---
title: SB 433. "Rio's Law"
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb433
cite_as: SB 433, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb433
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb433.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb433/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72533
date: 2026-05-06
status: passed
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: 995
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb433.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 433
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-06
last_action: Effective Date 2026-07-01
sponsors:
- Brian Strickland
- John Albers
- Timothy Bearden
- Drew Echols
- Tonya Anderson
- Jason Anavitarte
- Elena Parent
- Eddie Lumsden
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB433/2025
upstream_id: 2100527
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- autism spectrum disorder
- license plates
- police training
- developmental disabilities
- Georgia motor vehicles
---
# SB 433. "Rio's Law"
## Text
Senate Bill 433
By: Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Albers of the 56th, Bearden of the 30th, Echols of the
49th, Anderson of the 43rd and others
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to
provide for special license plates for persons with autism spectrum disorder or a
developmental disability and for such person's spouse, parent, or legal guardian; to provide
for a process for obtaining such plates; to provide for the design of such plates; to provide
for the transfer of such plates; to provide for penalties for willful and false representations
and statements; to provide a definition; to amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code
of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and training of peace officers, so as to provide
for training regarding encounters with persons with autism spectrum disorder or a
developmental disability; to provide for collaboration with the Department of Community
Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and nonprofit
organizations regarding such training; 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 "Rio's Law."
SECTION 2.
Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, is amended by
revising Code Section 40-2-75, which is reserved, as follows:
"40-2-75.
(a) On or after January 1, 2027, any owner of a private passenger motor vehicle who is a
resident of Georgia, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration,
licensing, and payment of fees and upon submitting an affidavit of a practitioner of the
healing arts stating that the owner or his or her spouse, child, or ward is a person with
autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability shall be issued a specially
designated 'Autism Spectrum Disorder or Developmental Disability' license plate from the
commissioner. As used in this Code section, the term 'practitioner of the healing arts'
means a person holding a license to practice medicine issued pursuant to Article 2 of
Chapter 34 of Title 43 or a person holding a license to practice psychology pursuant to
Article 1 of Chapter 39 of Title 43.
(b)(1) Upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration, licensing,
and payment of fees and upon submission of proof of autism spectrum disorder or a
developmental disability as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, as applicable:
(A) Any resident person who is the joint owner of a motor vehicle with a person with
autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability as prescribed in this Code
section shall be authorized to obtain such specialized license plate for such jointly
owned vehicle; and
(B) Any resident motor vehicle owner who is the spouse, parent, or legal guardian of
a person with autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability as prescribed in
this Code section shall be authorized to obtain such specialized license plate for such
vehicle.
(2) Upon the death of the person with autism spectrum disorder or a developmental
disability or if the joint ownership of such vehicle ceases for any reason, the specialized
license plate shall be canceled and the owner of such motor vehicle shall be issued a
regular license plate for such vehicle.
(c) The commissioner is directed to furnish specialized license plates as provided for in
this Code section, which shall bear the official 'Just Bee' symbol or a reasonable facsimile
thereof, or such other symbols as the commissioner may deem appropriate.
(d) Any specialized license plate issued pursuant to the provisions of this Code section
shall be transferred to another vehicle as provided in Code Section 40-2-80.
(e) Any person who willfully and falsely represents himself or herself as having the
qualifications to obtain the specialized license plate prescribed by this Code section shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(f) Any practitioner of the healing arts who knowingly and willfully makes a false or
misleading statement in his or her affidavit stating that an applicant has autism spectrum
disorder or a developmental disability as prescribed in this Code section shall be guilty of
a misdemeanor.
(g) Any person owning a vehicle bearing a specialized license plate prescribed by this
Code section who is not authorized to have such plate under this Code section shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor. Reserved."
SECTION 3.
Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and
training of peace officers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"35-8-28.
(a) Beginning January 1, 2027, the basic training courses required pursuant to this chapter
shall include training in interactions with persons with autism spectrum disorder or a
developmental disability.
