# Josh Bonner (GA House D-73) — Legislator Fact Sheet · The GA Files > Josh Bonner (R, House District 73 — Coweta/Fayette), chair of Defense & Veterans Affairs: his votes, constituent access, and donors — a state-level legislator fact sheet. *Source: https://thegafiles.com/JoshBonner.html · The GA Files (thegafiles.com)* --- State Level Legislator Fact Sheet · Georgia House of Representatives · District 73 # Josh Bonner Party Republican In Office 2017 – present House Role Chair, Defense & Veterans Affairs Scope of This Review 2019 – 2026 Josh Bonner, a Republican from the Peachtree City area, represents House District 73 across portions of Coweta and Fayette counties. First elected in 2016, he chairs the Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee. He has voted a near-uniform Republican line — the one exception below is his NO on the medical-cannabis expansion. (His 2019 abortion-ban vote was cast under the former House District 72, before the redraw renumbered his seat.) 9 / 10Bonner voted **YEA on nine of the ten** key bills below — breaking with the bipartisan majority only to vote **NO on the medical-cannabis expansion** (SB220). **Methodology.** Each vote is Rep. Bonner's actual position from the official Georgia roll call (legis.ga.gov), transcribed into a verified vote database and cross-checked against the published Yea/Nay totals. The chamber tally and final status (became law / died in House) are noted per bill. 01 ## Riley Gaines Act SB 1 · 2025 Session YEA Floor Vote House vote (Passage), 2025 session — 100–64 Status Became law (2025 session) Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **YEA** — with the chamber majority, on a party-line vote. ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Bars transgender women and girls from competing on female school and college sports teams and requires K–12 and college sports, locker rooms, and restrooms to be designated by sex assigned at birth. Supporters framed it as protecting fairness and safety in women's sports; opponents — including LGBTQ advocates and some parents — said it stigmatizes transgender students and invites invasive enforcement. #### Sources - [LegiScan — SB 1 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB1/2025) 02 ## Tort Reform SB 68 · 2025 Session YEA Floor Vote House vote (Immediately Transmit), 2025 session — 94–77 Status Became law — Gov. Kemp's signature 2025 priority Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **YEA** — with the chamber majority, on a party-line vote. ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Overhauled Georgia's civil-litigation rules — limiting when businesses and property owners can be sued (notably for negligent-security claims), changing how juries are told about medical damages, and allowing trials to be split into liability and damages phases. Backers said it would lower insurance costs and curb runaway verdicts; trial lawyers and consumer advocates warned it makes it harder for injured Georgians to recover full damages. #### Sources - [LegiScan — SB 68 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB68/2025) 03 ## Religious Freedom Restoration Act SB 36 · 2025 Session YEA Floor Vote House vote (Passage), 2025 session — 96–70 Status Became law (2025 session) Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **YEA** — with the chamber majority, on a party-line vote. ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Georgia's Religious Freedom Restoration Act bars state and local government from “substantially burdening” a person's exercise of religion without a compelling interest. Supporters called it a long-sought protection mirroring the 1993 federal law; opponents — including civil-rights groups and some businesses — warned it could be used to justify discrimination, particularly against LGBTQ Georgians, since the state has no statewide anti-discrimination law. #### Sources - [LegiScan — SB 36 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB36/2025) 04 ## Gender-Affirming Care Ban (Minors) SB 140 · 2023 Session YEA Floor Vote House vote (Immediately Transmit), 2023 session — 97–74 Status Became law (2023 session) Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **YEA** — with the chamber majority, on a party-line vote. ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Prohibits hormone therapy and surgical gender-affirming care for transgender minors in Georgia, with limited exceptions. Supporters said it shields children from irreversible decisions; major medical associations and families of transgender youth opposed it, arguing it overrides parents and doctors and strips away evidence-based care. #### Sources - [LegiScan — SB 140 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB140/2023) 05 ## Heartbeat Bill (Abortion Ban) HB 481 · 2019 Session YEA Floor Vote House vote (Agree to Senate Substitute), 2019 session — 92–78 Status Became law (2019); took effect in 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **YEA** — with the chamber majority, on a party-line vote. Cast under the former House District 72 (pre-2022 maps). ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Bans most abortions once embryonic cardiac activity is detected — around six weeks, before many people know they are pregnant — with narrow exceptions. Blocked by courts for years, it took effect in 2022 after _Dobbs_. It sharply curtailed abortion access in Georgia and has reshaped how doctors manage pregnancy complications across the region. #### Sources - [LegiScan — HB 481 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB481/2019) 06 ## Right to IVF HB 428 · 2025 Session YEA Floor Vote House vote (Passage), 2025 session — 172–0 Status Became law (2025 session) Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **YEA** — with the chamber majority, on a bipartisan vote. ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Establishes a state right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and protects providers — one of the rare bipartisan votes in this set. It followed national alarm after an Alabama court ruling threatened IVF, and aimed to reassure Georgia families pursuing fertility treatment that the procedure would remain legal and available. #### Sources - [LegiScan — HB 428 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB428/2025) 07 ## State Income Tax Cut HB 111 · 2025 Session YEA Floor Vote House vote (Passage), 2025 session — 110–60 Status Became law (2025 session) Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **YEA** — with the chamber majority, on a party-line vote. ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Accelerated Georgia's move to a lower flat income tax, cutting the rate ahead of schedule (to 5.19%). Supporters said it returns surplus money to taxpayers; critics cautioned that flat-rate cuts deliver the largest dollar benefits to higher earners and reduce the revenue available for schools, health care, and public services. #### Sources - [LegiScan — HB 111 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB111/2025) 08 ## Property Tax Relief (LHOST) SB 33 · 2026 Session YEA Floor Vote House vote (Agree to Senate Amend to House Sub), 2026 session — 97–72 Status Became law (2026 session) Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **YEA** — with the chamber majority, on a party-line vote. ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Authorizes a local-option homestead sales tax and related homestead relief, letting communities offset rising property-tax bills driven by climbing home values. Supporters framed it as relief for homeowners squeezed by reassessments; critics noted sales taxes are regressive and that any relief depends on each community choosing to adopt it. #### Sources - [LegiScan — SB 33 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB33/2026) 09 ## Homelessness Enforcement HB 295 · 2026 Session YEA Floor Vote House vote (Agree to Senate Amend as HAm), 2026 session — 93–76 Status Became law (2026 session) Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **YEA** — with the chamber majority, on a party-line vote. ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Restricts unsanctioned public camping and sleeping and presses local governments toward enforcement and state-directed approaches to homelessness. Supporters said it keeps public spaces safe and orderly; homeless-services advocates warned it criminalizes poverty and can push people away from services without adding any housing. #### Sources - [LegiScan — HB 295 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB295/2026) 10 ## Medical Cannabis Expansion SB 220 · 2026 Session NAY Floor Vote House vote (Agree to Senate Amend to House Sub), 2026 session — 144–21 Status Became law (2026 session) Rep. Bonner's Vote Voted **NAY** — against the chamber majority, on a bipartisan vote. ### Impact on Everyday Georgians Expands Georgia's low-THC medical cannabis program — broadening the qualifying conditions and access for registered patients — and passed with bipartisan support. It widened eligibility for Georgians managing chronic and serious illnesses under the state's tightly regulated program. #### Sources - [LegiScan — SB 220 bill text, history & roll calls](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB220/2026) Constituent Access ## Town Halls Public meetings with constituents · since 2017 Bonner is an active presence at civic and local-government meetings across Coweta and Fayette, delivering legislative updates. ## Documented Record - Bonner addressed the **Peachtree City Rotary Club** on June 4, 2025 on the state budget and legislative priorities, and gave a **legislative update to the Peachtree City Council** work session on June 5 — walking through the FY26 budget and bills passed. - In April 2025 he joined fellow Coweta legislators (Sen. Matt Brass, Reps. Lydia Glaize and Lynn Smith) to brief **Newnan-Coweta Chamber** members on the session. State legislators' constituent-event records are thin and locally reported; this section will be expanded as more events are documented. Corrections are welcome via the contact link below. ## Sources - [Bonner addresses PTC Rotary — The Citizen](https://thecitizen.com/2026/06/08/rep-josh-bonner-highlights-literacy-property-tax-relief/) - [Bonner legislative update to PTC Council — Fayette News](https://www.fayette-news.net/news/rep-josh-bonner-provides-legislative-update-to-ptc-council/article_70669f75-569e-4733-8f2d-75ae65f72903.html) Campaign Finance ## Campaign Finance Who's funding Rep. Bonner · recent cycles Pinned — Business-PAC Money Competitive Georgia + trade PACs Bonner's reported donors are establishment business and trade money — the **Competitive Georgia Action** PAC, a public-affairs firm, the auto-retail dealers, and the **GeorgiaLink** lobbying PAC. ## Top Contributors Bonner's largest reported contributors from the Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile). | # | Contributor | Total | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Georgia Association of Realtors Political Action Committee (Atlanta, GA) | $3,300.00 | | 2 | Brent Scarbrough & Company, Inc. (Newnan, GA) | $3,300.00 | | 3 | Georgia Better Government Fund (Atlanta, GA) | $2,000.00 | | 4 | Morgan, James (Atlanta, GA) | $1,500.00 | | 5 | Tipton, Ben (Pinehurst, NC) | $1,500.00 | | 6 | Georgia Highway Contractors Association PAC (Alpharetta, GA) | $1,000.00 | | 7 | PCI Gaming Authority (Altmore, AL) | $1,000.00 | | 8 | Georgia Reel Industry Professionals, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) | $1,000.00 | | 9 | Warner, Hooper & Ramsey (Peachtree City, GA) | $1,000.00 | | 10 | NRG Energy, Inc (Princeton, NJ) | $1,000.00 | **$32,700** raised · **$24,584** cash on hand — as of **May 4, 2026** (GA Ethics latest filing). Source: the Georgia Ethics Commission (Georgia campaign-finance filings). Reported top donors, not a full sector breakdown; Georgia does not produce OpenSecrets-style sector/industry rollups, and the Georgia Ethics Commission holds the official itemized filings. ## Sources - [Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile) — campaign finance](https://peachfile.ethics.ga.gov) - [Georgia Ethics Commission — official filings](https://media.ethics.ga.gov/search/Campaign/Campaign_ReportLog.aspx) - [OpenSecrets — Georgia state](https://www.opensecrets.org/states/GA) ## Verification Resources - [Georgia General Assembly — House roll-call votes](https://www.legis.ga.gov/votes/house) - [Josh Bonner — Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Josh_Bonner) - [Open States — Georgia legislators & votes](https://openstates.org/ga/legislators/) - [Georgia Ethics Commission — campaign finance](https://media.ethics.ga.gov/search/Campaign/Campaign_ReportLog.aspx) Vote positions are Rep. Bonner's actual recorded votes from the official Georgia roll calls (legis.ga.gov), transcribed into a verified vote database and cross-checked against the published Yea/Nay totals. Campaign-finance figures are pulled live from the Georgia Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission (PeachFile) and are current to the committee's most recent filed disclosure report; Georgia does not produce OpenSecrets-style sector/industry rollups. [← All Legislators](https://thegafiles.com/legislators.html)