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Georgia · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 561: Okefenokee Protection Act; enact

Introduced Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 561 is a bill introduced in the Georgia House on February 20, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Okefenokee Protection Act; enact. Primary sponsor: Darlene Taylor (Republican), Ron Stephens (Republican), Steven Sainz (Republican), Gerald Greene (Republican), Debbie Buckner (Democratic), Carolyn Hugley (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 24, 2025): House Second Readers.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to surface mining, so as to prohibit the director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Natural Resources Department from issuing, modifying, or renewing any permit or accepting any bond to conduct surface mining operations on Trail Ridge for future permit applications and amendments; to provide a definition; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2 · Republican 4

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Darlene TaylorPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse173
Ron StephensPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse164
Steven SainzPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse180
Gerald GreenePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse154
Debbie BucknerPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse137
Carolyn HugleyPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse141

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. House Second Readers
  2. House First Readers
  3. House Hopper

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source