Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 675: Crimes and offenses; criminal offenses related to material support of terrorism; provide
Last action February 18, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
A House bill would create a new Georgia crime for providing material support to terrorism or to foreign terrorist organizations, with penalties up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law does not currently have a state-level crime specifically targeting material support for terrorism, though federal law does. This bill would add a new article to Georgia's criminal code making it a felony to knowingly provide money, training, weapons, safe houses, false documents, personnel, or other resources (except medicine or religious materials) to someone planning an act of terrorism, or to a foreign group the federal government has designated as a terrorist organization. The bill defines key terms like 'act of terrorism,' 'material support or resources,' and 'designated foreign terrorist organization,' the last of which relies on federal designations under 8 U.S.C. Section 1189 and a 2025 executive order. It also covers attempts, conspiracies, and helping someone escape after committing the offense. People acting under lawful government authorization or attorneys providing legal defense services are exempted. The General Assembly states its intent that courts interpret these provisions consistent with existing federal terrorism-support law.
What the bill does
- Creates a new Georgia felony for knowingly providing material support or resources used to prepare for or carry out an act of terrorism, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
- Creates a separate felony for knowingly providing material support to a foreign group designated as a terrorist organization by the federal government, with the same penalty range.
- Criminalizes attempting or conspiring to commit either offense, and criminalizes helping someone conceal an escape after committing the material support offense.
- Defines 'material support or resources' broadly to include money, training, weapons, explosives, safe houses, false documents, and personnel, but excludes medicine and religious materials.
- Exempts people acting under lawful government or law enforcement authorization and attorneys providing legal defense services from prosecution under this article.
- States that Georgia courts should interpret these new provisions consistent with federal case law on similar federal terrorism-support statutes.
Who it affects
Anyone in Georgia who provides money, training, equipment, shelter, false documents, or personnel to a person planning terrorism or to a federally designated foreign terrorist organization; this could include private individuals, employees, and volunteers, while attorneys providing legal defense and authorized government agents are exempted.
Why it matters
The bill would give Georgia prosecutors state-level authority to charge material support for terrorism as a felony carrying up to 20 years in prison, separate from existing federal terrorism laws, potentially allowing state and local law enforcement to pursue such cases without relying solely on federal prosecution.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds Article 7 to Chapter 11 of Title 16, defining 'act of terrorism,' 'designated foreign terrorist organization,' 'material support or resources,' 'expert advice or assistance,' and 'training' (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-230(a)).
- Subsection (b) makes it a felony, punishable by up to 20 years and a $100,000 fine, to knowingly provide material support intended for use in an act of terrorism, or to conceal an escape or attempt/conspire to do so.
- Subsection (c) makes it a felony with the same penalties to knowingly provide material support to a group designated by the federal government as a foreign terrorist organization.
- Subsection (d) clarifies when providing 'personnel' counts as material support, based on working under the direction and control of a terrorist organization or individual.
- Subsection (e) exempts activity authorized by a government or law enforcement agency for a lawful purpose, and exempts attorneys providing legal defense services.
- Subsection (f) states legislative intent that the new offenses be interpreted consistent with federal case law under 18 U.S.C. Sections 2339A and 2339B.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“A person commits a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $100,000.00, or both, if the person: (1) Provides material support or resources or conceals or disguises the nature, location, source, or ownership of the material support or resources”
“A person who knowingly and intentionally provides material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, or attempts or conspires to do so, commits a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $100,000.00, or both.”
“'Material support or resources' means any property, tangible or intangible, or service, including currency or monetary instruments or financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safe houses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel, or transportation, except for medicine or religious materials.”
Discussed in meetings (3)
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.
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 17, 2026
From 1:19:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would create a state felony for providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, giving Georgia prosecutors authority similar to federal law. The sponsor confirmed that the language was unchanged from the version approved by the committee the previous year. One member questioned whether local prosecutors had sufficient resources and why a state offense was needed. The sponsor said Georgia might act sooner than federal authorities. Other members worried the language could reach domestic organizations, student organizing or lawful protest. One member specifically questioned language allowing knowledge of terrorist acts as an alternative to knowledge that an organization was federally designated. The sponsor repeatedly said the bill targeted designated foreign terrorist organizations. Another member explained that, under that member's reading, the organization must be designated, but the accused could know either of its designation or its terrorist activities. The sponsor agreed with that explanation. No public witness testified. With no amendments offered, the committee approved the bill by voice vote and sent it to the Rules Committee. No vote count was stated.
House Rules Committee, February 19, 2026
From 0:29:46 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 675 would create a state felony allowing district attorneys to prosecute material support connected to foreign terrorist organizations designated by the U.S. State Department. The sponsor argued state prosecution could address cases faster. One member questioned the need given existing federal law and asked about free-speech protections. The sponsor emphasized a knowing connection to terrorist groups but did not identify a Georgia case in which someone escaped prosecution. Another member supported giving the state direct enforcement authority. A third member questioned whether the terrorism definition matched federal law, who reviewed it and whether investigators had sufficient resources. The sponsor said the language aligned with federal law and was developed with the attorney general’s office. Asked for a delayed Georgia case, the sponsor mentioned an Alabama case involving Georgia but said details would need to be retrieved. The sponsor said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council had not testified but had expressed support. A final member asked about preventing violence, intimidation and coercion; the sponsor agreed those were intended aims. No vote was taken.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Brent Cox (R, HD-28)
- Lauren McDonald III (R, HD-26)
- Esther Panitch (D, HD-51)
- Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
- Rick Jasperse (R, HD-11)
Topics
- terrorism law
- criminal penalties
- Georgia criminal code
- material support
- public safety