HB 1283: Family Justice Center Act; enact

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From the bill

Discussed in meetings (18)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, February 18, 2026

   From 0:11:57 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1283 would let local governments, prosecutors and nonprofits establish family justice centers, bringing services together for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and trafficking. The sponsor said participation would be voluntary, with confidentiality protections and funding administered through the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, but no appropriation. Asked about costs and timing, a Fulton County prosecutor estimated several years to establish a center, $1 million to $4 million in startup costs and potentially several million dollars annually. The prosecutor said existing partner staff could reduce costs, faith organizations could participate, and navigators would connect survivors with services. The prosecutor cited a 90% decline in domestic violence homicides in San Diego. The Waycross center’s director described transportation barriers in rural communities and stressed nonprofit independence. Macon witnesses described coordinated help for whole families. An Atlanta police witness emphasized officer safety. A Grady nurse said the hospital treated 679 sexual assault patients last year and supported a calmer alternative to emergency-room care. A Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers witness requested language protecting defendants’ access to relevant evidence without exposing unrelated records. That proposal remained unresolved. Members approved a state-funding exception and insurance changes preserving immunity and allowing broader coverage. A further amendment referencing both nonprofit categories drew concern about added obligations. With time expiring, the chair tabled the bill and requested a revised version. The committee did not vote on final passage.

2. House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, February 23, 2026

   From 0:20:02 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute for the Family Justice Center bill, saying it incorporated suggestions from the previous hearing. A Fulton County district attorney’s office representative explained that the substitute reduced the required board size from seven to five to ease the burden on rural communities. The representative said it also eased requirements for nonprofit centers operating without municipal involvement, including existing models in Waycross and Macon. For felony and misdemeanor cases, the representative said revised discovery language clarified that sharing a building with prosecutors and law enforcement would not, by itself, impose evidence-disclosure requirements on nonprofits. The sponsor added that language requested by ACCG clarified that purchasing insurance would not waive immunity. A witness for GACDL thanked the sponsor for working with the organization on the discovery language. Committee members expressed support for the revisions, and the committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

3. House Rules Committee, February 25, 2026

   From 0:33:23 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1283 would establish a legal framework and oversight for family justice centers, where survivors could obtain law enforcement, prosecution, counseling and legal services in one location. The sponsor said it would neither mandate centers nor create a state agency. In support, the sponsor said domestic violence calls account for 29% of officer line-of-duty deaths and that some places with these centers had seen domestic violence homicides fall by as much as 90%. No questions or scheduling decision followed.

4. House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026

   From 0:20:37 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1696

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 1283 on Tuesday’s calendar under modified rules. The motion was seconded, no opposition was heard, and there was no discussion of the bill’s contents.

5. House floor session, March 3, 2026 (legislative day 26, PM)

   From 6:02:05 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Postponed)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair announced that HB 1283 would be postponed to the next legislative day. There was no substantive discussion.

6. House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, PM, part 2)

   From 2:48:32 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Postponed)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair announced that HB 1283 would be postponed until the next legislative day, Friday. No substantive discussion occurred.

7. House floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, PM, part 1)

   From 0:29:24 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2099

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would authorize local governments, district attorneys and nonprofits to establish family justice centers bringing police, prosecutors, advocates, counseling, legal aid and other services together. The sponsor said survivors currently face repeated trips and repeated retelling of abuse, sometimes causing them to abandon efforts to get help. Citing the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, the sponsor reported 42,184 family-violence incidents in 2024, a 12% increase. The sponsor described existing efforts in Waycross, Macon and Cobb County and cited homicide reductions in other communities using the model. The sponsor said participation would be voluntary, with no new state agency or unfunded local mandate, and that the bill would protect confidentiality and avoid unintended evidence-disclosure obligations. Asked about oversight and performance measures, the sponsor said the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council would oversee centers and administer funding. Another member described supportive committee testimony from law enforcement and attorneys. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 163-0, with one member excused from voting.

8. Senate Public Safety Committee, March 18, 2026

   From 0:23:44 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1283 would establish a statewide framework for family justice centers, bringing law enforcement, prosecutors, advocates and support services together so survivors need not visit multiple offices or repeatedly describe abuse. Citing the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, the sponsor reported 42,184 family-violence incidents in 2024, up 12%, and cited homicide reductions associated with centers elsewhere. Asked about costs, the sponsor said participation would be voluntary, no new state agency or local funding mandate would be created, and the bill requested no funding. A second member questioned funding sources and whether victim-assistance money reached victims. The sponsor clarified that the bill dedicated no money and provided a framework using existing resources. A Waycross Police Department captain supported the bill, saying coordinated services improved investigations and survivor participation. The captain reported 153 centers in 43 states and first-year service demand in Waycross more than 300% above projections. The Bibb County sheriff said the bill would reduce travel burdens and clarify that participating agencies retained their respective records rules. A Georgia Commission on Family Violence representative affirmed the organization’s support. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

9. Senate Rules Committee, March 20, 2026

   From 0:22:45 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: Although the bill was not on the consideration list, the chair allowed a brief presentation. The sponsor said it would provide a structure for cities, other local governments and agencies to place domestic violence, child abuse and sexual abuse resources together in one location. No substantive questions or calendar decision followed.

10. Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026

    From 0:36:15 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1283 would create voluntary family justice centers to help survivors of abuse and rape leave abusive situations. The sponsor argued that the centers would save survivors' and officers' lives, saying domestic violence calls accounted for about 29 percent of law enforcement deaths. A member later selected it, and the committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.

11. Senate floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 1)

    From 7:34:38 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1283 would authorize family justice centers where victims of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and trafficking could obtain services in one place. The sponsor argued that fragmented support systems could retraumatize survivors and said the bill provided no funding. An amendment presenter proposed extending physical rape kit retention from one year to ten years. A further amendment reduced the proposed period from 30 years to ten. One senator questioned storage burdens and how retention related to prosecution deadlines. Another cited a rape and murder solved after 42 years using DNA and urged preservation of evidence. The amendment presenter clarified that the ten-year limit concerned physical kits, not DNA profiles in CODIS. A third senator said prosecution deadlines varied and that some rape cases had no deadline. The Senate adopted both amendments without objection and passed the bill as amended, 48-0.

12. House floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, AM)

    From 1:30:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub)

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The clerk described HB 1283 as authorizing family justice centers. The sponsor said the bill addressed treatment of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, and that the Senate added a requirement to retain rape kits for 10 years so evidence would remain available for testing. The sponsor clarified that a separate amendment distributed to members belonged to another bill and was not being considered here. There were no questions. The House agreed to the Senate amendment, 170 to 0.

• Read aloud: House floor session, February 12, 2026 (legislative day 18), 0:48:44
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 17, 2026 (legislative day 19), 0:58:29
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23), 0:52:45
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 9, 2026 (legislative day 29), 0:27:15
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34), 0:41:31
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 20, 2026 (legislative day 35), 0:39:13

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