Georgia House Bill HB916

Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/2/25

Caption

Judicial Council; funding for civil legal services to low-income individuals; create grant program

Summary

HB916 would amend Georgia law governing the Judicial Council to create a grant program for civil legal services for low-income individuals. The bill directs the Judicial Council to provide grants to counties and municipalities, subject to appropriations or other available funding, for the purpose of expanding access to civil legal assistance. The bill gives the Judicial Council authority to set eligibility criteria and grant standards, and requires the council to consult with advocacy groups and indigent legal services experts when developing those criteria. It also allows the council to determine grant amounts on a case-by-case basis, giving the program flexibility in how funds are distributed.

Impact

If enacted, HB916 would add a new Code section to Title 15, Chapter 5, Article 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, expanding the Judicial Council’s responsibilities to include administration of a civil legal services grant program. The measure would not itself appropriate money, but would authorize grants to local governments for legal aid services to low-income residents, potentially affecting counties, municipalities, legal aid providers, and individuals seeking civil representation in matters such as housing, family law, benefits, or consumer disputes.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be framed in a supportive, access-to-justice context. Its sponsors present it as a mechanism to improve civil legal services for low-income Georgians, and the inclusion of consultation with advocacy groups and indigent legal services experts suggests an intent to build consensus around program design. No opposing views are documented in the provided record.

Contention

No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided transcripts or vote history because none are included. Potential areas of debate, based on the bill’s structure, could include whether state funds should be used for civil legal aid, how eligibility standards should be set, whether counties and municipalities should administer the grants, and how grant amounts should be allocated. However, no particular legislator, group, or stakeholder opposition is documented in the materials provided.