---
title: SB 455. Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission; establishment
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb455
cite_as: SB 455, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb455
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb455.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb455/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72792
date: 2026-02-04
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.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb454.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb456.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb455.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 455
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-03
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Nikki Merritt
- Harold Jones
- Sonya Halpern
- Jaha Howard
- Randal Mangham
- Kenya Wicks
- Freddie Sims
- Tonya Anderson
- Elena Parent
- Nabilah Islam Parkes
- RaShaun Kemp
- Gail Davenport
- Donzella James
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB455/2025
upstream_id: 2106642
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- artificial intelligence
- state government oversight
- technology policy
- Georgia Technology Authority
- AI regulation
---
# SB 455. Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission; establishment
## Text
Senate Bill 455
By: Senators Merritt of the 9th, Jones II of the 22nd, Halpern of the 39th, Howard of the
35th, Mangham of the 55th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
commissions and other agencies, so as to provide for the establishment of the Georgia
Artificial Intelligence Commission; to provide for responsibilities; to provide for purpose;
to provide for assignment to the Georgia Technology Authority; to provide for annual
reports; to provide for membership, terms, meetings, and compensation; to provide for
definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to commissions
and other agencies, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 9
50-12-150.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Artificial intelligence system' or 'AI system' means an engineered or machine based
system that emulates the capability of a person to receive audio, visual, text, or any other
form of information and use the information received to emulate a human cognitive
process, including, but not limited to, learning, generalizing, reasoning, planning,
predicting, acting, or communicating; provided, however, that artificial intelligence
systems may vary in the forms of information they can receive and in the human
cognitive processes they can emulate.
(2) 'Commission' means the Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission.
(b) There is created the Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission, responsibilities of
which shall include:
(1) Making recommendations to the General Assembly and to the chief information
officer of the State of Georgia on legislative and executive actions regarding AI systems;
(2) Developing and recommending state-wide processes, principles, and guidelines for
executive, legislative, and judicial agencies to follow regarding the use of AI systems;
(3) Encouraging state agencies to utilize AI systems to improve services when
appropriate;
(4) Examining, developing, and recommending actions that ensure AI systems are used
in a safe and secure manner;
(5) Conducting an inventory of all AI systems used in state agencies; and
(6) Identifying high risk areas for the implementation of artificial intelligence.
(c) The commission shall be assigned to the Georgia Technology Authority for
administrative purposes only, as prescribed in Code Section 50-4-3.
(d) The commission shall consist of 16 members to be appointed by the Governor by
January 1, 2027, as follows:
(1) The chief information office of the State of Georgia, or his or her designee;
(2) The Attorney General, or his or her designee;
(3) The Commissioner of Labor, or his or her designee;
(4) The State School Superintendent, or his or her designee;
(5) The Secretary of State, or his or her designee;
(6) The commissioner of public health, or his or her designee;
(7) The commissioner of public safety, or his or her designee;
(8) The Commissioner of Agriculture;
(9) A member of the Senate majority party;
(10) A member of the Senate minority party;
(11) A member of the House of Representatives majority party;
(12) A member of the House of Representatives minority party;
(13) Two members of institutions of higher education that specialize in AI systems; and
(14) Two members representing private companies with expertise in developing AI
systems.
(e) Each member of the commission shall serve a three-year term and until the
appointment and qualification of such member's successor. Any member with four
consecutive unexcused absences from regular monthly meetings of the commission may
be removed from the commission by the Governor. A majority of the commission shall
constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority shall be required for the
determination of any matter within its duties.
(f) Commission members shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be
allowed actual and necessary expenses in the performance of their duties. The legislative
members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code
Section 28-1-8. Citizen members shall receive a daily expense allowance in the amount
specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21, as well as the mileage or
transportation allowance authorized for state employees. Members appointed to serve on
the commission who are state officials or state employees shall receive no compensation
for their services on the commission but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties as members of the commission in the same manner as
reimbursements are made in their capacity as state officials or state employees. The funds
necessary for the reimbursement of the expenses of state officials and state employees shall
come from funds appropriated to or otherwise available to their respective departments.
