Georgians could soon be able to sue to try to overturn a law that might be illegal or unconstitutional.

The Georgia House voted 177-0 on Wednesday to approve House Bill 791, which allows a limited waiver to the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity that protects governments from being sued without their consent.

If the bill also passes the Senate, residents could ask a judge to stop government officials from breaking the law, said Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs. A judge could issue an injunction or grant declaratory relief in some cases.

For example, a resident could sue to stop a government procurement official from improperly steering a contract to a company, Willard said.

“The people had no way to stop the government from doing something that may have been wrong,” said Willard, a co-sponsor of the legislation.

The legislation comes after the Georgia Supreme Court upheld the principles of sovereign immunity in a challenge to the state's "fetal pain" law last year, ruling that citizens couldn't sue a state or local government without the government's permission.

Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a similar bill two years ago, but he said in January he’s now receptive to it after a court reform council he created endorsed the change.

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Brant Frost V is a former vice-chair of the Georgia GOP whose father, Brant Frost IV, founded First Liberty Building & Loan in 1993.   (YouTube screenshot)

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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