HB430: HB430 Sexual Offender Risk Review Board; venue for certain petitions regarding state sexual offender registry; provide

Georgia law lets some registered sex offenders petition a court to be released from registration requirements or residency and employment restrictions if they can show they no longer pose a substantial risk. HB 430 changes who must be notified and involved in that process. Under current law, petitions mainly involve the district attorney and sheriff where the petition is filed and the sheriff where the person currently lives. This bill adds the sheriff of the county where the offender intends to move and that county's chief superior court judge, giving them the right to request a hearing and requiring the court to send them a copy of any release order. The bill also makes a small wording change to the registry law's definition covering nonresidents who move to Georgia from another state or place. It repeals conflicting laws and does not state a delayed effective date.

• Adds the sheriff and chief superior court judge of the county where a sex offender intends to move as parties who must be served with a petition to leave the registry.
• Gives the sheriff and chief superior court judge of the intended residence county the right to request a court hearing on the petition.
• Requires the court to send a copy of any order releasing someone from registration or residency requirements to the sheriff of the intended residence county, in addition to current recipients.
• Adds sheriffs generally, not just the sheriff who filed, as a source of evidence the district attorney or board can introduce at the hearing.
• Makes a minor wording revision to the registry law covering nonresidents who move to Georgia from another state, territory, or other place.

Registered sex offenders who petition Georgia courts to be released from registration or residency and employment restrictions, county sheriffs and chief superior court judges (especially in counties where an offender plans to move), district attorneys, and the Georgia Sexual Offender Risk Review Board.

By pulling in the sheriff and judge of the county someone plans to move to, the bill gives local officials in the destination community a formal voice and notice before a court decides to lift registration or residency restrictions on a sex offender moving into their area.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 42-1-12(e)(6), adjusting the definition covering nonresidents who move to Georgia and were required to register elsewhere.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 42-1-19(b)(2) to require petitions be served on the sheriff and chief superior court judge of the county of intended residence, not just the filing county and current residence.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 42-1-19(d)(2) to broaden who can introduce evidence at a hearing to sheriffs generally.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 42-1-19(e) to let the sheriff or chief superior court judge of the intended residence county request a hearing.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 42-1-19(f) to require the court to send copies of any release order to the sheriff of the intended residence county along with existing recipients.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-27Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2025-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
4. 2025-03-10Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-03-06House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
6. 2025-03-06House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-04House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
8. 2025-02-18House Second Readers (House)

• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)Primary sponsor
• Rob Clifton (R, HD-131)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)
• Jaclyn Ford (R, HD-170)
• Mandi Ballinger (R, HD-023)
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2025

   168 yea, 0 nay (8 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #244

• sex offender registry
• criminal justice
• court procedure
• public safety