HB 535 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Penal institutions; credit for time served regarding probation revocation sentencing; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 42-8-38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrest or graduated sanctions for probationers violating terms, hearing, disposition of charge, and procedure when probation revoked in county other than that of conviction, so as to provide for credit for time served regarding probation revocation sentencing; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 19, 2025 Signed May 5, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC 48 1478/a → HB 535/AP* · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to address a different topic entirely. The original version focused on calculating time served for probationers, while the new version establishes strict mandatory minimum prison sentences and fines for trafficking specific quantities of fentanyl and its analogs.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from general probation procedures to specific drug trafficking penalties, adding new offenses for fentanyl trafficking and modifying existing departure provisions for drug crimes.

SCOPE

Added a new felony offense for trafficking four grams or more of fentanyl or its analogs, which did not exist in the original bill.

Removed all provisions related to calculating credit for time served when probation is revoked in a different county.

REQUIREMENT

Established mandatory minimum prison terms ranging from 10 to 35 years and fines from $75,000 to $750,000 based on the quantity of fentanyl involved.

Replaced the original text regarding probation revocation with new rules allowing courts to reduce mandatory minimum sentences only under specific conditions, such as the defendant not being a leader or having no prior felonies.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 16, 2026 · House Mar 6, 2025

How they voted

46–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 47

Mar 16, 2026

D Democratic18

18 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican29

28 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 5, 2026

Signed into law

Act 384

upper

May 5, 2026

Signed into law

House Date Signed by Governor

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Introduced

House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Senate Recommitted

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Passed/Adopted

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors