A bill brought forward by State Sen. Marty Harbin in the Georgia Senate aims to enhance requirements for notification and training related to automated external defibrillators throughout Georgia, the Georgia State Senate reports.
Designated SB399 and introduced on Wednesday, Jan. 14 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, the bill carries the official title: ’”Mason Sells AED Coordination Act”; enact’.
The following summary is based on the text of the bill and includes clarifications for ease of understanding.
Essentially, the legislation would revise Georgia’s laws regarding emergency medical services and peace officer training to strengthen the use of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs. The measure requires any individual or agency in possession of an AED to notify local emergency medical services and the public safety answering point of the presence and location of the device before it becomes operational. It maintains training requirements for users and instructors of AEDs and specifies that state agencies, such as the University System of Georgia, are included. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the bill also mandates that 911 communications officers complete training on directing callers in using AEDs as a condition for certification.
The bill lists Sen. Lee Anderson (Republican-24th), Sen. John Albers (Republican-56th), and Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (Republican-52nd), in addition to eight other lawmakers, as co-sponsors.
Since this session convened, Harbin has introduced six other bills, with one becoming law.
Harbin earned his BA from Georgia State University in 1977.
A Republican, Harbin was first elected to the Georgia Senate in 2015 to represent the 16th Senate District, succeeding Ronnie Chance.
The process for creating legislation in Georgia typically begins with a legislator, often prompted by a constituent, drafting a bill in collaboration with the Office of Legislative Counsel. Once filed with the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives a first reading and moves to committee for examination and discussion. Upon committee approval, it proceeds to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. Successful bills must pass both chambers; if discrepancies exist, a conference committee can resolve differences. The bill then goes to the governor, who has six days to take action during the session, or 40 days after session adjournment (Sine Die), to sign, veto, or let it become law without signature. The Georgia General Assembly holds a 40-day session each year, starting on the second Monday in January.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB325 | 03/05/2025 | Education; local school systems and public schools to employ or accept as volunteers school chaplains; authorize |
| SB324 | 03/05/2025 | Life Insurance; certain protections for life insurance policyholders and beneficiaries; provide |
| SB261 | 02/26/2025 | Magistrates Retirement Fund; early retirement benefit; provide |
| SB120 | 02/06/2025 | Education; public schools, local education agencies, and public postsecondary institutions shall not promote, support, or maintain any programs or activities that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion |
| SB121 | 02/06/2025 | Uninsured Motorist Coverage; minimum required under motor vehicle liability policies for a individual convicted of driving under the influence or reckless driving; increase |
| SB46 | 01/28/2025 | “Government Serves the People Act”; enact |
Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State Senate. The source data can be found here.
