HB 984 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Crimes and offenses; court order to locate an alleged victim of child or elder abuse; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes against the person, so as to provide for a court order to locate an alleged victim of child or elder abuse; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Mar 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC 48 1654/a → LC 48 1723S/hs · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended by the Judiciary Committee to make procedural changes to how courts can issue location orders for missing children and vulnerable adults. The changes add specific requirements that a law enforcement official must make a showing that an inquiry is necessary, and specify that the superior court for the county of the known address must grant the order.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same in terms of which crimes it addresses, but the enforcement mechanism has been modified to require additional procedural steps before a court can issue a location order.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that a law enforcement official must make a showing that an inquiry regarding welfare and safety is necessary before a court can grant a location order.

Specified that the superior court for the county of the known address must grant the order, rather than allowing any court to do so.

TECHNICAL

Changed document title from 'H. B. 984' to 'H. B. 984 (SUB)' to indicate this is a substitute bill offered by the Judiciary Committee.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors