---
title: SB 159. Criminal Procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has intellectual disability; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb159
cite_as: SB 159, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb159
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb159.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb159/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70283
date: 2025-02-13
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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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb159.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 159
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-12
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
  - Kim Jackson
  - Josh McLaurin
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB159/2025
upstream_id: 1968167
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - death penalty
  - criminal procedure
  - intellectual disability
  - capital cases
  - court trials
---

# SB 159. Criminal Procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has intellectual disability; provide

## Text

Senate Bill 159
By: Senators Jackson of the 41st and McLaurin of the 14th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure,
so as to provide for pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is
sought when the accused has intellectual disability; to provide for a definition; to provide for
notice of intent to claim intellectual disability; to provide for pretrial determination of
intellectual disability; to provide for verdicts; to provide for capital case procedures; to
provide for reports investigating reversible error; to provide for a standard of review; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, is
amended by adding a new Code section to Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 7, relating to
insanity and mental incompetency, to read as follows:
<ins>"17-7-128.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'intellectual disability' shall have the same
meaning as set forth in Code Section 17-7-131.
</ins>
<ins>(b) In criminal cases involving a capital offense for which the death penalty is sought, the
accused may file a pretrial notice of intent to raise a claim of intellectual disability. Such
notice shall state that the accused has intellectual disability.
(c) A pretrial hearing on the issue of whether the defendant has intellectual disability:
(1) May be conducted upon motion of the defendant, at the discretion of the court; or
(2) Shall be conducted upon joint consent motion of the defendant and the state to
proceed with a pretrial hearing to determine if the accused has intellectual disability.
(d) Such pretrial determination of intellectual disability shall be made by the court sitting
as the finder of fact.
(e) The defendant shall have the burden of production and persuasion to demonstrate
intellectual disability by a preponderance of the evidence and if such pretrial determination
does not find the defendant to have intellectual disability, he or she shall not be precluded
from raising such issue in further proceedings.
(f) If the defendant is found to have intellectual disability, the court shall bar the state from
seeking the death penalty. If the court does not find that the defendant has intellectual
disability, the defendant may raise the issue of his or her alleged intellectual disability as
set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Code Section 17-7-131.
(g) Either party may seek immediate review of the trial court's determination regarding
intellectual disability, as provided in subsection (b) of Code Section 5-6-34."
</ins> SECTION 2.
Said title is further amended by revising subsections (b) and (c) and adding a new paragraph
to subsection (j) of Code Section 17-7-131, relating to proceedings upon plea of insanity or
mental incompetency at time of crime, to read as follows:
"(b)(1) In all cases in which the defense of insanity, mental illness, or intellectual
disability is interposed, the jury, or the court if tried by it, shall find whether the
defendant is:
(A) Guilty;
(B) Not guilty;
(C) Not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the crime;
(D) Guilty but mentally ill at the time of the crime, but the finding of guilty but
mentally ill shall be made only in felony cases; or
(E) Guilty but with intellectual disability, but the finding of intellectual disability shall
be made only in felony cases.
<ins>(2)(A)</ins> A plea of guilty but mentally ill at the time of the crime or a plea of guilty but
with intellectual disability shall not be accepted until the defendant has undergone
examination by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist and the court has examined the
psychological or psychiatric reports, held a hearing on the issue of the defendant's
mental condition, and is satisfied that there is a factual basis that the defendant was
mentally ill at the time of the offense or has intellectual disability to which the plea is
entered.
<del>(2.1)(B)</del> A plea of not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the crime shall not be
accepted and the defendant adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity by the court
without a jury until the defendant has undergone examination by a licensed
psychologist or psychiatrist and the court has examined the psychological or psychiatric
reports, has held a hearing on the issue of the defendant's mental condition, and the
court is satisfied that the defendant was insane at the time of the crime according to the
criteria <del>of</del> <ins>set forth in</ins> Code Section 16-3-2 or 16-3-3.
<ins>(C) In criminal cases involving a capital offense for which the death penalty is sought
and a pretrial notice of intent to raise a claim of intellectual disability has been filed, the
procedure set forth in Code Section 17-7-128 shall be followed.
(3)(D)</ins> In all cases <ins>and applicable criminal trials</ins> in which the defense of insanity,
mental illness, or intellectual disability is interposed, the trial judge shall charge the
jury, in addition to other appropriate charges, the following:
<del>(A)(i)</del> <ins>'I</ins> <del>I</del> charge you that should you find the defendant not guilty by reason of
insanity at the time of the crime, the defendant will be committed to a state mental
health facility until such time, if ever, that the court is satisfied that he or she should
be released pursuant to <del>law.</del> <ins>law';
</ins> <del>(B)(ii)</del> <ins>'I</ins> <del>I</del> charge you that should you find the defendant guilty but mentally ill at the
