---
title: HB 920. Hate-Free Heroes Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb920
cite_as: HB 920, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb920
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb920.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb920/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72052
date: 2026-01-12
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb921.md
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb920.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 920
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-04-02
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Shea Roberts
- Samuel Park
- Anissa Jones
- Lynn Heffner
- L.C. Myles
- David Sampson
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB920/2025
upstream_id: 2019469
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- law enforcement hiring
- hate groups
- police background checks
- state militia
- public safety policy
---
# HB 920. Hate-Free Heroes Act; enact
## Text
House Bill 920
By: Representatives Roberts of the 52nd, Park of the 107th, Jones of the 143rd, Heffner of the
130th, Myles of the 126th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
employment and training of peace officers, so as to prohibit individuals who have been
members of hate groups from serving in law enforcement and the organized militia under
certain circumstances; to provide for definitions; to provide for enforcement and screening;
to provide for appeals; to provide for public reporting; to provide for related matters; to
provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; 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 "Hate-Free Heroes Act."
SECTION 2.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Public safety officials play a critical role in maintaining trust, security, and fairness in
diverse communities;
(2) Membership in hate groups undermines the principles of equality, dignity, and respect
required for such roles; and
(3) Prohibiting recent members of hate groups from serving in public safety positions
strengthens community trust and upholds democratic values.
SECTION 3.
Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and
training of peace officers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"35-8-8.1.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Hate group' means an organization that promotes or engages in hatred, violence, or
discrimination against individuals based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual
orientation, or other protected characteristics.
(2) 'State militia role' means any member of the organized militia as defined in Code
Section 38-2-2.
(3) 'Voluntary associate' means, with respect to a hate group's activities, active
participation, formal affiliation, financial support, or public endorsement.
(b)(1) Any person who has been a voluntary associate of a hate group within the past ten
years is prohibited from serving as a peace officer or in a state militia role.
(2) Any person currently serving as a peace officer or in a state militia role who is found
to have been a hate group member within the past ten years shall be subject to immediate
investigation and potential removal from his or her position.
(c) In addition to the requirements set forth in Code Section 35-8-8, all applicants for
peace officer roles and state militia roles shall undergo comprehensive background checks,
including screening for whether such applicants have been voluntary associates of a hate
group. The council shall oversee compliance of such screening requirements, establish and
maintain a list of identified hate groups, and update screening protocols as necessary.
(d)(1) An individual may appeal a finding of hate group affiliation by providing evidence
to the council demonstrating:
(A) His or her departure from the group and disavowal of its principles; and
(B) Actions taken to counteract or rectify harm caused by his or her past affiliation.
(2) The council shall have the discretion to approve appeals on a case-by-case basis.
(e) Annual reports detailing the enforcement of this Code section shall be published by the
council, including:
(1) The number of individuals denied peace officer roles and state militia roles based on
hate group affiliation;
(2) Appeals filed and outcomes of such cases; and
(3) Updates to the list of identified hate groups."
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would bar people who have belonged to a hate group in the past ten years from becoming peace officers or serving in the state's organized militia, with background checks and an appeals process.
### Plain-language summary
Currently, Georgia law does not specifically screen police officer or state militia applicants for past membership in hate groups. House Bill 920, called the Hate-Free Heroes Act, would add a new section to Georgia's peace officer training law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 8 of Title 35) that defines a hate group as an organization promoting hatred, violence, or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected traits.
Under the bill, anyone who has been a voluntary associate, meaning an active participant, formal member, financial supporter, or public endorser, of a hate group within the past ten years could not serve as a peace officer or in a state militia role. Current officers or militia members found to have such ties would face investigation and possible removal. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council would run background checks, maintain a list of identified hate groups, and publish annual enforcement reports. People flagged could appeal by showing they left the group and took steps to repair harm caused by their past involvement.
### What it does
- Bars anyone who was a voluntary associate of a hate group in the past ten years from serving as a peace officer or in Georgia's organized militia.
- Subjects current officers or militia members found to have recent hate group ties to investigation and possible removal from their position.
- Requires the council overseeing peace officer training to add hate group screening to background checks for all applicants.
- Directs the council to build and maintain a list of identified hate groups and update screening rules as needed.
- Creates an appeals process letting a flagged person show they left the group, disavowed it, and took action to repair harm caused.
- Requires the council to publish annual reports on denials, appeals and their outcomes, and updates to the hate group list.
### Who it affects
Applicants for law enforcement jobs and organized militia positions in Georgia, current peace officers and militia members, and the state council responsible for peace officer training and certification, which gains new screening, investigation, and reporting duties.
### Why it matters
If enacted, someone with recent hate group ties could be turned away from a policing or militia job, or removed from one they already hold, after an investigation. Applicants would face broader background checks, and the public would get yearly data on how often this affects hiring decisions.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 names the bill the 'Hate-Free Heroes Act.'
- Section 2 states legislative findings that hate group membership undermines trust required for public safety roles.
- Section 3 adds new Code Section 35-8-8.1, defining 'hate group,' 'state militia role,' and 'voluntary associate.'
- Subsection (b) bars voluntary associates of a hate group within the past ten years from serving as a peace officer or in a state militia role, and subjects current members with such ties to investigation and possible removal.
- Subsection (c) requires added background-check screening for applicants and puts the council in charge of maintaining a hate group list and screening protocols.
- Subsection (d) creates an appeals process for people who left a hate group and took steps to counteract harm from their past affiliation.
- Subsection (e) requires the council to publish annual reports on denials, appeals, and updates to the hate group list.
- Section 4 repeals conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-04-02)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-01-12)
- Sponsors: Shea Roberts, Samuel Park, Anissa Jones, Lynn Heffner, L.C. Myles, David Sampson
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72052
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb920.md?full=1