SB579: SB579 "Government Serves the People Act"; enact

Georgia agencies currently have no single, coordinated approach to improving how they interact with residents, businesses, and organizations seeking benefits or services. This bill, called the "Government Serves the People Act," would add three new sections to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 1) to change that. It would require the head of the Georgia Technology Authority to appoint a State of Georgia Government Service Delivery Lead within 180 days of the law taking effect. That person would set government-wide standards for things like wait times, accessibility, and customer feedback, especially for "high-impact" programs. Every other state agency (except the University System of Georgia) would have to appoint its own service delivery official within the same 180 days to carry out those standards locally. Starting in 2027, the Georgia Technology Authority director would submit an annual report to the Governor and legislative leaders on progress.

• Creates a new position, the State of Georgia Government Service Delivery Lead, inside the Georgia Technology Authority to coordinate how agencies serve the public.
• Requires the Georgia Technology Authority's director to appoint that lead within 180 days of the law's effective date.
• Requires the head of every state agency (except the Board of Regents and University System institutions) to appoint its own agency service delivery official within 180 days.
• Directs agency service delivery officials to submit 12-month improvement plans and coordinate data collection on service quality.
• Requires an annual report to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker starting in 2027 on efforts to improve government service delivery.
• Directs the statewide lead to develop government-wide standards covering wait times, accessibility, transparency, fairness, and customer feedback.

State agency heads and their staff, who must appoint new service delivery officials; the Georgia Technology Authority and its director, who gains new coordinating duties; and, indirectly, Georgians who interact with state agencies for benefits, licenses, or other services.

If enacted, the bill would push Georgia agencies to track and standardize things like wait times, accessibility, and customer feedback rather than each handling service delivery on its own. Residents dealing with state agencies could eventually see more consistent processes and public reporting on how well agencies are performing.

• New Code Section 50-1-15 defines terms like 'agency,' 'government service delivery,' and 'high-impact service program' and creates the statewide Delivery Lead position within 180 days.
• The Delivery Lead's duties include setting government-wide standards, collecting performance data, and encouraging use of commercial tools to measure customer experience.
• New Code Section 50-1-16 makes each agency head responsible for that agency's service delivery and requires appointment of a lead agency service delivery official within 180 days.
• Agency service delivery officials must submit 12-month improvement plans when directed by the statewide lead and help incorporate service delivery goals into agency strategic plans.
• New Code Section 50-1-17 requires the Georgia Technology Authority director to submit an annual report to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker starting in 2027, at least 90 days before the next legislative session.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-25Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)Primary sponsor
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)

• state government efficiency
• Georgia Technology Authority
• government customer service
• agency oversight