ATLANTA (March 4, 2025) — Yesterday, Senate Bill 55, the “Dignity and Pay Act,” was passed out of the Senate with a vote of 51 to 3. This legislation now moves to the Georgia House of Representatives for further consideration. SB 55 would prevent companies from paying employees with disabilities a subminimum wage and give a timeline for companies currently paying less than minimum wage to follow in phasing out the practice.
“Currently, Georgians are receiving less than $1 an hour for their work,” said Sen. Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro), sponsor of the legislation. “The practice of subminimum payment just limits the potential of disabled Georgians and segregates them from the competitive workforce. With one of the strongest economies in the country, ensuring that all Georgians receive at least minimum wage is common sense and respectful of the work these employees do. Thank you to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for supporting this bill. I look forward to seeing this legislation pass quickly through the House. Let’s help Georgia be a leader in fair employment.”
SB 55 passed through the Senate chamber with bipartisan support. Should the bill pass, Georgia would join 13 other states who have phased out this practice. After July 1, 2027, no Community Rehabilitation Program employer in Georgia can pay a subminimum wage to disabled employees.
SB 55 can be found here.
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Sen. Billy Hickman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Youth. He represents the 4th Senate District which includes Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, and Evans County as well as a small portion of Chatham County. He may be reached at 404.463.1371 or by email at Billy.Hickman@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.