---
title: HB 1011. Daren Lewis Saving Lives Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1011
cite_as: HB 1011, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1011
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1011.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1011/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72318
date: 2026-01-28
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1012.md
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1011.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1011
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-16
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Carl Gilliard
- Mack Jackson
- Lydia Glaize
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1011/2025
upstream_id: 2085254
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- police pursuits
- law enforcement policy
- public safety
- police training
- residential neighborhoods
---
# HB 1011. Daren Lewis Saving Lives Act; enact
## Text
House Bill 1011
By: Representatives Gilliard of the 162nd, Jackson of the 128th, and Glaize of the 67th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to law enforcement
officers and agencies, so as to require the adoption of written policies for conducting
vehicular pursuits by law enforcement officers in residential areas; to require the
establishment of pursuit review committees; to provide for duties and authority of such
committees; to provide for annual reporting; to provide for training; to provide for a short
title; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Daren Lewis Saving Lives Act."
SECTION 2.
Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to law enforcement officers and
agencies, is amended by revising Code Section 35-1-14, relating to written policies for
emergency pursuits, as follows:
"35-1-14.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Pursuit' means an intentional attempt by a law enforcement officer to apprehend a
suspect who, while attempting to flee, operates a motor vehicle in a manner that would
require the officer to operate his or her motor vehicle in a manner that would require him
or her to exceed normal traffic speeds, engage in vehicle maneuvers, or otherwise
endanger the public.
(2) 'Residential area' means a neighborhood, subdivision, or other area predominantly
used for housing with a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less or any area
designated as a residential district by a local governing authority.
(b) On and after January 1, 2004 2026, each state, county, and local law enforcement
agency that conducts emergency response and vehicular pursuits shall adopt written
policies that set forth the manner in which these operations shall be conducted. Each law
enforcement agency may create its own such policies or adopt an existing model. All
pursuit policies created or adopted by any law enforcement agency must address situations
in which police pursuits cross over into other jurisdictions. Law enforcement agencies
which do not comply with the requirements of this Code section are subject to the
withholding of any state funding or state administered federal funding. Such policies shall:
(1) Prohibit the initiation of a pursuit in a residential area unless:
(A) There is an immediate risk to public safety or an imminent likelihood of serious
bodily injury or death if a pursuit is not initiated; and
(B) There is probable cause to arrest the operator or an occupant of the motor vehicle
for a serious violent felony as set forth in Code Section 17-10-6.1;
(2) Require the termination of a pursuit in a residential area which was initiated outside
the residential area when there is a reasonable belief that:
(A) The risk to public safety outweighs the benefit of continuing the pursuit;
(B) The suspect can be apprehended through available, less dangerous means; or
(C) The pursuit has entered an area within the residential area where there is an
increased risk of injury or death to a pedestrian or other motorist; and
(3) Be published upon the official website of each state, county, and local law
enforcement agency.
(c) Each state, county, and local law enforcement agency that conducts emergency
response and vehicular pursuits shall establish a pursuit review committee. Such
committee shall evaluate vehicular pursuits conducted by the respective law enforcement
agency for compliance with pursuit policies adopted pursuant to this Code section and
compliance with training standards set forth in Code Section 35-8-28. Such committee
shall perform an assessment on each vehicular pursuit by performing a risk assessment of
decision-making and de-escalation efforts by law enforcement against the outcome of the
pursuit. A pursuit review committee shall be authorized to review data, officer statements,
video recordings from law enforcement body-worn devices and devices located on or
inside of the law enforcement vehicle, and other relevant evidence. Such committee shall
be further authorized to recommend corrective actions, including policy updates, training
improvements, or agency discipline as appropriate.
(d) Each state, county, and local law enforcement agency that conducts emergency
response and vehicular pursuits shall publish an annual report on the:
(1) Total number of pursuits initiated or terminated in a residential area;
(2) Outcomes, injuries, fatalities, and property damage that resulted from pursuits;
(3) Demographic information of individuals involved in pursuits, to the extent permitted
by law; and
(4) Disciplinary actions or policy changes resulting from pursuit reviews."
SECTION 3.
