Georgia officials are considering the next steps after federal officials told Georgia Tuesday not to begin drug testing people who use food stamps.

The federal Food and Nutrition Service warned Georgia’s chief of human services in a letter that implementing the law on July 1 would violate federal rules. The law’s author, though, said he thinks it’s legal and vowed to “see them in court” if the feds try to halt the changes.

Find out more about the debate over Georgia's one-of-a-kind law at myajc.com.

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Georgia Lt. Gov. Lester Maddox, angry about an article, burns a copy of The Atlanta Constitution in the state Senate on March 10, 1971, saying the paper did not have the "guts, integrity, manhood or decency" to report the situation accurately. (AJC file)

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Managing Partner at Atlantica Properties, Darion Dunn (center) talks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a tour following the ribbon cutting of Waterworks Village as part of the third phase of the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

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