Georgia CommonsHouse · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 967: Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; provide financial assistance to law enforcement agencies to equip certain motor vehicles with bullet-resistant features; establish grant program
Last action March 6, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred
House Bill 967 would let Georgia's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council run a grant program that helps local law enforcement agencies pay to add bullet-resistant windows and door panels to patrol vehicles.
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 Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Currently, Georgia law does not set up a dedicated state grant program for outfitting police vehicles with bullet-resistant features. This bill adds a new section to the law governing the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (O.C.G.A. § 35-6A-18) authorizing the council to create such a program. Under the bill, the council could award grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase and install bullet-resistant windshields, side windows, rear windows, and door panels on vehicles used by peace officers on duty. Funding would depend on the General Assembly actually appropriating money for it. The council would have to set up rules covering who can apply, how to apply, how much grants can be, and how applications are reviewed and monitored. Agencies that receive grant money would have to show the council proof of purchase and installation once they spend the funds.
What the bill does
- Creates a new state grant program letting the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council fund bullet-resistant upgrades to police vehicles.
- Limits eligible upgrades to bullet-resistant windshields, side windows, rear windows, and door panels installed on vehicles used by peace officers.
- Requires the council to establish eligibility criteria, application procedures, grant amount guidelines, evaluation procedures, and compliance monitoring.
- Requires grant recipients to submit proof of purchase and installation to the council after spending the funds.
- Makes the whole program dependent on the General Assembly separately appropriating money for it, meaning the program could exist in law without receiving funding.
Who it affects
Local law enforcement agencies across Georgia and the peace officers who drive patrol vehicles would be eligible to apply for and benefit from the grants. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council would take on new administrative duties to run the program.
Why it matters
If funded, the program could give police departments a new state funding source to armor patrol cars, potentially improving officer protection during shootings or ambushes. But because funding depends on future budget appropriations, the practical effect hinges on whether lawmakers actually allocate money to it.
Key provisions
- Adds new Code Section 35-6A-18 to Chapter 6A of Title 35, governing the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
- Subsection (a) defines 'peace officer' by reference to the existing definition in O.C.G.A. § 35-8-2.
- Subsection (b) authorizes the council to create the grant program, explicitly conditioned on funding through General Assembly appropriations.
- Subsection (c) requires the council to set eligibility criteria, application procedures, grant amount guidelines, evaluation procedures, and monitoring rules.
- Subsection (d) requires grant recipients to provide proof of purchase and installation to the council after spending grant funds.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“The council shall be authorized to establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to law enforcement agencies to equip motor vehicles used by peace officers with certain bullet-resistant components.”
“subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, for grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase and install bullet-resistant windshields, side windows, rear windows, and door panels”
Discussed in meetings (9)
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 Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, February 11, 2026
From 0:28:53 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would create a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council grant program for ballistic glass in law enforcement vehicles, available only when lawmakers provide funding. The Paulding County sheriff supported it, describing a deputy’s fatal shooting and saying protected vehicles could provide cover. A witness for Operation Safe Shield described a similar Texas program, saying $5 million in funding drew $60 million in requests. Asked about denials and protection standards, the witness cited limited funds and application problems, and described handgun-rated glass that could also stop some rifle fire, but not unlimited hits. The witness estimated less than $10,000 per vehicle for the windshield, front side windows and protective door panels, adding about 200 pounds. A Texas sheriff’s deputy said ballistic glass saved their life when eight rifle rounds struck their windshield during an ambush. A Dana Safety Supply witness said protection could allow officers to retreat and reduce further violence. Asked whether rural agencies and departments with smaller budgets would receive priority, the sponsor said the council would set grant criteria. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Rules Committee, February 17, 2026
From 0:31:32 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would create a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council grant program for local sheriff's offices and police departments to install ballistic windshields in patrol vehicles. No questions or decision followed.
House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, PM, part 2)
From 0:26:41 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1924
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 967 would establish a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council grant program to help local law enforcement agencies install ballistic glass in police vehicles, if lawmakers provide money in the future. Asked whether the bill had a fiscal note, the sponsor said it did not and that no funding was being requested at this time. The House passed the bill 155–1.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
From 0:34:33 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1881
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee added HB 967 to the day's supplemental calendar under modified structured rules without stated opposition. No provisions were discussed.
Senate Public Safety Committee, March 16, 2026
From 0:06:56 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair assigned HB 967 to the First Responders Subcommittee and said a hearing would be scheduled. There was no presentation, debate or vote on the bill.
- Read aloud: House floor session, January 15, 2026 (legislative day 4), 0:42:32
- Read aloud: House floor session, January 16, 2026 (legislative day 5), 0:58:09
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 12, 2026 (legislative day 18), 1:02:01
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1), 0:38:30
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Jordan Ridley (R, HD-22)
- Jason Ridley (R, HD-6)
- Mitchell Horner (R, HD-3)
- Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)
- Johnny Chastain (R, HD-7)
- Demetrius Douglas (D, HD-78)
Votes
- House voteMarch 4, 2026
155 yea, 1 nay (9 not voting, 12 excused)
Topics
- police funding
- law enforcement equipment
- public safety grants
- vehicle safety
- Criminal Justice Coordinating Council