---
title: HB 954. Eric's Law; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb954
cite_as: HB 954, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb954
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb954.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb954/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72179
date: 2026-01-15
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/hb954.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 954
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-13
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Eric Bell
- Eric Gisler
- Todd Jones
- Dexter Sharper
- Carl Gilliard
- Scott Hilton
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB954/2025
upstream_id: 2073947
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- driver's licenses
- disability rights
- privacy
- veterans and PTSD
- Department of Driver Services
---
# HB 954. Eric's Law; enact
## Text
House Bill 954
By: Representatives Bell of the 75th, Gisler of the 121st, Jones of the 25th, Sharper of the 177th,
Gilliard of the 162nd, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to issuance, expiration, and renewal of licenses, so as to provide for the placement
of a notation of a nonapparent physical or mental disability upon a driver's license; to provide
for the removal of such notation upon request; to prohibit the disclosure of information
relating to the request for such notation; to provide for a short title; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as "Eric's Law."
SECTION 2.
Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
issuance, expiration, and renewal of licenses, is amended by revising Code Section 40-5-38,
relating to notation of post-traumatic stress disorder upon drivers' licenses, as follows:
"40-5-38.
(a) Members of the armed services and veterans who have been diagnosed with
post-traumatic stress disorder may request to have a notation of such diagnosis placed on
his or her driver's license. Such applicant shall present the department with a sworn
statement from a person licensed to practice medicine or psychology in this state verifying
such diagnosis.
(b) Any applicant with a physical or mental disability which is not immediately obvious
or visible may request to have a symbol placed upon the front of his or her driver's license
which indicates such physical or mental disability. Such applicant shall present the
department with a sworn statement which includes a description of such physical or mental
disability.
(c) Any licensee with a notation placed upon his or her license pursuant to this Code
section may request the removal of such notation by the department. Upon receipt of a
request to remove a notation provided for in this Code section, the department shall delete
any records relating to the notation and request. The department shall be prohibited from
disclosing any information relating to a request for a notation authorized by this Code
section except on written authorization or other waiver by the applicant or licensee or on
appropriate court order.
(d) The commissioner shall by rules and regulations establish procedures necessary to
carry out the provisions of this Code section including, without limitation, application
forms to include a waiver of liability for the release of any medical information, and an
appropriate symbol to be placed on the drivers' licenses, and a procedure for the request for
revocation of a request authorized by this Code section."
SECTION 3.
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.
House Bill 954, called Eric's Law, would let Georgians with a nonapparent physical or mental disability request a symbol on their driver's license and later have it removed, with the request itself kept confidential.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law already lets veterans and service members diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder ask to have a notation added to their driver's license. This bill expands that idea. It would let any applicant with a physical or mental disability that is not immediately obvious request a symbol on the front of their license showing they have such a condition, based on a sworn statement describing the disability.
The bill also adds new protections: a person who gets the notation could later ask the Department of Driver Services to remove it, and once removed the department must delete related records. The department would also be barred from disclosing information about a person's request for the notation, except with written permission or a court order. The Department of Driver Services would still set the application forms, the liability waiver for releasing medical information, and the symbol design, and would now also set a procedure for revoking the notation.
### What it does
- Lets any driver with a nonapparent physical or mental disability request a special symbol on their license, not just veterans with PTSD.
- Requires the applicant to submit a sworn statement describing the disability instead of a doctor's diagnosis, as previously required for PTSD notations.
- Creates a right for licensees to request removal of the notation, requiring the Department of Driver Services to delete related records once removed.
- Bars the department from disclosing information about a person's request for the notation except with written authorization or a court order.
- Directs the department to add a procedure for revoking the notation to its existing rulemaking duties for the program.
### Who it affects
Georgians with nonapparent physical or mental disabilities who want a discreet marker on their license, the Georgia Department of Driver Services, which administers the notation and confidentiality rules, and licensed physicians or psychologists, whose role in the PTSD process is unchanged but not required for the new general disability notation.
### Why it matters
People with conditions like autism, epilepsy, or hearing loss that are not visible could use the symbol to signal their condition to police or first responders during a stop or emergency, while new confidentiality and removal rules aim to keep that sensitive information private and reversible.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 names the bill 'Eric's Law' as its short title.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. ยง 40-5-38 to add a new subsection (b) letting any applicant with a nonapparent physical or mental disability request a license symbol based on a sworn statement.
- Section 2 adds subsection (c), letting licensees request removal of the notation and requiring the department to delete related records upon removal.
- Section 2's subsection (c) bars the department from disclosing information about a notation request except by written authorization, waiver, or court order.
- Section 2 revises what is now subsection (d) to add a departmental procedure for revoking a notation request to its existing rulemaking duties.
- Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-01-13)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-01-15)
- Sponsors: Eric Bell, Eric Gisler, Todd Jones, Dexter Sharper, Carl Gilliard, Scott Hilton
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72179
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb954.md?full=1