ATLANTA – State Representative Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) today applauds Governor Brian Kemp for signing House Bills 1247 and 1254 into law. Sponsored by Rep. Reeves, these bills make several reforms to regulatory systems within the state.
“Georgia families and small businesses deserve a government that is transparent, accountable and efficient,” said Rep. Reeves. “House Bills 1247 and 1254 take important steps toward reducing burdensome regulations, modernizing professional licensing and ensuring citizens are treated fairly when interacting with state agencies. I appreciate Governor Kemp for signing these measures into law and helping advance reforms that will strengthen accountability across our state.”
HB 1247 creates the ‘Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act.’ The bill prohibits a court from deferring to a state agency when interpreting laws and regulations. The bill also provides for claims of unlawful employment practices made against a member of the General Assembly in specified instances. Additionally, HB 1247 creates the ‘Red Tape Rollback Act of 2026’ and updates provisions related to rulemaking procedures in specified instances. The legislation also requires agencies to submit a report to the Office of Planning and Budget analyzing each of their rules. Lastly, the bill requires privately funded organizations that operate shelters or provide outreach services to homeless individuals—and meet specified requirements—to participate as an authorizing agency for purposes of the Georgia Homeless Management Information System.
HB 1254 is a follow-up measure to Rep. Reeves’ 2025 legislation—House Bill 579—which was a large-scale professional licensing overhaul. HB 1254 creates the Cemeterians Advisory Group to advise on matters regarding fees, disciplinary actions, appeals, denials or revocations of registrations, and facilitate development of materials relating to maintaining a cemetery for the public. It further requires every cemetery owner to implement and maintain procedures regarding a business continuity and succession plan. The bill also dissolves the Georgia Auctioneers Commission and gives authority to the Office of the Secretary of State to issue and revoke licenses related to auctioneers. HB 1254 also removes the State Board of Registration Geologists and moves all of the duties of the board to the Office of the Secretary of State for issuing and revoking licenses for geologists. Lastly, the bill transfers all authority of the licensure and revocation of licenses of those who dispense hearing aids and dispenser permits to the State Board of Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing.
The full text of HB 1247 may be found here, and the full text of HB 1254 may be found here.
*Editor’s note: a photo of Rep. Reeves with Gov. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp is included below.
Representative Matt Reeves represents the citizens of District 99 which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and as Secretary of the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Insurance committees.
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