HB 421: Interstate Sexual Predator Prevention Act; enact

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Discussed in meetings (16)

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 Non-Civil Committee, February 17, 2026

   From 2:27:38 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute addressing enticement of children for indecent purposes and participation by parents, guardians or others responsible for a child. The sponsor said the substitute would apply regardless of whether travel occurred across state lines, county lines or locally, and would punish responsible adults who participated in or knowingly allowed the conduct. The chair said the substitute addressed conflicting language identified after subcommittee review. A Frontline Policy witness supported the original version, which the witness said would separately criminalize interstate travel to molest a child or solicit a parent's consent to abuse. The witness said Georgia's Internet Crimes Against Children task force had arrested more than 178 people in relevant undercover operations since 2014. The witness opposed the substitute, arguing that it could allow people otherwise chargeable as parties to child molestation to receive a lesser charge or sentence. A motion to pass and a second were made, but no final vote occurred. After a pause, the chair adjourned and said the bill would return to full committee Thursday.

2. House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 23, 2026

   From 0:14:15 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute for HB 421 that would add traveling from another state for the purpose of child molestation to the criminal code. The sponsor described the language as filling an omission and also discussed taking a child under 16 to another place for that purpose. No substantive questions or opposition were recorded. The chair initially delayed voting until enough members were present. When the proposal returned, the sponsor again described criminal penalties for interstate travel for child molestation or indecent acts. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote and sent it to Rules.

3. House floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24)

   From 5:30:10 · 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 consideration of HB 421 was postponed until the next legislative day. No substantive discussion or vote was shown.

4. House Rules Committee, February 25, 2026

   From 0:21:02 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1580

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair called up HB 421 for the afternoon's supplemental calendar under modified structure. Following a motion and second, the chair declared it added without stated opposition. No provisions were discussed.

5. House floor session, February 26, 2026 (legislative day 25, PM)

   From 1:01:32 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair announced that HB 421 would be postponed until the next legislative day. No substantive discussion occurred.

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

   From 6:02:00 · 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 421 would be postponed to the next legislative day. There was no substantive discussion.

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

   From 2:48:27 · 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 421 would be postponed until the next legislative day, Friday. No substantive discussion occurred.

8. House floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, PM, part 2)

   From 1:48:49 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2171

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 421 would expand the offense of enticing a child for indecent purposes to include traveling from another state for child molestation or indecent acts involving a child under 16. The sponsor described a case in which an adult traveled to a teenager's home after online contact, but charges were dismissed because Georgia law did not cover the conduct before an indecent act occurred. The sponsor said neighboring states already address such travel. One member asked whether the bill would allow prosecution of out-of-state predators, and the sponsor agreed. Another asked whether an existing close-in-age exception would apply. The sponsor responded that the bill changes only the specified provision and leaves other law untouched. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 164-0.

9. Senate Judiciary Committee, March 16, 2026

   From 0:31:28 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 421 would expand the offense of enticing a child for indecent purposes to cover travel from another state for child molestation or indecent acts involving a child under 16. The sponsor described a case in which an adult contacted a teenager online and traveled to the teenager's bedroom, but charges were dismissed because of a gap in Georgia law. A committee member asked whether existing reduced penalties for certain close-in-age cases would still apply. Legislative counsel said they appeared to remain applicable, describing the existing age limits. A Georgia Baptist Mission Board witness supported the bill as a child-abuse prevention measure. A second witness described an attempted trafficking incident involving the witness's family, supported the bill, and suggested adding a reference to an existing definition of indecency. No amendment adopting that suggestion was offered. A Frontline Policy Council witness said the bill would help law enforcement intervene before harm occurred. The committee unanimously recommended passage.

10. Senate Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

    From 0:40:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would add traveling from another state for child molestation or indecent acts to Georgia's child-enticing law. The sponsor described a case in which an out-of-state suspect was released because the intended act had not occurred, and said the suspect later committed similar crimes elsewhere. The sponsor said a local sheriff had pursued the change for several years and that Florida had language covering travel. No substantive questions or scheduling decision followed.

11. Senate Rules Committee, March 23, 2026

    From 0:20:08 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 421 would add language making travel from another state to Georgia to molest a child an offense under the covered law. No questions or vote followed.

12. Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026

    From 0:31:57 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 421 would add language making it unlawful to travel from another state to Georgia for child molestation. After lunch, the vice chair nominated it for the final calendar slot, describing difficulties charging out-of-state sexual predators. Members held an informal vote in which each member could support two different bills. After clarifying the tally, the chair recorded five votes for HB 421 and selected it. The committee then unanimously approved the full calendar containing it.

• Read aloud: House floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23), 0:53:52
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 9, 2026 (legislative day 29), 0:26:05
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 0:32:16
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34), 0:43:13

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