SB 482 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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

Summary
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.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 9, 2026 Last action Mar 27, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed Senate LC 63 0180S/hss · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to clarify that requests for booking photographs and law enforcement videos must be made in person as separate requests, and to add a new definition for 'law enforcement video.' It also introduces exemptions for bona fide press members and adds a specific exemption for recordings depicting a person's death or immediate distress before death.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include 'law enforcement videos' as a distinct category from booking photographs, with specific rules for their definition, redaction, and exemptions.
DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'law enforcement video' covering recordings from body-worn devices or vehicles.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that requests for booking photographs and law enforcement videos must be made in person as separate requests for each item.

Authorized law enforcement agencies to redact videos to conceal identities, except for the individual identified in the request and law enforcement personnel.

EXEMPTIONS

Added an exemption for bona fide credentialed members of the Georgia Press Association and the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.

Added a new exemption preventing disclosure of audio or video recordings that depict a deceased person or show a person in distress immediately preceding death.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026

How they voted

460
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 48
Mar 6, 2026
D Democratic19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
R Republican29
28 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Mar 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Senate Read and Referred
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
Senate Hopper
upper
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors