HB 715: Fair and Future Ready Housing Act; enact

Georgia's fair housing law already bans discrimination in selling, renting, or financing homes. This bill adds a new section making clear that discrimination caused by artificial intelligence or 'automated decision tools' counts as a violation too, and that a company cannot defend itself by blaming the software. It also creates two new rules: AI cannot be used to make decisions about selling, renting, or financing a dwelling, or about real estate brokerage services, unless a human reviews the decision, and anyone affected by an AI-driven housing decision must be told that AI was used. The bill defines artificial intelligence and automated decision tools broadly, covering systems that predict, recommend, or decide outcomes affecting people. The Attorney General would enforce the new rules, holding hearings under the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act (O.C.G.A. Chapter 13 of Title 50) and issuing fines of up to $10,000 per violation. The bill is titled the 'Fair and Future Ready Housing Act.'

• Makes clear that housing discrimination caused by artificial intelligence or automated decision tools is illegal under Georgia's existing fair housing law.
• Bars anyone from claiming reliance on AI as a legal defense against a discrimination allegation in court or before any judicial or quasi-judicial body.
• Prohibits using AI to make decisions about selling, renting, financing, or brokering homes unless a human reviews or participates in that decision.
• Prohibits using AI for those same housing decisions without telling affected individuals that AI was involved.
• Lets the Attorney General hold a hearing and fine violators up to $10,000 per violation, with appeal rights under Georgia's Administrative Procedure Act.

Landlords, home sellers, mortgage lenders, and real estate brokers who use AI or automated software in tenant screening, loan approval, or listing decisions; tenants and homebuyers who could be affected by such decisions; and the Attorney General's office, which would enforce the new rules.

As AI tools increasingly screen tenants, approve loans, or assist brokers, this bill would require a human to check those decisions and require companies to tell people when AI was used, while closing off 'the algorithm did it' as a legal defense in discrimination cases.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Fair and Future Ready Housing Act.'
• Section 2 adds new Code section 8-3-224 defining 'artificial intelligence,' 'automated decision tool,' and 'judicatory' for purposes of the fair housing article.
• Subsection (b) extends existing discriminatory housing practice prohibitions to outcomes caused by AI or automated decision tools.
• Subsection (c) bars using reliance on AI as a defense in any discrimination action or proceeding.
• Subsection (d) requires human participation or review whenever AI is used to decide on the sale, rental, financing, or brokerage of a dwelling.
• Subsection (e) requires disclosure to affected individuals whenever AI is used to make those same housing determinations.
• Subsection (f) authorizes the Attorney General to fine violators up to $10,000 after notice and a hearing, with judicial review available under the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-03-06House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-03-04House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-03-03House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)Patrocinador principal
• Dar'shun Kendrick (D, HD-095)
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)

• fair housing
• artificial intelligence
• housing discrimination
• tenant screening
• consumer protection