Legislation has been introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives aimed at banning the use of school zone cameras across the state. The School Zone Camera Ban Bill (HB 225), authored by State Representative Dale Washburn (R-Macon), was introduced in early February for the 2025 legislative session.
Washburn’s bill seeks to repeal HB 978, which was passed in 2018 and authorized the installation of cameras in school zones. Since 2018, numerous school zones across the state have had cameras installed. In Northeast Georgia, the cities of Baldwin and Tallulah Falls as well as Banks County have installed school zone cameras to deter school zone speeding. Many other counties and cities are considering installing cameras in their school zones.
“It is time”
“It is time to do the right thing and ban these cameras,” Washburn said in a statement. “While these cameras may have originally been enacted with good intent, the results have shown they do not make school zones any safer. They do not enhance public safety.”
He further emphasized that the cameras have primarily become a revenue-generating tool for local governments and the companies that install them. “Instead, they have created an avenue for local governments and out-of-state companies to generate millions of dollars at the expense of everyday Georgians,” he explained. “We gave these cameras a chance, and the data has shown they do not do their job.”
House support
Washburn also expressed his appreciation for the broad support his bill has received in the House of Representatives, noting that more than half of the members have co-sponsored the legislation, with 100 representatives backing it.
If the bill passes and is signed into law, it could significantly impact local governments that have come to rely on the funding generated by the cameras. Should the bill be approved, it would take effect on July 1, 2026, giving local authorities time to adjust to the changes.
The introduction of HB 225 marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over the effectiveness and fairness of school zone cameras in Georgia. The bill is expected to be closely monitored as it moves through the legislative process. (Click here to see the current version of HB 225)
Now Habersham has requested information from Baldwin, Tallulah Falls, and Banks County officials about their school zone cameras as well as their reaction to the new legislation. The story will be updated as it becomes available.
