Criminal Justice (Civil Rights)

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.

SR 429 creates a Senate study committee to examine Georgia's felony disenfranchisement laws, which deny voting rights to people with felony convictions even after they've completed prison sentences. The committee, composed of six senators appointed by the Senate President, will study the current constitutional clause, assess its impact on reintegration, and recommend potential reforms by December 1, 2025. It will specifically evaluate whether to allow voting rights restoration for individuals serving community supervision post-incarceration, considering economic, legal, and societal effects. This resolution does not change voting rights directly but sets up a process to review and potentially reform Georgia's approach to felony disenfranchisement.