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2026 Op. Ga. Att'y Gen. 1 (2026)

handle is hein.sag/sagga0106 and id is 1 raw text is: GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LAW 40 Capitol Square SW CHRISTOPHER M. CARR Atlanta, Georgia 30334-1300 www.law.ga.gov ATTORNEY GENERAL (404) 458-3600 OFFICIAL OPINION The Honorable Brian P. Kemp Governor State Capitol Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Re: The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act deems certain professional licenses held by servicemembers or their spouses transferred to Georgia to be valid in this State subject only to compliance with the requirements set forth in 50 USC § 4025a. Dear Governor Kemp: This responds to your request for an Official Opinion of the Attorney General regarding the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. As you have noted in your request for an Opinion, in 2024, Congress amended the Servicemembers Civil ReliefAct (SCRA) to simplify the process for licensure where a servicemember or his or her spouse that holds a professional license is transferred to another state. You have noted your understanding that these changes effectively mandate that Georgia's executive-branch professional licensing boards issue temporary licenses or otherwise authorize practice for servicemembers and their spouses upon the showing of a notarized affidavit in accordance with 50 U.S.C. § 4025a(c)(3), proof of military orders, and, in the case of a spouse of a servicemember, a copy of his or her marriage license. You have also indicated that you understand that the SCRA, as amended, prohibits Georgia's professional licensing boards from imposing additional requirements on servicemembers or their spouses-including. but not limited to. additional education or testing.I Finally, you have pointed out fill compliance with the SCRA is notjust required under federal law, it is the right thing to do for our servicemembers and their families. Before directing the licensing authorities of the executive branch to fuilly and promptly comply with the SCRA's updated requirements, you have requested an official opinion confirming that your understanding of the recent changes to the SCRAis correct. 1 Additional testing or fees may, in some cases, be required if a servicemember or his or her spouse seeks a permanent license that would continue beyond the term of the military orders requiring presence in Georgia; however, professional licensing boards should not deny temporary authorization on these grounds even ifthe servicemember or spouse is concurrently seeking permanent licensure.