Georgia CommonsHB 626: Criminal procedure; extend retention period of evidence of sexual assault when victim elects not to immediately report assault
Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action March 4, 2026 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
The House Committee on Judiciary, Non Civil offers the following substitute to HB 626:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 17-5-71 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preservation of evidence, so as to extend the retention period of evidence of sexual assault when the victim chooses not to immediately report the assault; to provide for a short title; 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 "Stephanie Colquitt-Shurman Act of 2026."
SECTION 2.
Code Section 17-5-71 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preservation of evidence, is amended by revising subsection (b) as follows: "(b) If the victim chooses not to report the alleged sexual assault to law enforcement at the time of evidence collection, the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction shall maintain any physical evidence collected as a result of such alleged sexual assault that contains biological material, including, but not limited to, stains, fluids, or hair samples that relate to the identity of the perpetrator of the alleged sexual assault, for not less than 12 months 30 years from the date any such physical evidence is collected."
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.