---
title: HB 644. Environmental Protection Division; authorize director to investigate and consider out-of-state regulatory history when processing applications for certain permits
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb644
cite_as: HB 644, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb644
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb644.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb644/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70843
date: 2025-02-28
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12
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/hb644.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 644
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-26
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Rick Townsend
- Ron Stephens
- Debbie Buckner
- Darlene Taylor
- Alan Powell
- Al Williams
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB644/2025
upstream_id: 1985945
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- environmental permits
- Environmental Protection Division
- business regulation
- permit denials
- state environmental law
---
# HB 644. Environmental Protection Division; authorize director to investigate and consider out-of-state regulatory history when processing applications for certain permits
## Text
House Bill 644
By: Representatives Townsend of the 179th, Stephens of the 164th, Buckner of the 137th,
Taylor of the 173rd, Powell of the 33rd, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 12-2-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
Environmental Protection Division, Environmental Advisory Council, duties of council and
its members and director, appeal procedures generally, permit applications, and inspections,
so as to authorize the director of the Environmental Protection Division to investigate and
consider out-of-state regulatory history when processing applications for certain permits; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Code Section 12-2-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Environmental
Protection Division, Environmental Advisory Council, duties of council and its members and
director, appeal procedures generally, permit applications, and inspections, is amended by
adding a new subparagraph to paragraph (1) of subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(C) The director may deny an application for any permit issued pursuant to
Chapter 4, 5, 7, or 9 of this title if when processing the application the director
determines that the applicant's regulatory history, including, but not limited to, such
applicant's history of violations of environmental laws or regulations and any criminal
or civil penalties incurred by such applicant in any other state, warrant denial of the
permit."
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 let the state's top environmental regulator deny certain permits based on an applicant's history of environmental violations or penalties in other states.
### Plain-language summary
Currently, when the director of Georgia's Environmental Protection Division reviews applications for permits covering air quality, water quality, solid waste, and similar environmental matters, the law does not explicitly say the director can look at how an applicant behaved in other states. This bill changes that by amending O.C.G.A. § 12-2-2.
The bill adds a new provision allowing the director to deny a permit application under Chapters 4, 5, 7, or 9 of Title 12 (Georgia's environmental laws covering things like air quality, water quality, and waste management) if the applicant's regulatory history, including violations of environmental laws and any criminal or civil penalties incurred in another state, warrants denial. The bill does not set specific criteria beyond directing the director to consider this history during the application process. It repeals any conflicting laws.
### What it does
- Adds a new subparagraph to O.C.G.A. § 12-2-2 letting the EPD director investigate an applicant's out-of-state regulatory history when reviewing certain permit applications.
- Allows the director to deny a permit under Title 12, Chapters 4, 5, 7, or 9 (covering areas like air, water, and waste regulation) based on that history.
- Specifies that relevant history includes prior violations of environmental laws or regulations and any criminal or civil penalties incurred in any other state.
- Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new authority.
### Who it affects
Businesses and individuals applying for environmental permits in Georgia under Title 12, Chapters 4, 5, 7, or 9, particularly companies that operate across multiple states, and the Environmental Protection Division director, who gains new discretion in reviewing those applications.
### Why it matters
Companies with a record of environmental violations or penalties in other states could now face permit denial in Georgia based on that history, even if their Georgia record is clean. This gives the EPD director broader discretion to screen applicants before they begin operating in the state.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 12-2-2(c)(1) by adding a new subparagraph (C) giving the director authority to deny permits based on out-of-state regulatory history.
- The provision applies specifically to permits issued under Title 12, Chapters 4, 5, 7, or 9 of the Georgia Code.
- The considered history includes violations of environmental laws or regulations and any criminal or civil penalties incurred by the applicant in any other state.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-02-26)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-28)
- Sponsors: Rick Townsend, Ron Stephens, Debbie Buckner, Darlene Taylor, Alan Powell, Al Williams
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70843
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb644.md?full=1