SB42: SB42 Penalties for violating Code Sections 16-6-9 through 16-6-12; certain penalty provisions for the offense of prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering; repeal

Georgia law currently sets criminal penalties for prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering under a section of state law (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-13). That section has more than one subsection laying out different penalty rules for these offenses. This bill repeals subsection (b) of that penalty section entirely, striking it from the law but leaving a placeholder (the bill text describes this as repealing and reserving the subsection, meaning the letter designation stays empty rather than being reused). The bill does not add new language explaining what replaces the removed provision. It would take effect immediately once signed by the Governor or allowed to become law without a signature, and it repeals any other state laws that conflict with it.

• Repeals subsection (b) of Georgia's penalty law for prostitution offenses (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-13), removing that specific penalty provision entirely.
• Reserves the subsection designation rather than reassigning it, meaning subsection (b) is left empty in the code going forward.
• Leaves the rest of O.C.G.A. § 16-6-13, including any other penalty provisions in the section, unchanged.
• Sets the law to take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without the Governor's signature.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this change.

People charged or convicted under Georgia's prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering laws, along with prosecutors, defense attorneys, and courts that apply the penalty section of O.C.G.A. § 16-6-13 in these cases.

Because the bill removes a specific penalty provision without the text spelling out what that provision required, its practical effect on sentencing for these offenses depends on what subsection (b) previously covered, something courts and attorneys handling these cases will need to account for.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 16-6-13 by repealing and reserving subsection (b) in full, removing that penalty language from the code.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval.
• Section 3 repeals all other Georgia laws or parts of laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-05-14
2. 2025-05-14Act 279
3. 2025-05-14Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-07Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-03-25House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-03-25House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-03House Second Readers (House)

• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)Primary sponsor
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 27, 2025

   50 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #100

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2025

   169 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #309

• prostitution law
• criminal penalties
• pimping and pandering
• Georgia criminal code