HB954: HB954 Eric's Law; enact

Georgia law already lets veterans and service members diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder ask the Department of Driver Services to add a notation to their driver's license. This bill expands that idea by amending O.C.G.A. section 40-5-38 to let any driver with a physical or mental disability that is not immediately obvious ask for a symbol to be placed on the front of their license. To get the symbol, the applicant must give the department a sworn statement describing the disability. The bill also lets a licensee who already has a notation ask the department to remove it. Once removal is requested, the department must delete any records tied to that notation and request. The department is barred from disclosing information about a notation request except with written permission from the applicant or a court order. The commissioner of driver services must write rules covering application forms, a medical information liability waiver, the symbol design, and how removal requests work.

• Lets any driver with a nonapparent physical or mental disability request a symbol on their driver's license, based on a sworn statement describing the condition.
• Allows a licensee who already has such a notation to request its removal at any time.
• Requires the Department of Driver Services to delete all records related to a notation once removal is requested.
• Bars the department from disclosing information about a notation request unless the applicant or licensee gives written permission or a court orders it.
• Directs the commissioner to create rules covering application forms, a liability waiver for releasing medical information, the license symbol, and removal procedures.

Georgia drivers with nonapparent physical or mental disabilities, veterans and service members with post-traumatic stress disorder who already use the existing notation option, and the Department of Driver Services, which must process requests, keep records confidential, and write new rules.

Drivers with hidden disabilities could get a visible marker on their license that might help during traffic stops or emergencies, while keeping their medical details private unless they agree to share them or a court orders disclosure. It also lets people undo that choice later.

• Section 1 names the bill "Eric's Law" as its short title.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. section 40-5-38 to add subsection (b), letting any applicant with a nonapparent physical or mental disability request a license symbol with a sworn statement describing the condition.
• Subsection (c) lets a licensee request removal of the notation, requires the department to delete related records, and bars disclosure of notation-request information except by written authorization or court order.
• Subsection (d) requires the commissioner to set procedures, including application forms with a medical information liability waiver, the license symbol design, and a revocation process.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-15House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-14House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-13House Hopper (House)

• Eric Bell (D, HD-075)Primary sponsor
• Eric Gisler (D, HD-121)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
• Dexter Sharper (D, HD-177)
• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)

• driver's licenses
• disability rights
• medical privacy
• Department of Driver Services