Georgia House bill by author Rep. Reeves passes House and Senate, centralizing professional licensing oversight under secretary of state

Newly passed bill authored by State Rep. Matt Reeves aims to centralize oversight of professions such as cemeterians, auctioneers, geologists, and hearing aid dispensers under the secretary of state, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Friday, March 27, clearing the House by a vote of 163-3 and the Senate by a vote of 49-0.

The bill, introduced as HB1254 on Monday, Feb. 9 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Professions and businesses; move regulation of various professions from individual boards to Secretary of State’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill centralizes state oversight of several professions under the secretary of state. It abolishes the State Board of Cemeterians, Georgia Auctioneers Commission, State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists, and the State Board of Hearing Aid Dealers and Dispensers, transferring their licensing, enforcement, trust fund supervision, and rulemaking powers to the secretary. It creates a Cemeterians Advisory Group and requires cemetery owners to maintain business continuity and succession plans, updates rules on perpetual care and preneed funds, and revises transfer-of-ownership requirements. The bill establishes new statutory schemes for licensing and disciplining auctioneers, professional geologists, and prescription hearing aid dispensers, including reciprocity, background checks, civil penalties up to $10,000, and misdemeanor offenses, with the auctioneer commission formally dissolved July 1, 2026.

In the House, 74 Democrats and 89 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while three Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 17 Democrats and 32 Republicans voted in favor, with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Matthew Gambill (Republican-15th), Rep. Matt Hatchett (Republican-155th), and Rep. Brian Prince (Democrat-132nd), along with three other co-sponsors.

Reeves graduated from Mercer University and again from University of Georgia Law School with a JD.

Reeves, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 99th House District, replacing previous state representative Marvin Lim.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday, May 11.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.