Said title is further amended in Chapter 8, relating to employment and training of peace
officers, by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"35-8-28.
(a) Beginning in 2027 and every year thereafter, each law enforcement unit and the basic
training courses required pursuant to this chapter shall render training on:
(1) High-risk vehicle operation, risk assessment, and decision making under stress;
(2) De-escalation techniques and alternatives to vehicular pursuits, including stop sticks,
roadblocks, or other nonpursuit strategies;
(3) Safe operation of motor vehicles in residential areas as such term is defined in Code
Section 35-1-14;
(4) Recognition of road hazards and motor vehicle occupant safety;
(5) How to intercede when a fellow law enforcement officer is acting in violation of
policy or engaging in unsafe conduct; and
(6) Compliance with post-pursuit review and accountability processes as required by
Code Section 35-1-14.
(b) The training required by this Code section shall be evidenced based and developed
after consultation with community stakeholders."
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
House Bill 1011, named for Daren Lewis, would tighten rules on police car chases in Georgia neighborhoods, requiring agencies to limit pursuits in residential areas, review each chase, and report the results every year.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law already requires police agencies to have written policies for vehicle pursuits, but this bill rewrites those rules with much more detail, especially for chases in residential neighborhoods. Agencies could only start a pursuit in a residential area if there is an immediate public safety risk and probable cause that the suspect committed a serious violent felony. Chases that start elsewhere would have to stop once they enter a residential area if the risk outweighs the benefit or safer options exist.
The bill also requires every state, county, and local law enforcement agency that conducts pursuits to set up a pursuit review committee to evaluate each chase, and to publish an annual report on pursuit numbers, injuries, deaths, property damage, demographics, and any resulting discipline or policy changes. A new training requirement starting in 2027 covers de-escalation, safe driving, and intervening when a fellow officer acts unsafely. The bill is named the 'Daren Lewis Saving Lives Act.'
### What it does
- Restricts when officers can start a vehicle pursuit inside a residential area, requiring both an immediate safety risk and probable cause of a serious violent felony.
- Requires officers to end a pursuit once it enters a residential neighborhood if the danger outweighs the benefit or a safer way to catch the suspect exists.
- Creates a mandatory pursuit review committee at every state, county, and local law enforcement agency to assess each chase using body camera footage, statements, and other evidence.
- Requires agencies to publish pursuit policies online and issue annual public reports on pursuit outcomes, injuries, deaths, demographics, and discipline.
- Adds a new statewide training requirement, starting in 2027, on high-risk driving, de-escalation, and intervening when a fellow officer breaks policy.
### Who it affects
State, county, and local law enforcement agencies and officers in Georgia who conduct vehicle pursuits; residents of neighborhoods where chases might occur; suspects fleeing police; and agencies' training programs, which must add new curriculum starting in 2027.
### Why it matters
Car chases through neighborhoods can put bystanders, drivers, and suspects at risk of injury or death. By limiting when chases can start or continue near homes and requiring review committees and public reporting, the bill changes how much latitude officers have and creates new accountability records for the public.
### Key provisions
- Section 2 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 35-1-14, defining 'pursuit' and 'residential area' and updating the compliance date from 2004 to January 1, 2026.
- Section 2 requires agencies to prohibit initiating a residential-area pursuit unless there is immediate risk to public safety and probable cause of a serious violent felony under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1.
- Section 2 requires termination of pursuits entering residential areas when risk outweighs benefit, a safer capture method exists, or pedestrian danger rises.
- Section 2 requires each agency to publish its pursuit policy online and establish a pursuit review committee with authority to review evidence and recommend discipline or policy changes.
- Section 2 requires an annual public report covering pursuit counts, outcomes, injuries, fatalities, property damage, demographics, and discipline or policy changes.
- Section 3 adds new O.C.G.A. § 35-8-28, requiring annual training starting in 2027 on high-risk driving, de-escalation, road hazard recognition, and intervening against unsafe officer conduct.
- Section 4 repeals conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-01-16)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-01-28)
- Sponsors: Carl Gilliard, Mack Jackson, Lydia Glaize
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72318
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1011.md?full=1