House · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session

HB1071: HB1071 Georgia Workplace Safety and Heat Protection Act; enact

Last action February 2, 2026 · House Second Readers

House Bill 1071 would require Georgia employers to adopt written heat illness prevention plans for workers exposed to extreme heat, with the Department of Labor enforcing rules and issuing fines for violations.

In plain language

Georgia currently has no statewide law requiring employers to protect workers from extreme heat on the job. HB1071 would add a new section to the Department of Labor code requiring employers to create heat illness prevention programs once the heat index passes certain thresholds. Large employers and small businesses would have to comply by January 1, 2027, while micro-businesses, seasonal businesses, and nonprofits would have until January 1, 2028, though very small operations with fewer than five employees could request an exemption. Programs must include written plans in English and employees' other predominant language, free water and shade access, paid rest breaks, risk assessments (with extra attention to high-risk workers like pregnant employees or those over 60), emergency response protocols, and training. The Department of Labor would run a public awareness campaign, post multilingual materials online, inspect workplaces, fine violators up to $5,000 per violation, offer settlement agreements, create a rural compliance grant program subject to funding, and report annually on heat-related illness and death data.

What the bill does

Requires large employers (over 25 employees) and small businesses (6-25 employees) to implement heat illness prevention programs by January 1, 2027.
Extends the same requirement to micro-businesses, seasonal businesses, and nonprofit employers by January 1, 2028, while allowing very small employers with fewer than five employees to request an exemption.
Mandates that employer heat plans include free water, shaded rest areas, paid rest breaks, risk assessments, emergency response protocols, and training in English and employees' other common language.
Gives the Commissioner of Labor authority to fine employers up to $2,500 per violation, or up to $5,000 if the employer knew or should have known of the violation.
Directs the Department of Labor to run public awareness campaigns, post multilingual compliance templates online, and establish a grant program to help rural employers comply, subject to available funding.
Requires the Commissioner to report annually to legislative committees on heat illness data, including emergency room visits, workers' compensation claims, and occupational deaths.

Who it affects

Georgia employers of all sizes, including large companies, small businesses, micro-businesses, seasonal operations, and nonprofits, especially those in agriculture, landscaping, construction, manufacturing, and warehousing. It also affects employees in these industries, particularly high-risk workers such as pregnant or postpartum employees, workers over 60, and those with chronic illnesses.

Why it matters

Workers in hot outdoor or indoor conditions would gain guaranteed access to water, shade, and rest breaks, along with training on recognizing heat illness. Employers would face new compliance costs and possible fines, while the state would track heat-related injuries and deaths through new annual reporting.

Key provisions

Section 2 states legislative findings that extreme heat threatens Georgia workers and that federal law does not adequately address the risk.
Section 3 adds Code Section 34-2-10.1, defining terms like 'extreme heat environment' (heat index above 80°F) and 'dangerous heat index trigger' (above 90°F).
Subsection (b) sets compliance deadlines of January 1, 2027 for large and small employers and January 1, 2028 for micro-businesses, seasonal businesses, and nonprofits.
Subsection (c) allows employers with fewer than five employees to request an exemption from the prevention program requirements.
Subsection (f) authorizes civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, rising to $5,000 for knowing violations, and allows settlement agreements and corrective action plans.
Subsection (g) creates a grant program, subject to state funding, to help rural county employers comply.
Subsection (h) requires an annual report to legislative labor committees on heat illness data starting December 31, 2027.
Section 4 repeals conflicting laws.

From the bill

“Federal legislation is not, at present, sufficient to prot ect Georgia workers from26 extreme heat workplace conditions”
States the legislative finding that federal law is currently inadequate to protect Georgia workers from heat.

“The Commissioner shall have the authority to impose civil monetary penalties of up to110 $2,500.00 for each act in violation of this Code section and of up to $5,000.00 for each act111 in violation of this Code section if the employer knew or reasonably should have known112 that such employer was in violation of this Code section.”
Sets the specific fine amounts the Department of Labor could impose on violating employers.

“On or before January 1, 2027, all small businesses and lar ge employers and, on or75 before January 1, 2028, all micro-businesses, seasonal businesses, and nonprofit employers76 shall implement a heat illness prevention program”
Establishes the compliance deadlines for different sizes and types of employers.

Status timeline

2026-02-02House Second Readers (House)
2026-01-29House First Readers (House)
2026-01-28House Hopper (House)

Topics

workplace safety
heat illness prevention
labor law
employer regulations
occupational health