[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6630886,"mediaKeyId","2688557-720c52a93b272c3e1d3f1bff570ae98c","parentId",2688557,"title","House committee hears hours of testimony on grandparents’ visitation bill; no immediate vote","audioSeconds",3904,"startMs",1435000,"endMs",5339000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2688557-720c52a93b272c3e1d3f1bff570ae98c&start=1435&end=5339","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2688557-720c52a93b272c3e1d3f1bff570ae98c/thumbnail_1435000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6630886/Georgia/House-committee-hears-hours-of-testimony-on-grandparents-visitation-bill-no-immediate-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630886-08b98d41789efb6c7a345b1f7023dc2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775516715&Signature=Yv5-kg1sFpHgLHx1I~lxo4AbRvSqcSL3DtiFP36WWS55HDGvubVAdDoWZBETK5Oz93FqhR2i2SB07Xx772ZB1PzgufdYxv9HX~VNUtoQsW5-F0ToSyU5hhPjioT2396TYsjUDLnitshxcYGqWfIs3k5xnV6yDAWp79kFkWHlZTwphT0rfl9DHzuwDDgBvkmbKn2cDXFQzi5J1lnp9bwvqvdCpj35s9gY29qvdgAHqedl4hzZxkojxenT7bcK223KwBaSJ4mmgYyGMAJZ21PmrFJp0IcacsBp7zRNqpBye8PgW3iaChzDHg3ZOa~ZDh9QnAiwuwPua21kROVFY-9XWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-03-18T21:12:13.157Z","article","The House Judiciary Committee held an extended hearing on Senate Bill 245, which would permit grandparents who already hold court-ordered visitation to petition a court to modify or revoke those visitation orders. Committee members did not vote on the measure and indicated they would take action at a later date after reviewing additional materials.

Senator Hodges, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the measure does not change parental custody rights and “is not about custody.” Hodges said the bill amends Georgia Code §19-7-3 to include grandparents among those who may petition to modify an existing grandparent-visitation order, noting the change grew from a constituent issue and a Court of Appeals decision (the Namdar case) that he described as limiting grandparents’ ability to seek modification.

Proponents described family situations they said the bill would address. Steve and Linda Smith, retired educators and grandparents, said their son died and their court-ordered visitation was later contested by the child's mother; they told the committee they had been repeatedly prevented from seeing their granddaughter and asked the legislature to allow grandparents who already have orders to seek modification. Steve Smith told the committee they “love our granddaughter” and said court-ordered visitation previously allowed regular contact. Theresa Garcia Robertson, an adoptive parent who had testified earlier on a different bill, and others also urged the committee to give grandparents a path to preserve established relationships after a parent’s death or other changes.

Opponents, including Shelley Namdar and Jane O'Brien, argued the proposal would risk infringing parents’ constitutional rights and invite repeated, expensive litigation. Namdar described a multi-year litigation experience that she said cost more than $150,000 in Georgia-related legal expenses and a prior New Mexico proceeding; she told the panel the modification that followed harmed her family's finances and stability and that the appellate court ultimately found the Georgia modification action was not permitted under the statute. O'Brien, testifying in opposition, said grandparent-initiated modification would present “a very real possibility” of constitutional problems and criticized the bill’s use of the term “good cause” as too vague.

Committee members asked a range of detailed legal questions about standing, burden of proof, and procedural safeguards. Family-law attorney Gary Graham, present with the sponsor, explained that the statute currently requires clear-and-convincing evidence that a child’s “health or welfare” would be harmed unless visitation is granted, and that the bill would leave the existing evidentiary standards intact while adding grandparents to the list of parties who may petition for modification. Multiple committee members probed whether the bill would survive constitutional scrutiny in light of U.S. Supreme Court precedent protecting parents’ fundamental rights; Graham and the sponsor said the high evidentiary standard addresses that concern.

Several witnesses described the personal effects of litigation on children and parents. Shelley Namdar recounted that a two-week summer visit ordered by a trial judge allowed her son (who has autism and epilepsy) to be taken out of state despite her objections, and she said the proceedings and appeals had strained her family and depleted an insurance policy intended to provide for the children.

After extended questioning and public testimony from both sides, Representative Townsend said committee members would receive additional written materials and that the committee would take the hearing into account when scheduling further action. The committee did not vote on SB 245 at this session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Judiciary 03.18.25","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 245 would allow grandparents who already have court-ordered visitation to petition to modify that order. Proponents described cases where a grandparent lost contact after a parent’s death; opponents warned of constitutional risks and long litigation costs.","taxTitle","Judiciary, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",17225,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630891,"Committee approves amended bill allowing quicker appeals of immunity rulings by local governments",479,916000,1395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2688557-720c52a93b272c3e1d3f1bff570ae98c&start=916&end=1395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2688557-720c52a93b272c3e1d3f1bff570ae98c/thumbnail_916000.jpg","/articles/6630891/Georgia/Committee-approves-amended-bill-allowing-quicker-appeals-of-immunity-rulings-by-local-governments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630891-1f2fdd02671ebf14e08aa0ef2778769d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775516715&Signature=Xva6WoBw3FEhU3q1Bsvf-RupzgD~8s5OS6Dsjj0Be-X9bo8OFylgU9oRrl3z1dKHHcFlZx-QFSpOPPOVSXiHIf7emoOSNFKvPbIR4T-N~HxCcalDFaKpXK4K69nEjrNoUqFYjlN0wpbRovj1pkf~-sav51EuVnw~Gn2IBaNn-MKyPpo~YUhnXMluhZLy0Q9-tfc8dtGDZkGbl7~BauCV-hy3-TPrTU3~EEAPFs5Ts0PakGaglLgqIJAYK6~ndlfzWKaFZb~2481ysFWUSgxkOUVWixclnToKUhYSK-56Dvbkr5uHj~ejLFaMJq2TDsI7YP2-jqRHjdEhJY3VFCWhWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 298 as amended, a bill that creates a limited right of direct appeal when a trial court denies immunity in civil suits against local governments or their employees.

