Occupational licensing bill would improve access to job opportunities for Georgia’s returning citizens
Key Points
- The Georgia General Assembly has passed a significant new job licensing measure that opens more career pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals.
- The bill improves the application process for certain job licenses, creating a clearer and fairer system for returning citizens.
- Through the reforms it brings, the bill expands access to steady jobs in industries like health care, education, real estate, and plumbing, among others.
For returning citizens (people who were previously incarcerated), steady employment can mean so much more than financial stability. It can be a powerful source of renewed purpose and belonging within their communities. In fact, research has shown that if returning citizens can keep a job for six months or more, their likelihood of going back to prison drops dramatically. Keeping a job also improves the odds that returning citizens will reconnect with loved ones, especially their children, another step toward preventing recidivism.
That’s where Senate Bill (SB) 207 enters the picture. It was introduced in Georgia’s 2025 legislative session, and the state’s General Assembly passed it in April of 2026. The bill creates an improved application process for individuals with criminal records who want to obtain job licenses in industries like education, health care, insurance, real estate, plumbing, and first response, among others.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce praised the bill for how it “standardizes the process for reviewing applicants with criminal records, narrows the types of offenses licensing boards can consider, and updates first-offender treatment provisions—all while maintaining important public safety protections.”
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Major Job Licensing Improvements in SB 207
1. Creates a predetermination process and other new procedures to increase fairness
SB 207 creates a predetermination process that enables returning individuals to petition licensing boards for an early evaluation of their eligibility, prior to paying for the necessary education or training. The measure also allows for hearings before applicants are denied licenses due to their criminal backgrounds, and it sets specific criteria to guide those decisions and prioritize due process. Additionally, licensing boards are required to provide detailed justifications for any adverse outcomes and to offer applicants the chance to appeal or present more evidence. The changes help ensure licensing boards operate with greater transparency and fairness.
2. Recognizes the hard work returning citizens have put toward rehabilitation
The bill requires licensing boards to carefully evaluate the nature and seriousness of past offenses, the length of time since the incident, and the individual’s age at the time of the crime. They must also review evidence of rehabilitation, including educational achievements, work history, and community involvement. This holistic approach gives more consideration to the applicant’s growth and emphasizes their present ability to contribute to the workforce. It also gives them a stronger opportunity to overcome past mistakes.
3. Places limitations on the review of criminal records to create more neutrality
Finally, the bill imposes limitations on the types of criminal records that can influence licensing decisions. Sealed records, pardoned convictions, or older minor offenses that don’t directly relate to the license sought will now be generally excluded from consideration. This helps applicants avoid unnecessary penalties for issues long resolved. It also curtails the use of subjective standards, such as assessing “good moral character,” which can perpetuate bias and inconsistencies.
The Impact of Licensing Reforms on Barriers to Employment
While occupational licensing serves an important purpose in certain industries, it often becomes a barrier for individuals eager to pursue meaningful careers. And these barriers hit returning citizens and other low-income workers the hardest. Complicated application processes, licensing fees, mandatory coursework, and unpaid apprenticeships can be insurmountable obstacles for those struggling to make ends meet or to overcome difficult circumstances, past or present.
With SB 207, Georgia lawmakers are breaking down these barriers. They’re building on their recent history of reforming occupational licensing, and they’re strengthening the state’s workforce. Most of all, the job licensing reforms in this bill promise to transform the lives of many formerly incarcerated Georgians for the better—expanding job opportunities, opening doors to financial stability, and restoring hope for a brighter future.