Among the more frustrating of questions for lawyers to field is whether SB ### or HB ### affects the questioner's case or not.  It becomes more frustrating when the questioner does not identify which bill is being referenced.  

The Georgia legislature convenes every year beginning in January but tracks bills over a two year cycle.  For most bill numbers, that means that a bill number will likely be used every two years.  Cycles start in an odd-numbered year.  We just finished up the 2023-2024 legislative term. So, when you ask me about SB 441, I need to know from which year. Otherwise, a lawyer has to look at every SB 441 going backwards to try to find the one that you are asking about.

Lawyers do not spend a lot of time going back to the actual Senate or House bill to evaluate things. Those bills amend existing Code.  So, shortly after a bill passes and the legislation is effective, those changes get incorporated into the statute.  In a handful of situations, we have to relate back to the original bill or the prior version of a statute because of staggered effective dates.  Lawyers probably only track the bill numbers during the legislative session when considering how proposed changes may effect the work that we do.

I have had inquiries about House or Senate Bills from as far back as 10 years. There may have been other changes to those statutes in the meantime.  So, the issue really turns on what the current state of the law is.