Civil Rights & Disputes in Georgia

Georgia is notable for having no comprehensive private-sector state anti-discrimination law. Georgia's FEPA applies only to state agencies and public employers — private employers with 15 or more employees are governed solely by federal Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA. There is no state human rights commission that accepts private-sector employment discrimination complaints; workers must file directly with the EEOC within 180 days (not 300 days, as there is no qualifying state agency for the extended period). Georgia does not have explicit statewide protections for sexual orientation or gender identity. Georgia has a narrow anti-SLAPP statute (OCGA 9-11-11.1) that applies primarily to statements on government proceedings and issues of public concern, with mandatory fee-shifting for successful defendants. The defamation statute of limitations in Georgia is one year under OCGA 9-3-33.