HR 1966: Reaffirming our commitment to attorney integrity and recognizing fiduciary duties owed by attorneys to clients and co-counsel; recognize

This resolution does not change any Georgia statute. It is a formal statement by the House of Representatives affirming that the practice of law is a public trust and that Georgia attorneys are bound by duties of loyalty, honesty, and fidelity under the state's Rules of Professional Conduct. The resolution specifically addresses joint representation, situations where more than one attorney works together on a client's case, including sharing responsibility over client funds and attorney's fees. It resolves that House members recognize attorneys in these co-counsel arrangements owe fiduciary duties (legal obligations to act in someone else's best interest) both to their clients and to one another. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. It carries no penalties, funding, or enforcement mechanism.

• Formally reaffirms the House's commitment to attorney integrity in Georgia's legal system without amending any statute.
• States that attorneys engaged in joint representation of a client owe fiduciary duties to that client.
• States that attorneys engaged in joint representation also owe fiduciary duties to one another, including over shared funds and fees.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

Georgia attorneys, particularly those who work together on the same client's case (joint or co-counsel representation), and their clients, whose funds and fee arrangements are handled by multiple lawyers at once.

Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending the law, it creates no new legal duties, penalties, or enforcement powers. Its practical effect is symbolic, signaling the House's position on attorney conduct standards that already exist under Georgia's Rules of Professional Conduct.

• The whereas clauses describe attorneys' existing duties of loyalty, candor, honesty, transparency, and fidelity under Georgia's Rules of Professional Conduct.
• The resolving clause has the House recognize that attorneys in joint representation owe fiduciary duties to clients and to co-counsel.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare and distribute copies to the public and the press.

1. 2026-03-27House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2026-03-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-27House Hopper (House)

• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)Primary sponsor
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)

• attorney conduct
• legal ethics
• joint representation
• legal profession