HB1158: HB1158 RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act; enact

This bill addresses how the State of Georgia refers, in its own official documents and communications, to the land Israel took control of from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War, commonly called the West Bank internationally. The bill adds a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 50-1-15) directing all state government materials to use the names 'Judea' for the southern portion (near and south of Jerusalem) and 'Samaria' for the northern portion, and to stop using the term 'West Bank.' Starting July 1, 2026, the bill bars the use of any state funds to prepare or issue policies, guidance, regulations, notices, orders, materials, briefings, press releases, or other communications that call the area the 'West Bank.' It exempts spending tied to the state's obligations under federal law. The bill also states the General Assembly's intent behind the change and gives the act a short title.

• Adds a new Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 50-1-15) requiring all state government communications to refer to the area as 'Judea and Samaria' rather than the 'West Bank.'
• Defines 'Judea' as the land south of Jerusalem and 'Samaria' as the land north of Jerusalem, both areas Israel took from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War.
• Prohibits, starting July 1, 2026, the use of any state funds to produce policies, guidance, regulations, notices, materials, briefings, press releases, or other state work product that uses the term 'West Bank.'
• Exempts from that funding ban any spending related to the State of Georgia's obligations under federal law.
• States the General Assembly's intent that Georgia use the historical names 'Judea and Samaria' in official materials.
• Gives the act a short title, the 'RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act.'

State government agencies, officials, and employees who produce official Georgia communications, policies, regulations, or public materials would be affected, since they would need to change terminology and avoid using state funds tied to the phrase 'West Bank.'

If enacted, Georgia state agencies would have to change the wording of official documents, press releases, and communications about this region, and could not use state money to produce materials calling it the 'West Bank' after July 1, 2026, though federal-law-related spending is excluded.

• Section 1 gives the act a short title, the 'RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act.'
• Section 2 states the General Assembly's intent that Georgia use the historical names 'Judea and Samaria' in official government materials.
• Section 3 adds O.C.G.A. § 50-1-15, requiring all official state communications to use 'Judea and Samaria' and defining the geographic split at Jerusalem.
• Section 3 also bars, from July 1, 2026, the use of state funds for any policy, guidance, regulation, notice, order, materials, briefing, press release, or communication using the term 'West Bank,' except spending tied to federal law obligations.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-04House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-03House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-02House Hopper (House)

• Mitchell Horner (R, HD-003)Primary sponsor
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)
• Joe Campbell (R, HD-171)
• Danny Mathis (R, HD-133)

• Israel policy
• state government terminology
• foreign affairs symbolism
• Middle East naming dispute