HB1396: HB1396 State government; require certain privately funded organizations that operate a shelter or provide outreach services to homeless individuals participate in the Georgia Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

This bill targets privately funded organizations that run shelters or provide outreach services (medical care, clothing, food, or shelter) to homeless individuals in Georgia. It adds a new section to state law (O.C.G.A. § 50-8-19) requiring these organizations to join the Georgia Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a shared data system, if they operate within 1,000 feet of a school, college, child care center, public park, or playground. Organizations that don't comply can be issued a noncriminal citation by a law enforcement officer. Small organizations that served fewer than ten people in the past year are exempt. The rule only applies within a ten-mile radius of a municipal corporation that spans more than one county, has an independent school system, and levies a sales tax for a metro-area transit system, a description that points to the city of Atlanta and the surrounding MARTA service area. The bill opens with legislative findings about accountability and coordination of services for unsheltered people.

• Adds a new Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 50-8-19) requiring certain privately funded homeless shelters and outreach providers near schools, colleges, parks, and playgrounds to join the Georgia Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Defines 'outreach services' to include providing medical care, clothing, food, or shelter to homeless individuals.
• Makes failure to participate a noncriminal violation, punishable by a citation issued by a law enforcement officer to the organization's owner or operator.
• Exempts small organizations that served fewer than ten individuals with outreach, employment, or social services during the preceding 12 months.
• Limits the requirement to properties within a ten-mile radius of a multi-county municipal corporation that has an independent school system and levies a sales tax for a metropolitan transit system.
• Includes legislative findings citing the state's interest in coordinated, accountable homeless services and effective use of public funds.

Privately funded nonprofits and organizations that operate homeless shelters or provide outreach services like food, clothing, medical care, or shelter, especially those located near schools, colleges, parks, or playgrounds in the metro Atlanta area. Local law enforcement officers, who would issue citations, and the Georgia HMIS system itself are also affected.

Homeless service providers near schools and parks in the Atlanta area would face a new legal requirement to share client data through a state database, with citations if they don't comply. This could change how these organizations operate, track clients, and coordinate with each other and with state oversight, potentially affecting daily service delivery for homeless individuals.

• Section 1 sets out legislative findings about the state's interest in coordinated, accountable homeless services and oversight of public funds spent on homelessness programs.
• Section 2 creates new Code Section 50-8-19, defining 'outreach services' as providing medical care, clothing, food, or shelter.
• Subsection (b)(1) requires qualifying organizations within 1,000 feet of schools, colleges, child care learning centers, parks, or playgrounds to participate as an authorizing agency in the Georgia HMIS.
• Subsection (b)(2) makes violations a noncriminal offense subject to a citation from a law enforcement officer against the organization's owner or operator.
• Subsection (c) exempts organizations that served fewer than ten individuals with outreach, employment, or social services in the prior 12 months.
• Subsection (d) restricts the law's applicability to a ten-mile radius around a multi-county municipal corporation with an independent school system that levies a sales tax for a metropolitan transit system.

1. 2026-04-02House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended (House)
2. 2026-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended (Senate)
3. 2026-03-27Senate Third Read (Senate)
4. 2026-03-27Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Tabled (Senate)
6. 2026-03-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
7. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
8. 2026-03-04Senate Read and Referred (Senate)

• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)Primary sponsor
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 3, 2026

   105 yea, 58 nay (5 not voting, 9 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #597

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   26 yea, 22 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #835

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   32 yea, 17 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Motion For The Previous Question: Senate Vote #843

4. FailedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   17 yea, 33 nay (0 not voting, 4 absent)

   Adoption Of Amendment #2 By The Senator From The 9th: Senate Vote #844

5. FailedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   20 yea, 29 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Adoption Of Amendment #3 By The Senator From The 41st: Senate Vote #845

6. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   33 yea, 17 nay (0 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage As Amended: Senate Vote #846

7. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2026

   93 yea, 75 nay (2 not voting, 6 absent)

   Agree To Senate Am As Am: House Vote #851

• homelessness services
• metro Atlanta
• data reporting requirements
• school zone regulations
• nonprofit regulation