(b) Such training course shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(1) Best practices for encounters with a person who has a specialized license plate under
Code Section 40-2-75;
(2) Best practices for conducting investigations that involve a person with autism
spectrum disorder or a developmental disability;
(3) Instruction on how to interact with persons with autism spectrum disorder or a
developmental disability;
(4) Techniques for recognizing the behavioral symptoms and characteristics of autism
spectrum disorder or a developmental disability;
(5) Techniques for effective communication with persons with autism spectrum disorder
or a developmental disability;
(6) Techniques for employing alternatives to physical restraints when encountering
persons with autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability; and
(7) Protocols for contacting the caregiver of a person with autism spectrum disorder or
a developmental disability during an emergency situation.
(c) The council shall develop and implement or approve a training program under this
Code section in collaboration with the Department of Community Health, the Department
of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and nonprofit organizations with
proven expertise in autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities."
SECTION 4.
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.
Georgia's Senate Bill 433, called Rio's Law, creates a new state license plate identifying drivers or riders with autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability and requires police recruits to get training on interacting with them.
### Plain-language summary
Rio's Law adds a new option to Georgia's specialty license plate system. Starting January 1, 2027, a resident who has autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability, or that person's spouse, parent, legal guardian, or joint vehicle owner, can get a specially marked plate after submitting a signed statement from a doctor or licensed psychologist confirming the diagnosis. The plate must display the official 'Just Bee' symbol or something similar chosen by the state's motor vehicle commissioner. If the person dies or joint ownership ends, the plate must be swapped for a regular one, and the plate can be transferred to another vehicle under existing rules.
The bill also makes it a misdemeanor to lie in order to get the plate, for a doctor to falsely certify someone for it, or to keep using it without being entitled to it. Separately, starting January 1, 2027, Georgia's basic peace officer training must cover how to recognize and communicate with people who have autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability, developed with input from state health agencies and nonprofit experts.
### What it does
- Creates a new 'Autism Spectrum Disorder or Developmental Disability' license plate available starting January 1, 2027 to qualifying residents and their spouse, parent, legal guardian, or joint vehicle owner.
- Requires an affidavit from a licensed physician or psychologist confirming the diagnosis before the plate can be issued.
- Requires the plate to be canceled and replaced with a regular plate if the qualifying person dies or joint ownership of the vehicle ends.
- Makes it a misdemeanor to falsely claim eligibility for the plate, to falsely certify someone's eligibility, or to keep using the plate without authorization.
- Requires basic police training courses to include instruction on recognizing and communicating with people who have autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability, starting January 1, 2027.
- Directs the training council to build this curriculum with input from the Department of Community Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and nonprofit experts.
### Who it affects
Georgians with autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability and their spouses, parents, legal guardians, or joint vehicle owners who apply for the new plate; doctors and psychologists who sign the required affidavits; the state motor vehicle commissioner's office; and police officers and cadets who will receive the new training.
### Why it matters
Families of people with autism or developmental disabilities would get a visible way to signal that to police during a traffic stop or emergency, and new officers would be trained on how to respond, which could change how those encounters unfold on Georgia roads starting in 2027.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 names the law 'Rio's Law.'
- Section 2 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 40-2-75 to create the new specialty plate, define who qualifies, require a medical or psychological affidavit, and set rules for transfer and cancellation of the plate.
- Section 2 also creates three new misdemeanors: false representation by an applicant, false certification by a practitioner, and unauthorized continued use of the plate.
- Section 3 adds O.C.G.A. § 35-8-28, requiring basic peace officer training to cover encounters with people who have autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability, effective January 1, 2027.
- Section 3 lists specific required training topics, including recognizing behavioral symptoms, communication techniques, alternatives to physical restraint, and emergency caregiver contact protocols.
- Section 3 requires the training council to develop the curriculum in collaboration with two state health agencies and nonprofit organizations with relevant expertise.
- Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Passed (2026-05-06)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-07-01 (2026-05-06)
- Sponsors: Brian Strickland, John Albers, Timothy Bearden, Drew Echols, Tonya Anderson, Jason Anavitarte, Elena Parent, Eddie Lumsden
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72533
> The history, votes, and amendments (995 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb433.md?full=1