--- title: HB 882. Agriculture, Department of; regulation and licensing of tree care operators; provide collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb882 cite_as: HB 882, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb882 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb882.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb882/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71860 date: 2025-04-02 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb881.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb883.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb882.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 882 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-03-28 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - David Huddleston - Victor Anderson - Robert Dickey - Marvin Lim - Karen Lupton text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB882/2025 upstream_id: 2016650 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - tree care licensing - Georgia Department of Agriculture - occupational licensing - consumer protection - arborist regulation --- # HB 882. Agriculture, Department of; regulation and licensing of tree care operators; provide ## Text 25 LC 44 3190ER House Bill 882 By: Representatives Huddleston of the 72nd, Anderson of the 10th, Dickey of the 134th, and Lim of the 98th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 23 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 landscape architects, so as to provide for the regulation and licensing of tree care operators2 by the Georgia Department of Agriculture; to provide for application and fees; to provide for3 rules and regulations; to provide for penalties; to provide for exceptions; to provide for4 definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Chapter 23 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotate d, relating to landscape8 architects, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:9 "43-23-20.10 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:11 (1) 'Department' means the Georgia Department of Agriculture.12 (2) 'Tree care operator' means any person that, for compensation, offers and provides tree13 care services.14 (3) 'Tree care services' means the professional practice of pruning, repairing, cabling and15 bracing, removing trees, or other arboricultural activities that involve the use of rigging,16 H. B. 882 - 1 - 25 LC 44 3190ER climbing, cranes, aerial lift equipment, or other mechanized eq uipment, as well as tree17 work in proximity to utility lines, structures, or other sensitive areas.18 (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to provide tree care services unless such person has19 a valid tree care operator license issued by the department. Any person or entity seeking20 to establish, maintain, and operate as a tree care operator in this state shall apply to the21 department for such a license.22 (c) The department is authorized to establish and enforce regu lations to govern the tree23 care industry, including but not limited to:24 (1) Licensing requirements, including education, training, and examination criteria;25 (2) Safety standards for employees engaged in tree care services, including proper use26 of equipment and adherence to industry safety protocols;27 (3) Consumer protection measures, including requirements for contracts, disclosure of28 services, and liability insurance requirements;29 (4) Ethics and professional conduct standards for tree care operators;30 (5) Procedures for license renewal, suspension, or revocation for violations of31 regulations; and32 (6) A fee structure and application procedure for initial licensing and license renewals,33 not to exceed $250.00 per license.34 (d) The department shall have the authority to conduct inspections, investigate complaints,35 and enforce compliance with this Code section through penalties, fines, or other corrective36 actions as necessary.37 (e) Any person or entity operating without a valid tree care operator license or in violation38 of this Code section shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by the department.39 (f) This Code section shall not apply to contractors performin g tree care services under40 contract with power companies for the purpose of utility line c learance or maintenance. 41 Additionally, individuals assisting neighbors or victims of storms by providing tree care42 services without compensation shall not be subject to the provisions of this Code section."43 H. B. 882 - 2 - 25 LC 44 3190ER SECTION 2.44 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.45 H. B. 882 - 3 - ## 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 require anyone who prunes, removes, or otherwise cares for trees for pay to get a license from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, with rules on safety, insurance, and fees up to $250. ### Plain-language summary Georgia currently does not license tree care workers the way it licenses landscape architects. This bill adds a new section to the state law on landscape architects (O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 23) that creates licensing for 'tree care operators,' defined as anyone paid to prune, remove, cable, brace, or otherwise work on trees using climbing gear, cranes, aerial lifts, or other mechanized equipment, especially near utility lines or structures. Under the bill, it would be illegal to offer these services without a license from the Department of Agriculture. The department could set education and exam requirements, safety standards, consumer protection rules like required contracts and insurance, and a fee of up to $250 for licenses and renewals. The department could also inspect worksites, investigate complaints, and penalize unlicensed or violating operators. Utility company contractors doing line clearance and unpaid neighbors helping after storms are exempted. ### What it does - Makes it illegal to provide paid tree care services in Georgia without a license issued by the Department of Agriculture. - Directs the department to create licensing rules covering education, training, and exam requirements for tree care operators. - Authorizes the department to set safety standards, insurance and contract disclosure requirements, and professional conduct rules for the industry. - Caps license and renewal fees at $250 and lets the department suspend or revoke licenses for violations. - Gives the department power to inspect worksites, investigate complaints, and issue penalties or fines for noncompliance. - Exempts utility company contractors doing line clearance and unpaid volunteers helping neighbors or storm victims. ### Who it affects Tree trimming and removal businesses, arborists, and anyone paid to prune, remove, or otherwise work on trees using climbing gear, cranes, or lifts would need a license. The Georgia Department of Agriculture would gain new licensing and enforcement duties, while utility company contractors and unpaid storm-relief volunteers are exempted. ### Why it matters Tree work near power lines and structures can be dangerous, and this bill would require workers who charge for such services to meet state licensing, safety, and insurance standards for the first time, changing how tree care businesses operate and adding costs and oversight to the industry. ### Key provisions - New Code Section 43-23-20(a) defines 'tree care operator' and 'tree care services,' covering pruning, removal, cabling, bracing, and work with rigging, cranes, or aerial lifts. - Subsection (b) makes it unlawful to provide tree care services without a department-issued license and requires applicants to apply to the department. - Subsection (c) authorizes the department to set licensing criteria, safety standards, consumer protections like contracts and liability insurance, conduct standards, and renewal or revocation procedures, plus a fee capped at $250.00 per license. - Subsection (d) gives the department authority to inspect, investigate complaints, and enforce compliance through penalties or fines. - Subsection (e) states that operating without a valid license or violating the section subjects a person to penalties set by the department. - Subsection (f) exempts utility company line-clearance contractors and uncompensated individuals helping neighbors or storm victims. - Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-03-28) - Last action: House Second Readers (2025-04-02) - Sponsors: David Huddleston, Victor Anderson, Robert Dickey, Marvin Lim, Karen Lupton - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71860 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb882.md?full=1