GEORGIA (WALB) - Officials say new laws are set to take place in the new year for Georgia. The laws will affect homeownership, elections, courts, vehicles, health services, and taxes.

The list below covers laws taking place affective Jan 1, 2026, along with explanations of each.

Home-related changes:

• Any HVAC manufacturer warranty automatically transfers to the new owner when a house is sold
• Warranties take effect on the actual installation date
• Companies can no longer require owners to register equipment to start coverage

Elections, campaigns, public disclosure & government accountability

• Ethics commission cannot open a candidate investigation within 60 days of an election
• Financial disclosures for local elected officials now filed with the state and not locally
• PAC’s must maintain separate bank accounts
• Candidates must affirm they’ve completed legally required training
• Home addresses must be redacted from public records

Vehicle registration, license plates, and motor- vehicle rules

• Third-party vendors can now see issue temporary license plates electronically
• Vehicle dealers will have updates to how “master dealer tags” are issued
• People cannot register vehicles through a shell entity simply to avoid taxes
• Booting companies must receive formal permits and follow new posting rules
• Law gives businesses controlled digital access to Dept. of revenue vehicle data

Crime, courts and judicial changes

• Digitally record hearings
• Transcribe them only when needed

Environmental & waste- regulation changes

• Removes outdated “special solid waste” category
• Eliminates manifest-tracking regulations
• Requires proof that facility plans match zoning rules
• Updates public-meeting notice rules for landfill expansions and site selection

Employment, departure rules & state agency procedures

• Defines the official “issue date” of department rulings to determine appeal deadlines

Professional licensing, health services, dentistry & accounting

• Alternate combinations of education and job experience to qualify
• Mobility for out-of-state applicants
• Modernized firm reporting requirements

Updates insurance rules by requiring:

• Treating health care providers to make documented, good-faith records to respond to attempts by review agents to discuss patient care
• Clear communication during utilization revision decisions
• Compliance when insurers or review entities request treatment clarification

Tax, money, property & business incentive changes

• Can be used toward disaster damage repair
• Earns tax- free interest
• Provides deductible contributions
• Funds may transfer to heirs

Expanded tax credit for preceptor rotations

• Increases tax credits for professionals training healthcare students
• Now includes licensed dentists

State production certification fee system

• Can charge review fees for production tax-credit certification
• Can require film companies that lose appeals to cover court costs

Conservation use & post-production credits

• Allow certain leased land to still qualify as conservation property
• Restores tax credit for television/film post-production work

Source: Summary of General Studies Enacted in 2025

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