SB 57: "Freedom of Speech and Belief Act"; enact

This bill, called the Freedom of Speech and Belief Act, adds a new part to Georgia's consumer protection law (O.C.G.A. Title 10, Chapter 1, Article 15). It targets large financial institutions (banks or credit unions with over $1 billion in assets, or payment processors handling over $1 billion in transactions) and utility providers (electric, water and sewer, natural gas, and broadband). These 'essential services providers' would be barred from cutting off or restricting service to an existing customer based on that customer's exercise of rights protected by the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, such as speech, religion, association, or gun ownership, or based on a 'social credit score' built from those factors or from things like refusing to disclose greenhouse gas emissions or refusing to adopt diversity quotas. The bill makes violations an unfair or deceptive trade practice under Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act. It also creates a private lawsuit option letting a harmed customer sue for actual damages or $50,000, whichever is more, with triple damages or $150,000 possible for willful violations, plus injunctions and attorney's fees.

• Prohibits large banks, credit unions, payment processors, and utility companies from cutting off service to existing customers based on their exercise of constitutional rights like speech, religion, or gun ownership.
• Defines a 'social credit score' to include factors such as refusing to disclose greenhouse gas emissions, refusing diversity or gender quotas, or declining to help employees get abortions or gender reassignment care, and bars service denial based on such scores.
• Bars covered companies from coordinating with each other, directly or through intermediaries, to jointly deny someone essential services for these reasons.
• Makes violations an unfair or deceptive trade practice enforceable under Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act of 1975.
• Creates a private right of action letting harmed customers sue for the greater of actual damages or $50,000, with triple damages or $150,000 for willful violations, plus injunctive relief and attorney's fees.
• Carves out an exception letting financial institutions use pre-disclosed, impartial financial risk standards to evaluate customers in industries like firearms, ammunition, oil, or natural gas without it counting as prohibited discrimination.

Large banks and credit unions with more than $1 billion in assets, large payment processors and card networks handling over $1 billion in transactions, and utility providers offering electric, water and sewer, natural gas, or broadband service. It also affects any Georgia customer with an existing account or agreement with those companies, particularly those whose political, religious, or firearm-related activities might otherwise trigger service restrictions.

If enacted, Georgians who use major banks, payment processors, or utility companies could not have their accounts or service cut off because of their political speech, religious practice, gun ownership, or refusal to meet corporate diversity or climate disclosure standards, and could sue for significant damages if that happened.

• Section 1 titles the bill the 'Freedom of Speech and Belief Act.'
• Section 2 lays out legislative findings that freedom of association should not let essential service providers deprive citizens of financial or utility services based on their exercise of constitutional rights.
• Section 3 adds new Code Section 10-1-439.20 defining 'discriminate in the provision of essential services,' 'essential services,' 'financial institution' (banks/credit unions over $1 billion in assets or payment processors over $1 billion in transactions), and 'social credit score.'
• New Code Section 10-1-439.21 prohibits essential services providers from discriminating against customers with an established business relationship or coordinating with others to do so.
• New Code Section 10-1-439.22 makes violations subject to the Fair Business Practices Act and creates a private lawsuit allowing recovery of actual damages or $50,000 (whichever is greater), up to triple damages or $150,000 for willful violations, plus injunctive relief and attorney's fees.
• The financial-risk exception in subparagraph (E) lets banks use pre-disclosed, impartial risk standards for industries like firearms or oil and gas without that counting as a prohibited social credit score.
• Section 4 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2025-03-06Senate Lost (Senado)
2. 2025-03-06Senate Third Read (Senado)
3. 2025-02-24Senate Read Second Time (Senado)
4. 2025-02-21Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senado)
5. 2025-01-30Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
6. 2025-01-29Senate Hopper (Senado)

• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)Patrocinador principal
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)

1. AprobadaVotación: Senado6 de marzo de 2025

   32 a favor, 22 en contra (2 sin votar, 0 ausentes)

   Adoption Of Amend #1a By Sen From The 50th To Amend #1 By Sen From The 13th: Senate Vote #185

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado6 de marzo de 2025

   49 a favor, 7 en contra

   Adoption Of The Amendment By The Sen From The 13th As Amended: Senate Vote #186

3. AprobadaVotación: Senado6 de marzo de 2025

   33 a favor, 22 en contra (1 sin votar, 0 ausentes)

   Adoption Of Amend #3b By Sen From The 19th To Amend #3 By Sen From The 18th: Senate Vote #187

4. RechazadaVotación: Senado6 de marzo de 2025

   13 a favor, 43 en contra

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #188

• banking regulation
• utility services
• free speech
• gun rights
• consumer protection law