time of the crime, the defendant will be placed in the custody of the Department of
Corrections which will have responsibility for the evaluation and treatment of the
mental health needs of the defendant, which may include, at the discretion of the
Department of Corrections, referral for temporary hospitalization at a facility operated
by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. <ins>Disabilities';
and
(C)(iii) 'I</ins> <del>I</del> charge you that should you find the defendant guilty but with intellectual
disability, the defendant will be placed in the custody of the Department of
Corrections, which will have responsibility for the evaluation and treatment of the
mental health needs of the defendant, which may include, at the discretion of the
Department of Corrections, referral for temporary hospitalization at a facility operated
by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental <del>Disabilities.</del> <ins>Disabilities'.
</ins> (c) <ins>Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection,</ins> <del>In</del> all criminal trials in any of
the courts of this state wherein an accused shall contend that he or she was insane, mentally
ill, or <del>intellectually disabled</del> <ins>had intellectual disability</ins> at the time the act or acts charged
against him or her were committed, the trial judge shall instruct the jury that they may
consider, in addition to verdicts of 'guilty' and 'not guilty,' the additional verdicts of 'not
guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the crime,' 'guilty but mentally ill at the time of
the crime,' and 'guilty but with intellectual disability.' <ins>The defendant may:
</ins> (1) <del>The defendant may be</del> <ins>Be</ins> found 'not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the
crime' if he or she meets the criteria of Code Section 16-3-2 or 16-3-3 at the time of the
commission of the crime. If the court or jury should make such finding, it shall so
specify in its verdict.
(2) <del>The defendant may be</del> <ins>Be</ins> found 'guilty but mentally ill at the time of the crime' if the
jury, or court acting as trier of facts, finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant
is guilty of the crime charged and was mentally ill at the time of the commission of the
crime. If the court or jury should make such finding, it shall so specify in its verdict.
(3) <ins>Be guilty but with intellectual disability if the jury, or court acting as trier of facts,
both convicts the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt and finds by a preponderance of
the evidence that the defendant has intellectual disability.</ins> <del>The defendant may be found
'guilty but with intellectual disability' if the jury, or court acting as trier of facts, finds
beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged and is with
intellectual disability.</del> If the court or jury should make such finding, it shall so specify
in its verdict.
<ins>(4) After July 1, 2025, when the death penalty has been sought and the defendant
contends he or she has intellectual disability, the court shall instruct the jury that it shall
consider whether it finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the
crime charged. If the jury convicts the defendant of such capital crime, the defendant
shall then present evidence regarding his or her alleged intellectual disability. The State
shall have the opportunity to present evidence in response, and the defendant may offer
evidence in rebuttal. Following the presentation of evidence, the court shall instruct the
jury that if the jury finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has
intellectual disability, such jury shall enter a separate finding of 'intellectual disability'
and so specify in its verdict. If the jury does not find by a preponderance of the evidence
that the defendant has intellectual disability, such jury shall enter a separate finding of 'no
intellectual disability.' When the jury returns a finding of 'no intellectual disability,' there
shall be a capital sentencing proceeding as provided for in Code Section 17-10-30."
</ins>
<ins>"(3) In the trial of any case in which the death penalty is sought which commences on or
after July 1, 2025, should the judge find in accepting a plea of guilty but with intellectual
disability, or the jury or court find in its verdict that the defendant is guilty of the crime
charged but with intellectual disability, the death penalty shall not be imposed and the
court shall sentence the defendant to imprisonment for life."
</ins> SECTION 3.
Said title is further amended by revising subsection (d) of Code Section 17-7-171, relating
to time for a demand for speedy trial in capital cases, discharge and acquittal when no trial
held before end of two court terms of demand, counting of terms in cases in which death
penalty is sought, and special pleas of incompetency, as follows:
"(d) If a defendant files <ins>a pretrial notice of intent to raise a claim of intellectual disability
pursuant to Code Section 17-7-128 or</ins> a special plea of incompetency to stand trial pursuant
to Code Section 17-7-130 or if the court, pursuant to Code Section 17-7-129, conducts a
trial on the competency of the defendant, the period of time during which such matter is
pending shall not be included in the computation of determining whether a demand for
speedy trial has been satisfied."
SECTION 4.
Said title is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 17-10-35.1, relating
to the review of pretrial proceedings when death penalty is sought, reports investigating
reversible error, transmittal of reports to Supreme Court, orders regarding review, Attorney
General assistance, res judicata, applicability, and waiver of rights, as follows:
"(b) The reports of the trial judge, prosecutor, <ins>prosecuting attorney,</ins> and defendant under
subsection (a) of this Code section shall be in the form of standard questionnaires prepared
and supplied by the Supreme Court. Such questionnaires shall be designed to determine
whether there is arguably any existence of reversible error with respect to any of the
following matters:
(1) Any proceedings with respect to change of venue;
(2) Any proceedings with respect to recusal of the trial judge;
(3) Any challenge to the jury array;
(4) Any motion to suppress evidence;
(5) Any motion for psychiatric or other medical evaluation; <del>and
</del> <ins>(6) Any proceedings with respect to a pretrial determination of intellectual disability; and
</ins> <del>(6)(7)</del> Any other matter deemed appropriate by the Supreme Court.
SECTION 5.
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.

