Georgia NOW News for Tuesday June 23, 2026

Several new Georgia laws will take effect July 1 as the state's new fiscal year begins. Among them, House Bill 406 requires homeowners associations to provide written notice of unpaid fines or fees and give residents 30 days to address them before taking further action. Other measures expand literacy and dyslexia support, increase access to advanced math courses, ban personal electronic devices for K-8 students during the school day, strengthen protections against odometer fraud, regulate cryptocurrency kiosks, and allow banks to freeze accounts when financial exploitation of seniors or disabled adults is suspected. Additional laws will allow trained pharmacists to dispense HIV prevention medications, require anti-human trafficking training for hotels and short-term rental properties, and increase penalties for pimping and pandering offenses. Meanwhile, Georgia could lose nearly 800,000 acres of farmland by 2040. State leaders hope the new Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund will help slow that trend by allowing farmers to sell development rights while keeping their land in agricultural use. The first round of applications is now under review with $2 million available in funding, and selected applicants are expected to be announced in August. For news anytime, visit heargeorgianow.com.