A Past Conviction Doesn’t Have to Cost You a Georgia License (SB 207)
Georgia’s SB 207 limits when a licensing board can reject you over a criminal record. A Marietta criminal defense lawyer explains the new “direct relationship” rule — and how to get an answer before you invest.
One of the hardest parts of moving on from a criminal case isn’t the courtroom — it’s everything that comes after. For a lot of people, the plan is simple: get trained, get licensed, get back to work. And then a licensing board says no because of something that happened years ago. A new Georgia law, SB 207, is designed to make that “no” a lot harder to give.
Here’s what it does, and why it matters if you’re trying to rebuild.
The old problem: spend the money, then get denied
Georgia licenses a huge range of jobs — cosmetology, contracting, nursing, real estate, insurance, and dozens more. For years, someone with a record could pay for the schooling, put in the hours, apply for the license, and only then find out their record was a dealbreaker. All that time and money, gone, with no warning. SB 207 attacks that problem from two directions.
What SB 207 changes
SB 207 amends Georgia’s insurance and professional-licensing laws (Titles 33 and 43) to put real guardrails on how a board can use your criminal history. In plain terms:
A board can’t reject you just because a record exists. It has to show that your conviction has a direct relationship to the specific license you’re seeking, and it has to back up any denial with actual evidence — not a hunch. Before denying you on the basis of your record, the board has to give you a hearing, where you can tell your side and present evidence of who you are today. You’re also allowed to submit your own criminal record with your application, and if you’re turned down, there’s a path to reapply after you’ve taken the right steps. Decisions come with written reasons, and they can be appealed.
Your record is part of your story. Under this law, it can’t be the whole story a licensing board is allowed to read.
The best part: you can get an answer before you invest
SB 207 also creates a “predetermination” process — a way to ask a licensing board, in advance, whether your specific record would disqualify you, before you spend a dollar on training. That’s a genuine game-changer for anyone weighing a career change. This part of the law takes effect July 1, 2027, and applies to applications submitted on or after that date. The core protections — the direct-relationship standard, the evidence requirement, and the hearing — took effect July 1, 2026.
This works best alongside a clean record
SB 207 limits what a board can do with your record. Clearing or sealing that record removes the question in the first place. Those two tools work hand in hand, which is why we look at both together. If you haven’t seen it, our recent post on Georgia’s new First Offender sealing law covers the record-clearing side.
How we help
If a past case is standing between you and a license — or you just want to know where you stand before you commit to a program — we can walk you through your options in plain English, no judgment. We help people across Cobb, Cherokee, Paulding, and the surrounding counties get back to work.
Call us at 770-693-4357 for a free consultation, or reach out through our contact page.
Common Questions
Can a Georgia licensing board deny me just because I have a criminal record?
No. Under SB 207, a board has to show your conviction has a direct relationship to the license you want and support any denial with evidence, and it has to give you a hearing before denying you on the basis of your record.
What is a “predetermination”?
It’s an advance ruling. You can ask a licensing board whether your specific record would disqualify you before you invest in training. That process takes effect July 1, 2027, for applications submitted on or after that date.
When does SB 207 take effect?
The core protections took effect July 1, 2026. The advance predetermination process begins July 1, 2027.
This post is general information about Georgia law, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different — if you have a question about a license or your record, please talk to a lawyer about your specific circumstances. MM Criminal Defense, LLC · 770-693-4357.
Related reading: Georgia’s New First Offender Law · Sealing & Record Restriction · Retroactive First Offender · Criminal Defense
