal, any one of which can qualify someone.
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these changes.
### Who it affects
Older Georgians and other adults experiencing cognitive decline, their families and caregivers, adult protective services workers, and anyone involved in investigating or prosecuting abuse, neglect, or exploitation of disabled adults under Georgia law.
### Why it matters
By broadening who counts as a disabled adult, the bill could extend Georgia's abuse and exploitation protections to people showing early or undiagnosed signs of cognitive decline, potentially allowing intervention or legal action before a formal Alzheimer's or dementia diagnosis exists.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 30-5-3 by adding a new paragraph (2.1) defining 'cognitive decline' with seven listed symptom categories, any one of which can satisfy the definition.
- Section 1 also revises paragraph (5)'s definition of 'disabled adult' to add a new subsection (D) covering people 'exhibiting symptoms of cognitive decline.'
- Section 1 restructures existing language so Alzheimer's disease and dementia remain qualifying conditions alongside the new cognitive decline category.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard clause with no substantive effect beyond this bill's changes.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-01-28)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-02)
- Sponsors: Yasmin Neal, Todd Jones, Mary Oliver, Katie Dempsey
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72508
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1081.md?full=1