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

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

introduced · Georgia · House Jan 16, 2025

HB 41: Georgia Local Governance and Fair Enforcement Act; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-13-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conditional discharge for possession of controlled substances as first offense and certain nonviolent property crimes, dismissal of charges, and restitution to victims, so as to authorize counties and municipal corporations to adopt ordinances governing and punishing the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana; to amend Code Section 36-1-20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ordinances for governing and policing of unincorporated areas of county, so as to authorize counties to adopt ordinances governing and punishing the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes local ordinances for small marijuana possession (nonviolent offense), reducing criminal penalties and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Victims' Rights

Track

in committee · Georgia · Senate Jan 16, 2025

SB 14: Elections; the nonpartisan election of district attorneys and solicitors-general of state courts; authorize the General Assembly

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide for the nonpartisan election of district attorneys and solicitors-general of state courts; to provide for the qualifying of such offices; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeNonpartisan election of district attorneys aims to reduce political influence in prosecutions, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of impartiality and accountability.85% confidence

Track

introduced · Georgia · House Jan 29, 2025

HB 125: Crimes and offenses; online menacing of a peace officer; provide for offense

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, so as to provide for the offense of online menacing of a peace officer; to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new offense for online threats against officers, expanding criminalization per bill's purpose to 'provide for offense'90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Georgia · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 206: Drug-free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990; repeal Article 2 of Chapter 1

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to repeal Article 2 of Chapter 1, the "Drug-free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990"; to remove provisions making students convicted of certain drug offenses ineligible for loans, scholarships, and grants; to provide that students shall not be deemed ineligible for HOPE scholarships or grants based solely on certain convictions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals restrictions preventing students with certain drug convictions from accessing financial aid, reducing barriers to education and aligning with criminal justice reform by promoting rehabilitation over punishment.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRepeals restrictions on drug offense convictions for HOPE scholarships, expanding access to higher education funding and removing barriers to financial aid eligibility.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

introduced · Georgia · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 301: The Time Served Act of 2025; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 35-3-37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to review of individual's criminal history record information, definitions, privacy considerations, written application requesting review, and inspection, so as to provide for the automatic restriction of criminal history records for convictions of certain misdemeanors and felonies five years after the completion of the sentence; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 9 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to grants of pardons, paroles, and other relief, so as to provide for the automatic sealing of certain criminal records; to provide a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically restricts criminal records after 5 years, reducing barriers to reentry - core criminal justice reform to lower recidivism.95% confidence

Track

introduced · Georgia · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 368: De-escalation Right To Know Law; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to identification and regulation of motor vehicles, so as to require a law enforcement officer making a traffic stop to provide the operator with the purpose of the stop upon request after such operator displays his or her driver's license; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires officers to state stop reason upon request, enhancing transparency and accountability during traffic stops, aligning with police accountability indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Georgia · Senate Feb 18, 2025

SB 176: "Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act"; establish

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 establish the "Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act"; to provide for a short title; to provide for eligibility; to provide for definitions; to provide for the compensation of wrongfully incarcerated persons; to provide for requisition procedures and for certification of eligibility for compensation; to provide for criminal records checks; to provide for the calculation, payment, and limit of such compensation; to provide for waivers and release; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCompensates victims of wrongful incarceration, advancing criminal justice reform by addressing systemic errors and protecting civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

Track

in committee · Georgia · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 286: Courts and Penal Institutions; substance abuse programs and mental health treatment programs in county and municipal jails for inmates; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 15 and 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts and penal institutions respectively, so as to provide for substance abuse programs and mental health treatment programs in county and municipal jails for inmates and applicants to such programs; to provide for drug court divisions and mental health court divisions to establish procedures for voluntary admission into such programs; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes substance abuse and mental health treatment programs in jails to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health treatment programs in county jails, directly supporting mental health services within correctional facilities per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

introduced · Georgia · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 673: Criminal procedure; limitations on bars to first offender treatment for certain minor offenders adjudicated as adults; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, so as to provide for limitations on bars to first offender treatment for certain minor offenders adjudicated as adults; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to first offenders, so as to provide for retroactive first offender treatment under certain circumstances for offenders who were adjudicated as minors; to revise sentencing laws in conflict with these provisions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands retroactive first offender treatment for minor offenders, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Sentencing

Track