Georgia State Rep. Robert Flournoy has introduced a bill in the House designed to enhance support and coordination for individuals who are blind or visually impaired throughout the state, according to the Georgia State House.
Filed as HB1376 on Wednesday, Feb. 18, during the 2026 session of the 158th General Assembly, the measure is formally titled: ‘Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act; enact’.
Below is a summary based on the actual bill text and provides interpretation for clarification of its language.
The proposal would create the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired within the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. It would offer guidance on services and programs for blind and visually impaired individuals, define who can receive support, establish a seven-member commission meeting quarterly, and provide compensation for citizens who serve. The commission would be required to hire an executive director—with preference for a qualified blind or visually impaired applicant—and be permitted to hire staff as needed. Its responsibilities would include advising on vocational rehabilitation, independent living, standards for Braille instruction, business enterprises, Industries for the Blind, specialized devices, library and instructional services, educational supports, and accessible technology. The commission would need to release an annual report, and the agency would be obligated to consult the commission prior to any changes in relevant programming. The act would become valid upon the governor’s approval or if it becomes law without a signature.
Rep. Karen Lupton (Democrat-83rd) and Rep. Sylvia Wayfer Baker (Democrat-64th), along with two other lawmakers, co-sponsored the bill.
Flournoy has also introduced four additional bills since this session began.
The representative holds a degree from Georgia State University.
Flournoy, a Democrat, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2025 to represent the 74th House District, succeeding former representative Karen Mathiak.
According to Georgia’s legislative process, a bill begins with a lawmaker—sometimes at the request of a constituent—and the Office of Legislative Counsel, then is filed, read, and sent to a committee for most of its deliberation. Once moving out of committee, the bill goes before the full chamber for review, debate, and voting. To become law, it must pass both legislative houses—possibly after a conference committee—before going to the governor, who has six days during session or 40 days post-adjournment (Sine Die) to sign, veto, or let a bill become law without action. The legislature meets for 40 days annually starting the second Monday of January.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB1218 | 02/05/2026 | Georgia Virtual Public School Student Athletic Participation Act; enact |
| HB1099 | 01/29/2026 | Blind Persons’ Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act; enact |
| HB876 | 03/28/2025 | Property; provide residential tenants with the right to complete repairs required by landlord and offset rental installments by the reasonable cost of such repairs under certain circumstances |
| HB875 | 03/28/2025 | Property; tenant seeking to limit public access to records of the court relating to dispossessory actions to be sealed under certain circumstances; provide |
Information in this article was provided by the Georgia State House. Further source material is available here.
