SB 485: Professional Counselors; applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; authorize

In plain language

What the bill does

Who it affects

Why it matters

Key provisions

From the bill

Discussed in meetings (19)

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.

1. Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, February 17, 2026

   From 0:19:39 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 485 would let students in eligible master’s social work programs take their licensing examination during their final semester. The sponsor said counselors and marriage and family therapists already had that option and argued that extending it to social workers would help address the need for mental health providers. The chair clarified, and the sponsor confirmed, that students could become licensed after graduation and completion of coursework without waiting to take the exam. No public speakers or amendments were offered. The committee approved the bill unanimously.

2. Senate Rules Committee, February 20, 2026

   From 0:10:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A senator presenting SB 485 said it would let people seeking a social work license take the licensing examination during the final semester of their master's program, rather than waiting until the program ended. The presenter said this would allow applicants to obtain licenses sooner after completing all requirements. Another member said it would get them into the workforce more quickly, and the presenter agreed. No calendar action followed.

3. Senate Rules Committee, February 24, 2026

   From 0:19:43 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would allow students in the final semester of an accredited master's program in social work to take their licensing examination before graduation. The chair suggested this would help graduates enter the workforce sooner, and the sponsor agreed. No vote was recorded.

4. Senate Rules Committee, February 25, 2026

   From 0:32:51 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would let students in the final semester of a Master of Social Work program take their licensing examination before graduation. No questions followed, and the bill was not selected for the floor calendar.

5. Senate Rules Committee, February 26, 2026

   From 0:11:42 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 485 would allow students to take the master's social work examination during their final semester, before graduation. No questions or action followed.

6. Senate Rules Committee, March 3, 2026

   From 0:11:08 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 485 would let students in the final semester of a master’s social work program take the licensing examination before graduation. No substantive questions followed. Members selected it for the calendar as part of the approved slate.

7. Senate Rules Committee, March 5, 2026

   From 1:21:48 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair listed SB 485 among bills carried over from the previous day for return to the floor calendar. Its provisions were not discussed. The committee unanimously approved the calendar package.

8. Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1)

   From 7:28:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Tabled)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 485 would allow students in the final semester of a master's social-work program to take the licensing examination before graduation. The sponsor argued that the change would help meet Georgia's need for mental-health professionals. No questions or opposing speeches followed. The Senate passed the bill, 48 to 0.

9. House Regulated Industries Committee, March 16, 2026

   From 0:23:14 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 485 would allow students in their final semester of a Master of Social Work program to take the licensing exam before graduation. The sponsor said periodic exam scheduling can delay entry into practice, and that professional counselors and marriage and family therapists already have this option. The chair described added provisions requiring photographs on licenses for nail technicians and salon owners by July 1, 2028, along with language intended to clarify legislation passed in 2021. A committee member asked why the photograph requirement was a public safety measure. The chair said the person requesting it wanted people working in nail salons to be identifiable. The committee approved a motion to pass by voice vote; no count was stated.

10. House Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

    From 0:51:27 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would let students in the final semester of an accredited Master of Social Work program take the licensing exam before graduation. The sponsor said exams are offered only a few times a year and that earlier testing would prevent graduates from waiting months to enter a field needing more professionals. There were no questions or calendar action.

11. House Rules Committee, March 23, 2026

    From 0:38:22 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed SB 485 on the day's calendar after a motion and second, with no stated opposition. No explanation of its provisions or substantive debate occurred.

12. House floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36, PM)

    From 1:01:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2995

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said SB 485 would allow students in a master's program to take their licensing examination during their final semester. The clerk identified the examination as the master's social work licensing exam. The presenter also described a nonprofit requirement for a certifying organization and a House committee addition requiring nail technicians to provide Real ID copies for applications and renewals and retain a copy at their business. One member raised identity theft concerns about access to those copies. The presenter said copies would be kept on file, not displayed. A second member asked why the requirement was added and who proposed it. The presenter could not identify the member responsible or give a definite reason. During voting, another member asked how graduation would be verified when students test before finishing their degrees. The presenter said the school and testing officials would certify final-semester enrollment. A further clarification stated that license applications would follow graduation and include proof of graduation. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 121 to 46.

13. Senate floor session, March 27, 2026 (legislative day 38)

    From 7:57:00 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub)

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 485 would allow social work master's students to take their licensing examination during their final semester. The sponsor said the House added an identification requirement for nail technician registration and renewal applications beginning July 1, 2028, describing it as requiring a copy of a REAL ID license. No questions or opposition followed. The Senate agreed to the House substitute 46-0.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 11, 2026 (legislative day 17), 0:24:49
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 18, 2026 (legislative day 20), 0:30:40
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 19, 2026 (legislative day 21), 0:36:20
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 9, 2026 (legislative day 29), 0:54:53
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 10, 2026 (legislative day 30), 0:43:52
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 0:53:42

Status timeline

Sponsors

Votes

Topics