HB 1596: No Evidence Ignored Act; enact

Georgia law does not currently set clear rules for how forensic database matches, such as DNA or fingerprint hits from systems like CODIS, must be shared with prosecutors or acted on once a case has already led to a conviction. This bill, called the No Evidence Ignored Act, adds a new article to the law governing the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (O.C.G.A. Title 35, Chapter 3) to close that gap. The bureau would have to send hit reports to the law enforcement agency and prosecutor's office tied to a case, plus a monthly summary list. Prosecutors would then have 30 days to determine whether a hit involves an already-convicted person, and if so, whether it confirms the conviction or is potentially exculpatory (meaning it points away from the convicted person). Potentially exculpatory hits trigger notice to the convicted person, victims, and innocence organizations within another 30 days. The bureau and prosecutors must also file annual public reports on hits and outcomes by February 28 each year. The rules do not apply if they would violate federal law or block access to a forensic database.

• Requires the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to send forensic database hit reports (DNA, fingerprint, and similar matches) to the law enforcement agency and prosecutor's office tied to each case.
• Requires the bureau to send prosecutors a monthly list of all forensic hits reported to them the prior month.
• Requires prosecutors to decide within 30 days whether a hit involves a case with an existing conviction, and if so, whether the hit confirms or undermines that conviction.
• Requires prosecutors to notify convicted people, victims, and innocence organizations within 30 days when a hit is potentially exculpatory, meaning it points to someone other than the convicted person.
• Requires the bureau and each prosecutor's office to publish annual reports on the number of hits received and actions taken on them, due by February 28 each year.
• Exempts the new requirements if they would violate federal law or interfere with an agency's access to a forensic database system.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Attorney General's office, and local district attorneys would all take on new duties. Crime victims, people already convicted of crimes, defense attorneys, and innocence organizations operating in Georgia would receive new notifications and updates under the bill.

People convicted of crimes could learn sooner if new forensic evidence points to someone else, which could help identify wrongful convictions. Crime victims would get more consistent updates when new DNA or fingerprint matches surface, and prosecutors would face firm deadlines and public reporting requirements for how they handle such evidence.

• New Code Section 35-3-210 defines key terms including 'forensic database,' 'hit,' 'conviction confirmatory,' 'potentially exculpatory,' and 'innocence organization.'
• New Code Section 35-3-211 requires the bureau to report each forensic hit to the submitting law enforcement agency and the prosecutor with jurisdiction, plus a monthly hit list.
• New Code Section 35-3-212 gives prosecutors 30 days to classify a hit and, for cases with a conviction, sets a further 30-day window to notify the convicted person, victims, and innocence organizations if the hit is potentially exculpatory.
• New Code Section 35-3-212 also requires prosecutors to notify the bureau when a hit is conviction confirmatory and allows agencies to skip victim notice if the victim previously opted out of updates.
• New Code Section 35-3-213 requires both the bureau and prosecutorial agencies to file detailed annual reports on hits and case outcomes by February 28, which the bureau must make public.
• New Code Section 35-3-214 exempts the article's requirements where they would violate federal law or substantially interfere with access to a forensic database system.

1. 2026-03-27House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-23House Hopper (House)

• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)Primary sponsor

• criminal justice
• DNA evidence
• wrongful convictions
• prosecutors
• victims rights