(g) The commission shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among its number
at its first meeting and such individuals shall serve until their successors are elected and
qualified. In the event that the position of chairperson becomes vacant, the vice
chairperson shall fulfill the duties of the chairperson.
(h) The chairperson of the commission shall have the following duties:
(1) Set a date, time, and place for the regular monthly meetings of the commission; and
(2) Supervise the preparation and distribution of meeting notices, agendas, minutes, and
other documents prepared by or on behalf of the commission.
(i) The commission may adopt rules necessary for its operation.
(j) The commission, no later than December 31, 2027, and annually thereafter shall submit
to the Governor, President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
an annual report of the commission's activities for the previous year and goals for the
upcoming year. Such report may also include proposals for legislation, administrative
action, or other policy changes the commission considers necessary to further the goals and
purposes of the commission.
(k) The commission shall begin operations no later than January 1, 2027."
SECTION 2.
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.
A Georgia Senate bill would create the Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission, a 16 member body housed at the Georgia Technology Authority, to study AI use in state government and recommend rules to the General Assembly.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia currently has no dedicated body overseeing how state government uses artificial intelligence. This bill would add a new article to Georgia's commissions law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 12 of Title 50) creating the Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission. The commission would be attached to the Georgia Technology Authority for administrative support only, and its 16 members, appointed by the Governor by January 1, 2027, would include several state officials, four legislators from both chambers and parties, and four members from universities and private companies with AI expertise.
The commission's job would be to recommend legislative and executive action on AI, develop statewide guidelines for agencies, inventory AI systems already used by the state, flag high risk uses, and encourage safe adoption. Members would serve three year terms without pay, though they can be reimbursed for expenses. The commission must begin operating by January 1, 2027 and file its first annual report to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 31, 2027.
### What it does
- Creates the Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission as a new body under Georgia law, assigned to the Georgia Technology Authority for administrative support only.
- Directs the commission to recommend AI-related legislation and executive actions, develop statewide AI guidelines, and inventory AI systems already used by state agencies.
- Sets the commission's membership at 16 people, including state officials, four legislators, two university AI experts, and two private-industry AI experts, all appointed by the Governor by January 1, 2027.
- Gives commission members three-year terms, no pay but expense reimbursement, and requires removal of any member with four consecutive unexcused absences.
- Requires the commission to start operating by January 1, 2027 and to submit its first annual report to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 31, 2027.
### Who it affects
State agencies that would be studied and guided by the commission, the Governor's office and General Assembly who would receive its recommendations, universities and private companies with AI expertise who could serve as members, and state employees or officials appointed to serve on the commission.
### Why it matters
If enacted, Georgia would gain a formal advisory body studying how state government uses artificial intelligence, which could shape future rules, safety guidelines, and agency practices around AI. The commission's recommendations would not automatically become law, but they would inform lawmakers and state agencies going forward.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 adds a new Article 9 to Chapter 12 of Title 50, defining 'artificial intelligence system' broadly as a machine-based system emulating human cognitive processes like learning, reasoning, or predicting.
- Subsection (b) lists the commission's six core duties, including recommending legislation, setting statewide AI guidelines, inventorying agency AI use, and identifying high-risk AI applications.
- Subsection (c) assigns the commission to the Georgia Technology Authority for administrative purposes only, meaning the authority provides support but does not control the commission's work.
- Subsection (d) sets a 16-member roster appointed by the Governor by January 1, 2027, mixing cabinet officials, legislators, and outside AI experts from academia and industry.
- Subsection (e) sets three-year terms and allows the Governor to remove members after four consecutive unexcused absences from monthly meetings.
- Subsection (f) sets compensation rules: no pay for members, but expense reimbursement following existing state allowance rules for legislators and citizen members.
- Subsection (j) requires an annual report to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker starting no later than December 31, 2027, covering past activities and future goals.
- Subsection (k) requires the commission to begin operations no later than January 1, 2027.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-03)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-04)
- Sponsors: Nikki Merritt, Harold Jones, Sonya Halpern, Jaha Howard, Randal Mangham, Kenya Wicks, Freddie Sims, Tonya Anderson, Elena Parent, Nabilah Islam Parkes, RaShaun Kemp, Gail Davenport, Donzella James
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72792
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb455.md?full=1