Criminal Justice

in committee · Georgia · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SB 558: Controlled Substances; possession of certain quantities of marijuana constitute a misdemeanor; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to controlled substances, so as to provide that possession of certain quantities of marijuana constitute a misdemeanor; to revise a definition; to change provisions relating to punishment; to amend Title 15, Title 16, Title 17, and Code Section 36-32-6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, crimes and offenses, criminal procedure, and municipal court jurisdiction in marijuana possession cases, respectively, so as to provide for conforming cross-references; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces marijuana possession penalties from felony to misdemeanor, aligning with criminal justice reform by lowering incarceration rates and reducing criminalization of minor offenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy

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passed · Georgia · Senate Mar 27, 2026

SB 482: Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies; persons requesting booking photographs to provide the first and last names of the individuals in the photographs; require

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to require persons requesting booking photographs to provide the first and last names of the individuals in the photographs; to require requests for booking photographs to be made as separate requests; 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 JusticeRequires names for booking photo requests, enhancing privacy protections in law enforcement data access per Georgia law.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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introduced · Georgia · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 1456: Crimes and offenses; protective orders or consent agreements for victims against persons who have committed acts of sexual assault; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sexual offenses, so as to provide for protective orders or consent agreements for victims against persons who have committed acts of sexual assault; to provide for a definition; to provide for temporary relief ex parte orders under certain circumstances; to provide for procedures; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides legal protections for sexual assault victims via protective orders, advancing victim rights in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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passed · Georgia · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 604: Crimes and Offenses; the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with district attorneys to conduct criminal prosecutions of violent crimes, illegal immigration offenses, and fentanyl offenses; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, so as to provide the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with district attorneys to conduct criminal prosecutions of violent crimes, illegal immigration offenses, and fentanyl offenses; 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 JusticeExpands state Attorney General's prosecution authority for violent crimes, immigration offenses, and fentanyl cases, strengthening enforcement structure within criminal justice system.92% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationGrants Attorney General authority to prosecute illegal immigration offenses, increasing state-level enforcement against undocumented immigrants.95% confidence

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passed · Georgia · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 1142: Courts; require certain agreements for certain offenses to be eligible for a Pretrial Intervention and Diversion Program

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 15 and 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts and domestic relations, respectively, so as to require certain agreements for certain offenses to be eligible for a Pretrial Intervention and Diversion Program; provide for the creation of a registry of recidivist domestic violence offenders; to provide for the maintenance of such registry; to provide for clerks of court to provide certain information to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; to provide for the registration of recidivist domestic violence offenders; to provide for the assessment of fees on recidivist domestic violence offenders; to provide for the removal of recidivist domestic violence offenders after a period of time; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes Pretrial Intervention and Diversion Program eligibility requirements, reducing court burden and recidivism, while creating a registry for domestic violence offenders to enhance public safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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introduced · Georgia · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 1243: Criminal Justice Researcher Access to Data Act; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 18 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state printing and documents, so as to provide bona fide researchers with legal means to access criminal justice data and records; to provide for legislative findings and declarations; to provide for definitions; to require that the Attorney General provide guidance to criminal justice agencies in the sharing of criminal justice data, records, and information with bona fide researchers; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides legal access to criminal justice data for researchers, enabling evidence-based reform efforts and aligning with indicators like promoting data-driven policy improvements.85% confidence

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died · Georgia · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 1226: Crimes; justification for use of force in defense of self or others; revise standards

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse in defenses to criminal prosecutions, so as to revise standards of justification for use of force in defense of self or others; to provide for a rebuttable presumption; to provide for timing for claims of immunity from prosecution based upon justification; to provide for standards of proof; to amend Code Section 51-11-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to no duty to retreat and immunity in certain instances of threat or use of force, so as to extend immunity from civil liability in justified use of force cases to legal representatives and heirs of the person against whom force was used; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes rebuttable presumption for self-defense claims, strengthening defendant rights in criminal procedure per Georgia Code revision, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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introduced · Georgia · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 1469: Crimes; restriction and seal of certain records upon sentencing of a first conditional discharge for possession of controlled substances and certain nonviolent property crimes; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to controlled substances, so as to provide for the restriction and seal of certain records upon sentencing of a first conditional discharge for possession of controlled substances and certain nonviolent property crimes until such status is revoked; to provide for exceptions; to amend Chapter 3 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, so as to provide for the restriction and seal of a sentence entered upon a first conditional discharge for possession of a controlled substance until such status is revoked; to provide for exceptions; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSeals records for first-time nonviolent offenders, reducing recidivism barriers and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing

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signed · Georgia · House May 5, 2026

HB 1230: Aviation; prohibit operation of unmanned aircraft systems over a place of incarceration

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding aviation, so as to prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft systems over a place of incarceration; to provide for a definition; to provide for exceptions; to require posting of signs warning of such prohibition; to provide for violations and penalties; to declare such systems contraband; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits drones over prisons to prevent contraband, enhancing correctional facility security - a core component of criminal justice reform and facility safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · Georgia · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 1397: Criminal procedure; implied consent to a drug facilitated sexual assault examination for unconscious victims of alleged sexual assault; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to investigating sexual assault, so as to provide for implied consent to a drug facilitated sexual assault examination for unconscious victims of alleged sexual assault; to provide for circumstances; to provide for evidence; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes implied consent for drug-facilitated sexual assault exams on unconscious victims, improving evidence collection and victim protection in criminal justice proceedings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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