Criminal Justice

signed · Georgia · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 244: Criminal Proceedings; the award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs in a criminal case to the defendant upon such defendant making a successful motion to disqualify the prosecuting attorney for misconduct in connection with the case; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding the assessment and payment of costs of criminal proceedings, so as to provide for the award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs in a criminal case to the defendant upon such defendant making a successful motion to disqualify the prosecuting attorney for misconduct in connection with the case; to provide for procedures for assessing and paying such fees and costs; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables defendants to recover attorney fees when prosecutors are disqualified for misconduct, promoting accountability and protecting defendant rights in criminal proceedings.90% confidence

passed · Georgia · House Feb 5, 2025

HR 183: Macon Violence Prevention Program; impactful efforts in reducing violent crime in Macon-Bibb County and commending its community-wide collaboration and innovative approach to violence prevention; commend

A RESOLUTION recognizing the Macon Violence Prevention Program for it impactful efforts in reducing violent crime in Macon-Bibb County and commending its community-wide collaboration and innovative approach to violence prevention; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCommends Macon Violence Prevention Program for reducing violent crime through community collaboration, aligning with criminal justice reform support indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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passed · Georgia · Senate Mar 21, 2025

SR 434: Fountain, Myron; commend

This is a ceremonial resolution (SR 434) passed by the Georgia Senate to commend Myron Fountain, known as the "Prison Dr." The resolution recognizes his work founding the nonprofit "The Prison Dr." to mentor at-risk youth in Atlanta and Detroit, focusing on preventing incarceration through mentorship programs. It highlights his 20+ years of experience, including his own time in prison, and notes his programs have helped over 100 youth in Atlanta with an 80% success rate in reducing justice system involvement. The Senate formally commended him for his efforts and extended best wishes for his continued work.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCommends mentorship program preventing youth incarceration, aligning with recidivism reduction and reform efforts85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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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

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

died · Georgia · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 285: Law enforcement agencies; judicial procedure for purging a person's involuntary hospitalization information; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 35-3-34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to disclosure and dissemination of criminal records to private persons and businesses, resulting responsibility and liability of the Georgia Crime Information Center, and provision of certain information to the FBI in conjunction with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, so as to provide for a judicial procedure for purging a person's involuntary hospitalization information received by the center for the purpose of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System under certain circumstances; to change provisions relating to the retention of a person's involuntary hospitalization information; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes judicial procedure to purge involuntary hospitalization records from criminal background checks, aiding reentry and reducing barriers for individuals with non-criminal mental health history.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Georgia · Senate Feb 3, 2025

SB 66: Crimes; persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of family violence from receiving, possessing, or transporting a firearm; prohibit

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 16 and 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses and to domestic relations, respectively, so as to prohibit persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of family violence from receiving, possessing, or transporting a firearm and to prohibit persons subject to family violence protective orders from receiving, possessing, or transporting a firearm; to provide for definitions; to provide an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits firearm access for misdemeanor family violence offenders and protective order subjects, reducing recidivism risk and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Firearms

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introduced · Georgia · House Jan 15, 2025

HB 3: Brady Law Regulations; require universal background checks in all manner of firearm transfers

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 5 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Brady Law Regulations, so as to require universal background checks in all manner of firearm transfers; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for criminal penalties; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires universal background checks for all firearm transfers to prevent prohibited individuals from obtaining guns, advancing public safety within criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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introduced · Georgia · House Jan 16, 2025

HB 49: Georgia Anti-Corruption Act; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding public officers and employees, so as to revise provisions regarding whistleblowers; to broaden the scope of persons who may report information to public employers; to expand the definition of the term "retaliation"; to extend the statute of limitations regarding public employer retaliation; to provide for a misdemeanor offense for violations; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens whistleblower protections for public employees, enhancing law enforcement accountability and combating corruption in criminal justice system, directly supporting reform.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands whistleblower protections for public employees, broadens retaliation definition, and adds misdemeanor penalties for violations, directly strengthening worker rights under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

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died · Georgia · House Apr 4, 2025

HR 118: Woolfolk, Mr. Michael; compensate

This resolution compensates Mr. Michael Woolfolk for 18 years of wrongful imprisonment following his exoneration in 2021. It authorizes $1.35 million in total payments - $445,500 upfront plus a 10-year annuity starting in 2026 - to cover his losses from being wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit. Georgia lacks a statutory compensation system for exonerated individuals, making this a one-time resolution for Woolfolk, who was the first person exonerated by Fulton County’s Conviction Integrity Unit. The payment is tax-exempt for state income tax purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $1.35M state budget allocation for wrongful imprisonment compensation, directly impacting fiscal management through government spending.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCompensates wrongfully convicted individual, addressing systemic gap in exoneree support, aligns with civil rights protection in criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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introduced · Georgia · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 911: Torts; prohibit individuals from bringing defamation actions against another individual who makes a communication regarding an incident of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination; provisions

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia, relating to libel and slander, so as to prohibit individuals from bringing defamation actions against another individual who makes a communication regarding an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sex discrimination when that individual believed such incident to have occurred; to provide for attorney's fees and costs for a prevailing defendant; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects individuals reporting sexual assault/harassment from defamation lawsuits, encouraging victim disclosure and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of increasing reporting and accountability.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects individuals reporting workplace sexual harassment/discrimination from defamation lawsuits, strengthening workers' ability to report misconduct without fear of legal retaliation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Violent Crime Employment Discrimination

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