The Georgia legislature approved a compromise measure on school zone cameras last week on the final day of the 2026 legislative session.
House Bill 651 as passed by both the House and Senate is a far cry from where speed camera legislation started back in 2025 when State Representative Dale Washburn filed a bill to outlaw school zone cameras altogether. The bill was initially filed with the support of more than 96 state representatives, including at least two dozen who previously voted to approve the cameras or accepted campaign contributions from the camera companies.
That version of the bill passed the House in 2025, but failed to get a vote in the Senate. Several powerful senators are recipients of campaign contributions from the camera companies and Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, who is vying to be Georgia’s next Governor and is the gatekeeper for which bills make it to the Senate floor, has received more than $175,000. Read more about that here.
This year, House Bill 651 was revived in a watered down version that keeps the cameras operational under the law, but imposes some limitations on when they can be used and how the money collected from them can be used.
Perhaps the most notable change, however, is that the money can no longer go to local law enforcement agencies and will go exclusively to the schools within the jurisdiction of the governing body. The change means that local law enforcement agencies are responsible for approving the violation letters, but receive none of the funds.
The final measure, which still awaits Kemp’s signature, includes the following provisions:
- Updates requirements for signage, mandating visible indicators including speed display devices and flashing yellow lights when enforcement is active. The indicators must match DOT standards in effect for other traffic enforcement.
- Adds a provision that requires a local government, such as a city council, county commission, or Board of Education, to vote on the institution of the cameras by enacting an ordinance that outlines school times and school-related activities.
- If the local governing body does not vote on an ordinance, the cameras can only be utilized for the on days where schools are in session in the limited period beginning including one hour before school begins through one hour after school start time and one hour before the end of the school day through one hour after the end of the school day.
- Tightens language to require enforcement of only speeds in excess of 10 mph over the speed limit, whether it’s during reduced speed limit times for a school zone or during a period when the regular posted speed limit applies.
- Revises the permitting process for speed cameras by requiring that permits be based on demonstrated need for additional restrictions on roads with more than two lanes.
- Prohibits the placement on four-lane roads without crosswalks.
- Outlines specific language that must appear on the violation letter regarding risks to vehicle registration, which include “FAILURE TO PAY THIS FINE OR CONTEST LIABILITY IN COURT SHALL RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO RENEW YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FOR THIS VEHICLE.”
- Mandates that revenue collected from these violations must be used exclusively for school safety purposes, broadly defined to include physical security upgrades, surveillance systems, personnel like crossing guards, visitor management systems, and mental health support services tied to school safety.
- Eliminates the provision allocating any of the revenues collected to the local law enforcement agency approving the violation letters.
Senator Matt Brass was the sole NO vote on the amended version of HB 651. In the House, the following Representatives voted against the bill:
Baker, Sylvia
Bazemore, Debra
Campbell, Lisa
Cannon, Park
Davis, Viola
Evans, Stacey
Frye, Spencer
Gisler, Eric
Holly, El-Mahdi
McQueen, Mekyah
Neal, Yasmin
Romman,Ruwa
Scott, Sandra
Willis, Inga
If signed by Governor Kemp, the measure would take effect immediately. Kemp has not signaled whether or not he will sign off on the changes.
You can read the legislation here.
