Understanding the Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC) in Atlanta, Georgia

If you searched for “OLG Atlanta Georgia”, you may actually be looking for information about the Office of Legislative Counsel (often shortened to OLC) that serves the Georgia General Assembly in Atlanta. This office is a key part of how laws are written, reviewed, and organized in the state — and it is based right in downtown Atlanta.

Below is a clear guide to what the Office of Legislative Counsel does, how it operates in Atlanta, and what an Atlanta resident, visitor, or researcher might realistically want to know.

What Is the Office of Legislative Counsel in Georgia?

The Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC) is a nonpartisan legal office that works for the Georgia General Assembly, which meets at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.

This office:

• Helps write and review bills, resolutions, and amendments
• Advises legislators on legal and constitutional issues related to proposed laws
• Helps organize and maintain the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.)
• Ensures legislative language is clear, consistent, and enforceable

OLC attorneys do not represent private citizens in court and do not function like a local law firm. Their work is focused on the legislative process at the state level.

Where Is the Office of Legislative Counsel Located in Atlanta?

The Georgia Office of Legislative Counsel is based in the State Capitol complex in downtown Atlanta, close to many other key government offices.

A commonly referenced central location for the legislative offices is:

• Georgia State Capitol
  206 Washington Street SW
  Atlanta, GA 30334

The OLC operates within this overall legislative environment. If you are in downtown Atlanta, you’ll find the Capitol near:

• Capitol Avenue SW
• Washington Street SW
• A short walk from the Georgia State University campus and Underground Atlanta

For specific directions or to confirm office locations and hours, it’s best to use the Georgia General Assembly’s official directory or call the Capitol’s main information line before you visit.

What Does the Office of Legislative Counsel Do for Georgia Lawmakers?

Although the OLC works mostly behind the scenes, it has a major impact on how laws in Atlanta and across Georgia are written and maintained.

1. Drafting Bills and Resolutions

When a member of the Georgia House of Representatives or Georgia Senate wants to introduce a new law, they often work with the Office of Legislative Counsel to:

• Turn policy ideas into formal bill language
• Make sure the bill fits into existing Georgia law
• Avoid conflicts with the Georgia Constitution or U.S. Constitution
• Use accurate, consistent terminology across the code

This drafting work happens throughout the year, but it becomes especially intense before and during the annual legislative session held at the Capitol in Atlanta.

2. Legal Advice on Legislative Matters

OLC attorneys provide confidential legal advice to legislators about:

• How a proposed bill might be interpreted in court
• Whether an idea is legally feasible
• How to adjust language to reduce the risk of legal challenges

This advice supports state lawmakers, not individual residents. If you live in Atlanta and have a legal concern, you would typically contact a private attorney, a legal aid organization, or an ombudsman, not the Office of Legislative Counsel.

3. Support for the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.)

The Office of Legislative Counsel plays a role in:

• Organizing and updating the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which is the collection of state laws
• Making sure new laws passed in Atlanta are correctly codified and integrated
• Helping maintain consistency and clarity across different titles and chapters of the code

This work helps judges, lawyers, agencies, and residents understand what the law actually says.

How the OLC Affects People in Atlanta

Even if you never interact with the Office of Legislative Counsel directly, if you live, work, or visit Atlanta, you are affected by the laws whose language they help craft.

Here’s how their work shows up in everyday life:

• City operations: State laws affecting Atlanta city government, transportation funding, zoning authority, and public safety often originate in the General Assembly with OLC’s drafting support.
• Business regulations: Rules that shape how companies operate in Atlanta — licensing, taxes, employment regulations at the state level — are part of the code OLC helps manage.
• Education and universities: Many laws related to Atlanta Public Schools and nearby institutions like Georgia State University and Georgia Tech are created through legislative processes supported by OLC.
• Criminal and civil laws: Statewide rules governing criminal penalties, civil lawsuits, and procedural rights apply in Fulton County courts and surrounding metro counties.

In short, the OLC’s work shapes nearly every piece of statewide legislation that influences daily life in Atlanta.

If You’re in Atlanta and Need Help With Laws or Legislation

The Office of Legislative Counsel serves legislators, not the general public. But if you’re an Atlanta resident trying to understand or influence legislation, these practical steps may help.

1. Contact Your Local Legislator in Atlanta

Your primary point of contact for state legislative questions is your state representative or state senator, not the OLC.

You can:

• Ask about bills affecting Atlanta, such as transportation, housing, or public safety
• Request help understanding the status of a specific bill
• Share your views or suggestions about changes to Georgia law

Most legislators maintain offices or have staff at or near:

• Georgia State Capitol
  206 Washington Street SW
  Atlanta, GA 30334

You can find your member of the Georgia House or Georgia Senate by using the General Assembly’s district lookup tools or contacting the Capitol’s main information services.

2. Finding and Reading Georgia Laws in Atlanta

If you want to read the laws that the OLC helps maintain, you have several options in Atlanta:

• Public law libraries
  • The Fulton County Law Library (in or near the Fulton County Courthouse area) typically provides access to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated and other legal references.
• University libraries
  • Libraries at schools like Georgia State University College of Law often provide legal research tools and, in some cases, limited public access to materials.
• Print code books
  • Many larger libraries, including branches in the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, keep physical volumes of Georgia law or can guide you to where you can review them.

These resources are especially useful if you’re:

• A student or researcher studying Georgia law
• A business owner trying to understand state regulations that affect operations in Atlanta
• A resident wanting to see the exact wording of a law that impacts you

Quick Reference: Who the Office of Legislative Counsel Serves

Below is a simple summary of the OLC’s role in Atlanta and beyond:

When You Might Hear About the OLC in Atlanta News

If you follow Atlanta or Georgia political news, you may see the Office of Legislative Counsel mentioned during:

• Major legislative debates at the Capitol (for example, bills on transportation, voting, or school policy that affect metro Atlanta)
• Redistricting discussions that determine political boundaries in and around Atlanta
• Legal challenges to newly passed state laws, where reporters may note how the bill was written or structured

The office itself usually stays in the background, but understanding its role can help you follow how state laws that affect Atlanta are created.

Key Takeaways for Someone in Atlanta

• The Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC) is a nonpartisan legal office for the Georgia General Assembly, based at the State Capitol in downtown Atlanta.
• It drafts and reviews laws, supports the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, and provides legal guidance to state legislators, not individual citizens.
• If you live in or are visiting Atlanta and have questions about state law or proposed legislation, your main points of contact are your state representative or senator, local law libraries, or private/ nonprofit legal resources.
• Even if you never interact with OLC directly, its work shapes the laws that impact daily life in Atlanta, from business rules to public safety and education.