House subcommittee advances bill to streamline professional licensing in Georgia

Representative Reeves presented House Bill 579, a package of changes aimed at streamlining professional licensing in Georgia, and the House General Government Subcommittee voted to send the measure to the full committee by voice vote.

The bill, described by Reeves as "the product of the Blue Ribbon Professional Licensing Study Committee," would give the Secretary of State's professional licensing division new authorities to approve certain applications, allow applicants to sit for exams earlier in the process, convert some licenses to registrations (including auctioneers, geologists and hearing‑aid dealers/dispensers), and require a public roster of individuals subject to cease‑and‑desist orders. Reeves told the committee the proposal is intended to "let Georgians work and get their licenses and serve the public."

Why this matters: The bill reflects recommendations from a four‑meeting Blue Ribbon Professional Licensing Study Committee that heard from dozens of small businesses and licensees across the state. Reeves said the Secretary of State's office reported 550,000 active licenses among roughly 11,000,000 Georgians as of 2025, and that…