Criminal Justice

in committee · Georgia · Senate Feb 13, 2025

SB 159: Criminal Procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has intellectual disability; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, so as to provide for pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has intellectual disability; to provide for a definition; to provide for notice of intent to claim intellectual disability; to provide for pretrial determination of intellectual disability; to provide for verdicts; to provide for capital case procedures; to provide for reports investigating reversible error; to provide for a standard of review; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes pretrial procedures for intellectual disability determination in capital cases, protecting defendant rights and aligning with Eighth Amendment prohibitions against executing individuals with intellectual disabilities.92% confidence

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introduced · Georgia · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 496: Criminal procedure; scent of marijuana, cannabis, or hemp; provide imitations on stops, searches, seizures, or arrests

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrest by law enforcement officers generally, so as to provide for limitations on stops, searches, seizures, or arrests regarding the scent of marijuana, cannabis, or hemp on its own; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts police reliance on scent of marijuana for stops/arrests, protecting civil liberties and advancing criminal justice reform by limiting unwarranted seizures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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introduced · Georgia · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 497: Penal institutions; inmate be allowed to dress in plain clothes during trial proceedings; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conditions of detention generally, so as to provide that an inmate be allowed to dress in plain clothes during trial proceedings; to provide for a penalty; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows defendants to wear plain clothes in court, promoting dignity and civil rights during trial proceedings, aligning with reform indicators.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Georgia · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 202: Discovery; discovery in misdemeanor cases; change provisions

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 16 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to discovery, so as to change provisions relating to discovery in misdemeanor cases; to provide for a defendant to opt into reciprocal discovery similar to provisions in felony cases; to require the defendant to provide the prosecuting attorney with a list of witness and alibi information; to provide for procedure; to provide for sanctions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill extends felony-style reciprocal discovery to misdemeanor cases, requiring defendant disclosure for opt-in, promoting fairer trials. Aligns misdemeanor procedures with felony standards, supporting procedural fairness in criminal justice.75% confidence

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in committee · Georgia · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SR 290: Risk Assessment; culturally competent risk assessment tools; targeted public health initiatives, and enhanced healthcare interventions; recognize the need

A RESOLUTION recognizing the need for culturally competent risk assessment tools, targeted public health initiatives, and enhanced healthcare interventions; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes culturally competent risk assessment tools and public health initiatives, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce bias and address root causes of incarceration.85% confidence

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introduced · Georgia · House Feb 27, 2025

HB 650: Presidential Felon Freedom Act; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 15, 43, 44, and 45 of the O.C.G.A., relating to courts, professions and businesses, property, and public officers and employees, respectively, so as to restore certain rights of individuals with criminal histories; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restores rights for individuals with criminal histories, promoting rehabilitation and reducing reintegration barriers, a core criminal justice reform objective.95% confidence

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introduced · Georgia · House Feb 28, 2025

HB 636: Crimes and offenses; sexual offenses; revise penalties

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 revise penalties for violations of certain offenses; to provide for fines for such violations and to provide that such collected fines be made available to the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund Commission; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRevises sexual offense penalties and directs collected fines to Safe Harbor Fund for exploited children, funding victim support services.90% confidence

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in committee · Georgia · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 243: Back the Blue Fund; authorized use of money; revise

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and licensing generally, so as to revise the authorized use of money distributed from the Back the Blue Fund; to revise collection procedures; to provide for legislative intent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill revises funding allocation for 'Back the Blue Fund' supporting law enforcement, aligning with 'fund' indicator for criminal justice support.95% confidence

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passed both · Georgia · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 309: Local government; require adoption of a resolution or ordinance and voter approval prior to abolishment of a police force that was created by such method

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county police, so as to require adoption of a resolution or ordinance and voter approval prior to abolishment of a police force that was created by such method; to provide for a referendum; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires voter approval before abolishing police forces, protecting existing law enforcement structure as a criminal justice policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Georgia · Senate Mar 28, 2025

SR 483: Right to Register and Vote; conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude as an exception; remove - CA

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to remove a conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude as an exception to the right to register and vote; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves felony conviction barrier to voting rights, advancing criminal justice reform by restoring civil rights for formerly incarcerated individuals.95% confidence

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