Senate Majority Whip Randy Robertson described the bill as providing “a little balance” when immunity claims are decided at the trial level. Robertson said the measure would allow affected jurisdictions and officials a “single bite at the apple” by permitting a short, direct appeal of an immunity denial rather than requiring the party to wait until case conclusion to appeal.

Robertson read the committee language (LC 49 23 25 S SCS) and said he had worked with local-government groups and defense lawyers to refine the proposal. Witnesses from the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) told the committee they supported the bill and the friendly amendments offered by the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and others.

Committee counsel described two amendments adopted in committee. The first amendment limits the bill to civil actions and clarifies that the direct-appeal process applies both to denials and grants of immunity. The second amendment enumerates the kinds of immunity covered, including sovereign (entity) immunity and personal immunities such as municipal-official, qualified, legislative and judicial immunities, and clarifies that the protections apply when an employee is sued in an individual capacity.

Members asked how frequently immunity denials occur and whether the proposed remedy was necessary; Robertson and witnesses said they could not provide exact counts but described repeated litigation in consolidated governments and said the proposed change would reduce taxpayer costs associated with preparing full trials when immunity was later upheld on appeal. ACCG's Vivian Arnstus and GMA's Ryan Bowersox stated organizational support for the bill and the amendments.

The committee adopted both amendments and then voted the bill out of committee as amended by voice vote. The clerk recorded the vote by voice: “All in favor of the bill as amended, say aye,” followed by “All opposed? Alright. The bill passes as amended.” No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

The bill will proceed to further House consideration with the committee's amendments attached.","Senate Bill 298 was amended to create a short-window, directly appealable route for jurisdictions denied immunity in civil actions; amendments clarified scope and types of immunity covered.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630896,"Georgia committee advances bill to let adult adoptees obtain original birth certificates",740,169000,909000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2688557-720c52a93b272c3e1d3f1bff570ae98c&start=169&end=909","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2688557-720c52a93b272c3e1d3f1bff570ae98c/thumbnail_169000.jpg","/articles/6630896/Georgia/Georgia-committee-advances-bill-to-let-adult-adoptees-obtain-original-birth-certificates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630896-c038a42357768ad71587301daf57bdc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775516715&Signature=fD~lKqfWirk-B0TFbJV4GeHyVu5g~9d2H7IIeHG0yc7blTyCAMkGEB4050C5K-Ql~Jjzu8xG~CU-MEiTJeyi0Zs9SMgHspVAwtkvRrn3dsGAbJ3w2Rc1FVNcSocRfyJ2wYHJtwq8UiddTjNNsj-iICuziL0re1hXQFPAclPVh86KugmTKJQXbGSSohAIpw7jt4V95z19VZuX0fc4xpaldkOfnHnE-RIO4bH1s3Phkj8lMo7JC83Oa~m~DjvSy0W2fRcmdsQujjbh2DVFj2EoC8wUsYfw8btkYuApt0wcmzjxvLxc1dT5touJ~OwvvGHTO5Z0IxvnBkq3I~S8Md5hbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee on a voice vote advanced Senate Bill 100, a measure that would allow adult adoptees in Georgia to obtain their original birth certificates without a court petition.

Senate Majority Whip Randy Robertson presented the bill to the committee, saying the measure would give adopted adults “the exact same right that biological children have.” Robertson said the change is a response to what he described as an obligation after the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision to protect children “in the womb and those children outside the womb.”

The bill’s proponents told the committee that current Georgia practice requires many adopted adults to file a petition in superior court and retain an attorney to acquire their original birth certificate. Jamie Weiss, who testified in favor of the bill, said a promise of anonymity to birth parents “never existed because it wasn't ever legally possible,” and that sealing of a birth certificate is triggered only when an adoption is finalized and the adoptive parents request an amended certificate. Weiss pointed committee members to the certificate-of-adoption form (Form 3927) as evidence that relinquishment papers do not promise anonymity.

Courtney Humbaugh, a Georgia-born adoptee who petitioned the court in 2020 for her original birth certificate, described the process as costly and slow. Humbaugh told the committee she paid an attorney “thousands of dollars” and waited several months for a judge's order; she said other Georgians generally obtain copies of their birth certificates by paying a small fee. Theresa Garcia Robertson, an adoptive parent whose daughter is the bill’s namesake, said the original birth certificate “belongs to [the adoptee]” and argued for treating adopted adults the same as biological children under the law.

Committee members asked about process and timing for court petitions; witnesses answered that court petitions typically took several months in the cases they described. No opponent witnesses were called during the hearing.

The committee recorded a motion to report the bill favorably and then approved the bill by voice vote. The clerk announced, “All in favor, please say I,” followed by “All opposed?” and “The bill passes.” The record did not include a roll-call tally.

If enacted, the bill would eliminate the requirement adult adoptees cited for petitioning superior court to access their original birth certificates and rely instead on an administrative process aligned with how most Georgians obtain their records. The measure will move to further House consideration.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 100 — Motion to report favorably accepted; voice vote; bill passes out of committee.","The House Judiciary Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 100 after testimony from adoptees and advocates who said adult adopted persons currently must petition court to obtain original birth records.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House committee hears hours of testimony on grandparents’ visitation bill; no immediate vote

Committee approves amended bill allowing quicker appeals of immunity rulings by local governments

Georgia committee advances bill to let adult adoptees obtain original birth certificates