Criminal Justice

signed · Georgia · Senate Jul 1, 2026

SB 547: Offenses of Pimping and Pandering; modify the penalties

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-6-13 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penalties for violating Code Sections 16-6-9 through 16-6-12, so as to modify the penalties for the offenses of pimping and pandering; to provide that all such offenses shall be punishable as felony offenses; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date and for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates pimping/pandering to felony offenses, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Georgia · Senate Jul 1, 2026

SB 220: "Putting Georgia's Patients First Act"; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend various provisions of the O.C.G.A., so as to rename low THC oil as medical cannabis; to amend Chapter 12 of Title 16, Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16, and Article 1 of Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to offenses against the public health and morals, regulation of controlled substances, and general provisions relative to the Department of Public Health, respectively, so as to clarify and revise criminal penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRevises criminal penalties for cannabis offenses, reducing criminalization of medical use per bill's summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareLegalizes medical cannabis access, expanding patient treatment options under healthcare framework per bill's renaming of low THC oil as medical cannabis.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Georgia · House May 5, 2026

HB 483: Crimes and offenses; protections for inspectors of code enforcement; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to assault and battery, so as to provide for protections for inspectors of code enforcement; to provide for definitions; to provide for enhanced penalties for simple assault, aggravated assault, simple battery, battery, and aggravated battery committed upon inspectors of code enforcement in certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances penalties for assaults on code enforcement inspectors, directly impacting sentencing within criminal justice system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed · Georgia · House Mar 27, 2026

HB 171: Crimes and offenses; obscenity; repeal and replace Code Section 16-12-80

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to obscenity and related offenses, so as to repeal and replace Code Section 16-12-80, relating to obscene material, distribution, and penalty; to prohibit distribution of computer generated obscene material depicting a child; to provide for a standard for obscenity; to provide for a penalty and probation; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, so as to provide for sentencing of defendants who utilize artificial intelligence in the commission of certain crimes; to provide for notices for enhanced sentencing, and enhanced sentencing; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by prohibiting computer-generated obscene material depicting children and adding penalties, increasing restrictions on speech/behavior rather than advancing reform or protecting rights.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Georgia · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1076: Crimes and offenses; create felony offense of obstruction of a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to obstruction of public administration and related offenses, so as to create the felony offense of obstruction of a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle; to provide for punishment; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates felony offense for vehicle obstruction of officers, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties per bill's explicit language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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signed · Georgia · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 79: "Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act"; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses, so as to revise threshold amounts of fentanyl and related substances necessary to constitute the offenses of possessing, selling, distributing, and manufacturing of such substances; to revise mandatory minimum departure provisions for defendants convicted of trafficking of substances in violation of Code Section 16-13-31, relating to trafficking in cocaine, illegal drugs, marijuana, or methamphetamine and penalties; to amend various titles of the O.C.G.A., so as to provide for conforming changes; to provide for an effective date; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeLowers fentanyl offense thresholds and strengthens mandatory minimums for drug trafficking, increasing criminalization and harsher sentencing without reform elements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Georgia · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 185: Correctional Institutions of State and Counties; use of state funds or resources for certain treatments for state inmates; prohibit

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to correctional institutions of state and counties, so as to prohibit the use of state funds or resources for certain treatments for state inmates; to provide for the adoption of rules and regulations by the Board of Corrections relating to such prohibitions and exceptions; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits state funds for inmate treatments, restricting rehabilitation programs which aligns with 'oppose' indicators of cutting rehabilitation services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed · Georgia · House Mar 10, 2025

HR 128: Watkins, Mr. Joseph Samuel; compensate

This resolution compensates Joseph Samuel Watkins for his wrongful conviction and 22 years of incarceration following his exoneration in 2023. It directs the state to pay $1,688,527.40 total - $535,000 as an initial lump sum and the remainder as a 10-year annuity starting in 2026 - to Watkins for his losses. Watkins must sign a waiver releasing Georgia from all future claims related to his case. The resolution applies solely to Watkins and does not establish a general compensation program for exonerees in Georgia.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCompensates wrongful conviction victim, aligning with civil rights protection and criminal justice reform by addressing systemic failure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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