Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1217: Bryce Brooks Act; enact
Last action February 9, 2026 · House Second Readers
House Bill 1217, called the Bryce Brooks Act, would require lifeguards to be stationed every 150 yards on Georgia's public beaches during high-occupancy periods and would set up a pilot program to recruit high school students as lifeguards.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law does not currently set a statewide standard for how many lifeguards must be on duty at public beaches. This bill creates a new chapter of law, named the Bryce Brooks Act, that requires a lifeguard to be positioned every 150 yards on each public beach in the state during identified periods of high occupancy. It defines 'beach' as any zone of sand, gravel, or similar material bordering a body of water, and defines 'lifeguard' as someone who has completed a nationally recognized training course, holds a current certificate, and keeps up with required continuing training. The bill also directs the Department of Economic Development to create a pilot program encouraging high school students to become lifeguards, allowing the department to contract with schools, colleges, nonprofits, and businesses to run it. The department must report on the program's results by December 31, 2028, and the pilot program automatically ends, along with the law authorizing it, on January 1, 2029.
What the bill does
- Requires a certified lifeguard to be stationed every 150 yards on every public beach in Georgia during times of high occupancy.
- Defines 'beach' and 'lifeguard' for purposes of the new law, including training and certification requirements for lifeguards.
- Creates a pilot program run by the Department of Economic Development to recruit high school students into lifeguard training.
- Allows the department to contract with schools, universities, nonprofits, and private businesses to carry out the pilot program.
- Requires a written report on the pilot program's results and recommendations by December 31, 2028.
- Automatically repeals the pilot program authorization on January 1, 2029.
Who it affects
Public beach operators and local governments responsible for staffing beaches, lifeguards and lifeguard training organizations, high school students who might join the pilot program, and the Department of Economic Development, which must design, run, and report on the program.
Why it matters
Beachgoers in Georgia could see more consistent lifeguard coverage on public beaches during busy times, potentially affecting safety response during swimming emergencies. Local entities that manage beaches would need to meet the 150-yard staffing rule, and the state would fund a temporary program aimed at building a pipeline of trained teenage lifeguards.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Chapter 45B to Title 31, naming the law the 'Bryce Brooks Act' and defining 'beach' and 'lifeguard' (O.C.G.A. § 31-45B-1, § 31-45B-2).
- Section 1 (§ 31-45B-3) requires a lifeguard to be positioned every 150 yards on each public beach during identified periods of high occupancy.
- Section 3 adds Article 12 to Chapter 7 of Title 50, directing the Department of Economic Development to create a pilot program to recruit high school lifeguards (O.C.G.A. § 50-7-140).
- Section 3 lets the department contract with government agencies, the University System of Georgia, colleges, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals to run the pilot program.
- Section 3 requires a report to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 31, 2028, on the program's development, effectiveness, and expansion potential.
- Section 3 sets the pilot program and its authorizing article to automatically repeal on January 1, 2029.
- Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“A lifeguard shall be positioned every 150 yards on each public beach in this state at identified periods of high occupancy.”
“The pilot program created by this Code section shall terminate on January 1, 2029, and this article shall stand repealed by operation of law on such date.”
Discussed in meetings (3)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Economic Development & Tourism Committee, February 12, 2026
From 0:31:26 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute for HB 1217, saying it would place trained lifeguards every 150 yards at public beaches during high-occupancy periods and create a high-school lifeguard recruitment and training pilot. The sponsor said the substitute moved the pilot from the Department of Economic Development to the Technical College System of Georgia and would not require beach closures when lifeguards were unavailable. Citing safety research, the sponsor said trained lifeguards could reduce drowning risk by up to 75%. A parent whose child died while helping children caught in a Florida rip current supported the proposal, saying professional responders were needed immediately. The parent said Georgia averages more than 60 drowning deaths annually and coastal emergency response can take six to eight minutes. One member requested clearer definitions of covered beaches, high occupancy and who would determine it. A second member questioned whether 150-yard spacing was adequate for large crowds and requested cost estimates and a payment plan. The sponsor said the pilot depended on legislative funding. Other members supported the workforce pilot and discussed prevention and liability. The chair said funding and other details needed further work. The hearing ended without a vote.
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Bryce Berry (D, HD-56)
- Park Cannon (D, HD-58)
- Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)
- Anne Allen Westbrook (D, HD-163)
- Inga Willis (D, HD-55)
Topics
- beach safety
- lifeguards
- public safety
- youth employment
- Department of Economic Development