HB125: HB125 Crimes and offenses; online menacing of a peace officer; provide for offense

Georgia law does not currently have a specific crime covering the posting of a police officer's personal information online paired with threats of violence. HB 125 would add a new section (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-97.1) to the criminal code to address this. The bill defines terms like 'immediate family member' and 'personal information,' which includes things like home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, and photographs. It makes it a felony to intentionally post such information about a peace officer or their family member online along with a threat or suggestion of violence. Penalties include one to ten years in prison, a fine up to $25,000, or both, and judges could issue permanent restraining orders against offenders. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it and would apply to offenses committed after that date.

• Creates a new felony offense of online menacing of a peace officer under Georgia's criminal code (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-97.1).
• Defines 'personal information' to include names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, social security numbers, and photographs of an officer or their immediate family.
• Sets penalties of one to ten years in prison, a fine up to $25,000, or both, for anyone convicted of the offense.
• Allows judges to issue a permanent restraining order at sentencing to protect the officer and their family members.
• Specifies that the crime can be prosecuted in any county where the victim lives or is found, or where any part of the offense occurred.
• Would take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature and apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

Peace officers and their immediate family members (spouses, children, siblings, parents, and their spouses) would gain new legal protections, while any person who posts an officer's personal information online alongside threats of violence would face new felony charges.

Georgians who post a police officer's personal details online along with threats could now face felony prosecution, prison time, and steep fines. The bill also gives judges power to issue permanent restraining orders, adding a new layer of protection for officers and their families beyond existing harassment or stalking laws.

• Section 1 adds Code Section 16-10-97.1, defining 'immediate family member,' 'peace officer' (using the definition in O.C.G.A. § 35-8-2), and 'personal information.'
• Subsection (b) defines the offense as intentionally posting a peace officer's or family member's personal information online paired with a threat or suggestion of violence.
• Subsection (c) sets the penalty as a felony punishable by one to ten years in prison, a fine up to $25,000, or both, and allows a permanent restraining order at sentencing.
• Subsection (d) allows prosecution in any county where the victim resides or is found, or where any part of the offense occurred, regardless of where the defendant was located.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's approval (or becoming law without approval), applying to offenses committed on or after that date.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-01-29House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-27House Hopper (House)

• Mike Cameron (R, HD-001)Primary sponsor
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)

• police protection
• online harassment
• criminal penalties
• doxxing
• law enforcement safety