HB 913: Administrative Service, Department of; prohibit a governmental entity from entering into contracts for the licensing of certain software applications

Georgia's purchasing rules currently do not address whether software vendors can require government customers to run applications only on specific desktop or server hardware. This bill would add a new section to the state purchasing law (O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 5) that prohibits governmental entities from entering into software licensing contracts that limit their ability to install or run the software on the desktop or server hardware of their own choosing, as long as the software is designed to run on generally available hardware. The bill defines 'governmental entity' broadly to include state departments, agencies, boards, commissions, counties, municipal corporations, and school systems. It would apply to new contracts entered into after the bill takes effect, as well as to renewals, modifications, or extensions of existing agreements made after that date. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it, or if it becomes law without his signature.

• Adds a new Georgia purchasing law section (O.C.G.A. § 50-5-86) barring governmental entities from signing software contracts that restrict which hardware the software runs on.
• Defines 'governmental entity' to include state departments, agencies, boards, commissions, counties, municipal corporations, and school systems.
• Limits the restriction to software designed to run on generally available desktop or server hardware.
• Applies the rule to new contracts and to renewals, modifications, or extensions of existing contracts signed after the law takes effect.
• Sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without his signature.

State agencies, county and municipal governments, school systems, and other political subdivisions of Georgia that purchase or license software, as well as the software vendors who contract with them for licenses tied to particular hardware.

Government agencies sometimes face software licenses that force them to buy or keep specific hardware to keep using the software. This bill would give Georgia governmental entities more freedom to choose their own computer equipment, potentially affecting future procurement negotiations and existing contract renewals.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 50-5-86, prohibiting hardware-restrictive software license contracts for governmental entities.
• Section 1 defines 'governmental entity' to cover state departments, agencies, boards, bureaus, commissions, authorities, counties, municipalities, school systems, and other political subdivisions.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's approval or the date the bill becomes law without approval, and applies the rule to future contracts and renewals or modifications of existing ones.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-12House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-01-12House Second Readers (House)
3. 2025-04-04House First Readers (House)
4. 2025-04-02House Hopper (House)

• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)Primary sponsor
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)
• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Omari Crawford (D, HD-089)

• state purchasing rules
• software licensing
• government contracts
• technology procurement