Senate Bill 159 would create a pretrial process letting defendants in Georgia death penalty cases prove they have intellectual disability before trial, which would bar prosecutors from seeking execution if proven.

### Plain-language summary

Georgia law already lets juries return a verdict of 'guilty but with intellectual disability' in capital cases, but that finding currently happens only after a full guilt trial. Senate Bill 159 adds an earlier option: a defendant facing the death penalty can file a pretrial notice claiming intellectual disability, and a judge can hold a hearing before trial to decide the question. The defendant must prove intellectual disability by a preponderance of the evidence (meaning more likely than not). If the judge agrees, the state is barred from seeking the death penalty, though the defendant can still raise the issue again later if the pretrial hearing goes against them.
The bill also restructures how juries handle the issue when it goes to trial for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2025: juries first decide guilt, then hear separate evidence on intellectual disability before deciding whether to add that finding to the verdict, which would result in a life sentence instead of death. It also updates the standard forms used to check capital cases for legal errors to include this new pretrial process.

### What it does

- Creates a new pretrial hearing process (O.C.G.A. § 17-7-128) where a death-penalty defendant can ask a judge to decide before trial whether they have intellectual disability.
- Requires the defendant to prove intellectual disability by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely true than not) at that pretrial hearing.
- Bars the state from seeking the death penalty if the judge finds the defendant has intellectual disability at the pretrial stage.
- Restructures jury verdicts in capital trials starting July 1, 2025, so juries decide guilt first, then hear separate evidence on intellectual disability before a capital sentencing hearing.
- Requires that any guilty verdict combined with a finding of intellectual disability results in a life sentence rather than the death penalty.
- Adds pretrial intellectual disability hearings to the list of issues checked in the state's standard post-trial error review questionnaires for capital cases (O.C.G.A. § 17-10-35.1).

### Who it affects

The bill affects defendants charged with capital offenses where the death penalty is sought, particularly those who may have intellectual disability, along with prosecutors, trial judges, juries, and the Georgia Supreme Court's review process for capital cases.

### Why it matters

For defendants who may have intellectual disability, this bill could resolve that question before a lengthy capital trial, potentially removing the death penalty as an option early on. It also changes how juries evaluate the issue during trial, affecting sentencing outcomes in Georgia capital cases.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 adds new Code Section 17-7-128, allowing a pretrial notice and hearing on intellectual disability in death penalty cases, decided by the judge as fact-finder.
- Section 1 sets the defendant's burden of proof at pretrial hearings as a preponderance of the evidence and allows immediate appellate review of the judge's ruling.
- Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 17-7-131 to route capital cases with an intellectual disability claim through the new pretrial procedure and adds jury instructions for the 'guilty but with intellectual disability' verdict.
- Section 2 creates a new bifurcated trial procedure effective July 1, 2025, where juries decide guilt first, then hear separate evidence on intellectual disability before any capital sentencing proceeding.
- Section 2 requires a life sentence, not death, whenever a defendant is found guilty but with intellectual disability in a capital case filed on or after July 1, 2025.
- Section 3 excludes time spent on a pretrial intellectual disability claim from the calculation of speedy trial deadlines in capital cases.
- Section 4 adds pretrial intellectual disability proceedings to the standard error-review questionnaires the Georgia Supreme Court uses to check capital cases for reversible error.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2025-02-12)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2025-02-13)
- Sponsors: Kim Jackson, Josh McLaurin
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70283

> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb159.md?full=1