Criminal Justice

introduced · Georgia · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 354: Evidence; exclude certain communications made between attorney and client when client is in a penal institution

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 24-5-501 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certain communications privileged, so as to exclude from evidence certain communications made between attorney and client when the client is in a penal institution; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePreserves attorney-client privilege for incarcerated individuals, protecting defendant rights in criminal proceedings.92% confidence

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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 19, 2025

HB 458: Controlled substances; possession of four grams or more of fentanyl; provisions

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to schedules, offenses, and penalties regarding controlled substances, so as to clarify that the sale, manufacture, delivery, or possession of four grams or more of fentanyl and fentanyl analog structural class is included within the prohibition of trafficking certain drugs; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill classifies possession of ≥4g fentanyl as trafficking, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization per Georgia's controlled substances law, opposing reform efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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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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introduced · Georgia · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 525: Criminal procedure; 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 reciprocal discovery on behalf of the accused; to require the accused to provide a list of witness and alibi information to the prosecuting attorney; to provide for procedures; to provide for a penalty for noncompliance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires accused to disclose witness/alibi info, reducing defendant rights and limiting defense options under discovery rules.85% 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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