Georgia CommonsSenate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 473: Motor Vehicles and Traffic; submission of proof of completion of certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs by certain applicants to obtain limited driving permits; require
Last action March 6, 2026 · Senate Tabled
A Senate substitute bill would require some Georgia drivers seeking a limited driving permit after a DUI-related license suspension to first complete a certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program, and would revise fees charged by driver improvement clinics and DUI programs.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law lets certain drivers whose licenses are suspended apply for a limited driving permit that lets them drive to work, school, or treatment. This bill changes the rules for drivers whose suspension stems from a DUI-related administrative suspension under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-67.2: they would now have to submit proof they finished a certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program before getting the permit. Completing that program would then count toward other reinstatement requirements tied to related DUI suspension laws. The bill also updates how DUI program records are handled, allowing written consent for releasing those records to be collected and transferred electronically. It raises the fee driver improvement clinics can charge for a defensive driving course from $95 to $125, replaces the separate $100 assessment and $235 intervention fees for DUI risk reduction programs with a single $380 fee, caps the materials fee at $15, and lowers the state administration fee programs must pay per offender from $30 to $15. It also changes how clinical evaluations and risk assessments are conducted and allows some instruction through remote platforms. These changes would take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to offenses committed on or after that date.
What the bill does
- Requires drivers seeking a limited driving permit after a suspension under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-67.2 to first submit proof of completing a certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program.
- Credits completion of that DUI program toward reinstatement requirements under three related Code sections (40-5-57.1, 40-5-63, and 40-5-67.2).
- Allows written consent for releasing confidential DUI program records to be obtained and transferred electronically instead of only on paper.
- Raises the fee driver improvement clinics charge for a defensive driving course from $95 to $125.
- Replaces the separate $100 assessment fee and $235 intervention fee for DUI risk reduction programs with a single combined $380 fee, and caps the student materials fee at $15.
- Lowers the per-offender state administration fee that DUI programs must pay from $30 to $15, and sets a new $15 fee the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities may collect per assessment.
Who it affects
Drivers applying for limited driving permits after a DUI-related license suspension, driver improvement clinics and DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs, the Department of Driver Services, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and licensed clinical evaluators who conduct DUI risk assessments.
Why it matters
Drivers seeking limited driving privileges after certain DUI suspensions would face a new completion requirement before they can drive, while also getting credit toward other reinstatement steps. Meanwhile, the fees clinics and DUI programs charge, and the fees they owe the state, would shift, changing costs for offenders and revenue for agencies.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-64(a)(1)(E) to require proof of completing a certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program before issuing a limited driving permit tied to a 40-5-67.2 suspension.
- Section 1 adds new subsection (e.1) crediting a completed DUI program toward reinstatement requirements under O.C.G.A. §§ 40-5-57.1, 40-5-63, and 40-5-67.2.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-82(d) to allow electronic collection and transfer of written consent for releasing DUI program records, and authorizes a $15.00 fee per offender assessed for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
- Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-83(a) to raise the driver improvement clinic defensive driving course fee from $95.00 to $125.00.
- Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-83(e) to require clinical evaluation and risk assessment be conducted simultaneously by qualified licensed evaluators, and permits instruction via remote platforms with in-person instruction providers.
- Section 3 replaces the separate $100 assessment fee and $235 intervention fee for DUI risk reduction programs with one combined fee of $380.00, and caps the program materials fee at $15.00.
- Section 3 lowers the state administration fee DUI programs must pay per offender assessed from $30.00 to $15.00.
- Section 4 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.
From the bill
“The department shall credit any DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program completed to obtain a permit pursuant to this Code section toward the requirements of Code Sections 40-5-57.1, 40-5-63, and 40-5-67.2 relating to such course.”
“The written consent required by this subsection may be obtained and transferred in electronic format.”
Discussed in meetings (7)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Public Safety Committee, February 18, 2026
From 1:53:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair said the committee had run out of time and would hear SB 473 on Monday at 1 p.m. No presentation, debate or vote on the bill occurred.
Senate Public Safety Committee, February 23, 2026
From 0:26:48 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would require DUI-course completion before certain limited driving permits and reduced pleas, adjust reinstatement credit and fees, allow electronic consent, and remove an assessment requirement. The sponsor said fees had not changed in 14 years and assessments could duplicate clinical evaluations. One member proposed limiting online classes to active-duty military. The sponsor declined, citing travelers and live instructor interaction. Another member warned that requiring classes for reduced charges could undermine plea agreements in weak cases; the sponsor offered to negotiate. A Department of Driver Services representative said restoring the $30 payment provision would address agency funding concerns. No amendment was adopted. A driving-school association witness defended assessments as useful to instructors and evaluators and disputed the sponsor's claim that out-of-state residents must take Georgia courses. ADE and Prevention Research Institute witnesses defended standardized screening and research supporting the curriculum. A school owner said students pay $100 for assessments, including $30 for the state and $8 for processing, and opposed removing assessments or broadly using online classes. The sponsor cited a University of Georgia researcher's conclusion that universal assessments add no clear safety value when clinical evaluations are required. The chair postponed remaining testimony until Wednesday and requested work toward a substitute. No vote occurred.
Senate Public Safety Committee, February 25, 2026
From 0:08:40 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor proposed removing the required pre-class assessment, calling it duplicative of clinical evaluation and citing University of Georgia research. The sponsor defended higher tuition as an overdue adjustment and said remote classes involve live instruction. Asked about agency fees, the sponsor said the amendment preserved the $30 total, splitting it equally between DDS and DBHDD. Members questioned whether requiring course completion before a reduced plea would disadvantage defendants unable to pay. Legislative counsel raised due-process concerns. An attorney witness also warned of delayed cases and said reduced DUI cases already commonly require the course through probation. A Georgia Driving School Association witness supported removing overlapping services rather than a larger tuition increase and accepted deleting the plea provision. A MADD Georgia witness defended the assessment as useful to instructors, supported in-person participation and favored education for reduced DUI charges. The committee adopted the written amendment and unanimously removed the pre-plea course requirement. Another member proposed allowing remote participation only for active-duty military personnel. The sponsor opposed that restriction, citing travel and work-schedule burdens. That amendment failed, with two votes in favor. The committee approved the amended substitute 5-4.
Senate Rules Committee, March 5, 2026
From 0:45:34 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor described SB 473 as updating DUI training requirements and increasing fees that, according to the sponsor, had not been raised in more than 15 years. No substantive questions followed. The committee unanimously included the bill in the floor-calendar package.
Status timeline
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
- Timothy Bearden (R, SD-30)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)
- Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
- Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
- Steve Gooch (R, SD-51)
- Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
- Larry Walker, III (R, SD-20)
Topics
- DUI laws
- driver's license suspension
- limited driving permits
- driver improvement programs
- traffic law fees