Criminal Justice

signed · Georgia · Senate Jul 1, 2026

SB 570: "Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act"; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 21 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to rights, duties, and liabilities of innkeepers, so as to provide for a required human trafficking training program for inns and short-term rental properties; to provide for definitions; to provide for training policies and procedures; to provide for the retention of certain records; to provide for limitations; to provide for penalties; to provide an effective date; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates human trafficking prevention training for inns, enhancing law enforcement's ability to combat trafficking under criminal justice framework92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Georgia · House May 12, 2026

HB 1283: Family Justice Center Act; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13 of Title 19 and Chapter 16 of Title 17 of the O.C.G.A., relating to family violence and discovery, respectively, so as to authorize the creation of Family Justice Centers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates Family Justice Centers to coordinate victim services and law enforcement response to domestic violence, advancing criminal justice reform through improved victim support and interagency collaboration.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

passed both · Georgia · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 586: "K-9 Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2026"; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-11-107 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to interfering with, harming of, or aggravated harming of a public safety animal or search and rescue animal, so as to provide for commendations of public safety animals and search and rescue animals that are injured or killed in the line of duty; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects law enforcement K-9s by enhancing penalties for harming them, directly supporting operational safety within criminal justice law enforcement framework.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

Track

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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

Track

passed · Georgia · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1061: Mandi Ballinger Act; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Juvenile Code, so as to enact the "Mandi Ballinger Act"; to provide for an implementation committee; to provide for the powers, composition, and appointment of such committee; to change the jurisdiction of the juvenile court to include certain children who are 17 years of age; to amend Titles 15, 16, 17, 27, 37, 42, and 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, crimes and offenses, criminal procedure, game and fish, mental health, penal institutions, and social services, respectively, so as to make conforming cross-references; to provide for effective dates and automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands juvenile court jurisdiction to include 17-year-olds, aligning with rehabilitation-focused reform by keeping youth in juvenile system instead of adult courts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

Track

signed · Georgia · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 147: Correctional Institutions of State and Counties; consent for the release of certain criminal history, vocational, and educational information for inmates upon release; 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 relative to correctional institutions of state and counties, so as to provide consent for the release of certain criminal history, vocational, and educational information for inmates upon release; to provide for issuance of an identification card and a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides consent for release of inmate vocational/educational info and completion certificates to aid post-release reintegration, reducing recidivism through rehabilitation support.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Georgia · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 238: Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; create and maintain an at-risk adult training course focusing on officer response to individuals with Alzheimer's disease or dementia

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and training of police officers, so as to require the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council to create and maintain an at-risk adult training course focusing on officer response to individuals with Alzheimer's disease or dementia; to provide for requirements for such course; to provide for collaborative course development with the Division of Aging Services; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires police training on responding to dementia patients, enhancing officer accountability and reducing potential misuse of force during encounters with vulnerable adults.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Georgia · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 582: Georgia Survivor Justice Act; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 16, 17, and 24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, criminal procedure, and evidence, respectively, so as to provide for defendants to support a justification defense by offering evidence of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse committed by the alleged victim; to provide a privilege for participation in victim centered programs and victim-offender dialogues; to provide for definitions; to provide for limitations; to provide for civil immunity for facilitators in certain circumstances; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables defendants to present evidence of victim's prior abuse as justification defense, promotes victim-centered programs, and aligns with criminal justice reform by enhancing due process and reducing wrongful convictions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice