HB675: HB675 Crimes and offenses; criminal offenses related to material support of terrorism; provide

25 LC 48 1580ERS The House Committee on Judiciary, Non- Civil offers the following substitute to HB 675: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 offenses against public order and safety, so as to provide for criminal offenses related to2 material support of terrorism; to provide for penalties; to pro vide for legislative intent; to3 provide for the creation of guidelines for law enforcement inve stigations; to provide for4 definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against8 public order and safety, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:9 "ARTICLE 710 16-11-230.11 (a) As used in this article, the term:12 (1) 'Act of terrorism' means an activity that:13 H. B. 675 (SUB) - 1 - 25 LC 48 1580ERS (A) Involves violent acts that are dangerous to human life and are a felony violation14 of the criminal laws of the United States or the State of Georgia; and15 (B) Is intended to:16 (i) Intimidate, injure, or coerce a civilian population;17 (ii) Influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or18 (iii) Affect the conduct of government through mass destructio n, assassination, or19 kidnapping.20 (2) 'Designated foreign terrorist organization' means an organ ization designated as a21 terrorist organization under 8 U.S.C. Section 1189, and under executive order 14157 as22 of March 6, 2025.23 (3) 'Expert advice or assistance' means advice or assistance d erived from scientific,24 technical, or other specialized knowledge.25 (4) 'Material support or resources' means any property, tangible or intangible, or service,26 including currency or monetary instruments or financial securit ies, financial services,27 lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safe houses, fa lse documentation or28 identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances,29 explosives, personnel, or transportation, except for medicine or religious materials.30 (5) 'Training' means instruction or teaching designed to impart a specific skill rather than31 general knowledge.32 (b) A person commits a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years or33 a fine of not more than $100,000.00, or both, if the person:34 (1) Provides material support or resources or conceals or disguises the nature, location,35 source, or ownership of the material support or resources, knowing and intending that the36 support or resources are to be used in preparation for or in ca rrying out an act of37 terrorism;38 (2) Conceals an escape from the commission of a violation of p aragraph (1) of this39 subsection; or40 H. B. 675 (SUB) - 2 - 25 LC 48 1580ERS (3) Attempts or conspires to commit a violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection.41 (c) A person who knowingly and intentionally provides material support or resources to42 a designated foreign terrorist organization, or attempts or con spires to do so, commits a43 felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than44 $100,000.00, or both. To violate this subsection, a person shall have knowledge that the45 organization is a designated foreign terrorist organization or that the organization has46 engaged in or engages in acts of terrorism.47 (d)(1) For purposes of prosecution under subsection (b) or (c) of this Code section, a48 person is deemed to provide material support or resources by providing personnel if the49 person knowingly provides, attemp ts to provide, or conspires to provide himself or50 herself or another person to:51 (A) Work under the direction and control of a designated foreign terrorist organization52 or a person engaged in, or intending to engage in, an act of terrorism; or53 (B) Organize, manage, supervise, or otherwise direct the opera tions of a designated54 foreign terrorist organization or a person engaged in, or intending to engage in, an act55 of terrorism.56 (2) An individual who acts entirely independently of the desig nated foreign terrorist57 organization or the person engaged in, or intending to engage i n, an act of terrorism to58 advance the organization's or person's goals or objectives is n ot working under the59 direction and control of the designated foreign terrorist organization or person engaged60 in, or intending to engage in, an act of terrorism.61 (e) A person shall not be prosecuted under this article if his or her activity was authorized62 by a governmental or law enforcement agency of this state or of the United States in the63 agency's official capacity and pursuant to a lawful purpose or if the activity is that of an64 attorney who is authorized to practice law and is providing legal services to an individual65 who is accused of a violation of a criminal law of the United States or of any state.66 H. B. 675 (SUB) - 3 - 25 LC 48 1580ERS (f) It is the intent of the General Assembly that subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section67 be interpreted in a manner consistent with federal case law int erpreting 18 U.S.C.68 Sections 2339A and 2339B, and under executive order 14157 as of March 6, 2025."69 SECTION 2.70 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.71 H. B. 675 (SUB) - 4 -