SB 255: General Assembly; authorization of statutory investigatory powers to certain committees of the General Assembly; codify a process

Georgia's legislature has long had some ability to investigate matters through its committees, but this bill adds a specific new law, O.C.G.A. section 28-1-17, laying out exactly how that works. It lets the Senate or House, through their own rules or a resolution, authorize a committee (or a joint committee of both chambers) to use investigatory powers already described elsewhere in Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 45-15-19). Once authorized, a committee could administer oaths, require witnesses to testify, demand documents, take depositions, and issue subpoenas. If someone refuses to comply with a subpoena, the committee could ask a superior court to hold that person in contempt. The bill also creates a process for keeping investigation materials confidential when the authorizing rules call for it, including special court procedures for confidential subpoena requests. It states clearly that it does not take away any power the General Assembly already has, and it does not affect investigations or subpoenas that happened before the law takes effect. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Creates a new Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 28-1-17, allowing the Senate or House to authorize committees to use existing investigatory powers found in O.C.G.A. § 45-15-19.
• Gives authorized committees the power to put witnesses under oath, require testimony, demand documents, take depositions, and issue subpoenas.
• Lets a committee ask a superior court to hold a person in contempt if that person refuses to obey a committee subpoena.
• Sets up a confidentiality process for investigation materials when the committee's authorizing rules call for it, including special court steps for confidential subpoena applications.
• States that nothing in the bill limits any authority, immunity, or power the General Assembly or its committees already had, and it does not disturb past investigations or subpoenas.

Members and committees of the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives, witnesses called to testify or produce documents in legislative investigations, superior courts asked to enforce subpoenas, and anyone who might refuse to comply with a legislative committee subpoena.

The bill gives legislative committees a clearer, codified path to compel testimony and documents and to seek court enforcement against people who refuse, while also setting rules for keeping some investigation materials confidential, changes that could affect how legislative inquiries into public or private matters are conducted and enforced.

• New Code Section 28-1-17(a) lets either chamber, or both jointly, authorize committees to exercise investigatory powers under O.C.G.A. § 45-15-19 through rules or resolution.
• Subsection (b) grants authorized committees power to administer oaths, compel testimony and document production, take depositions, and issue subpoenas served under O.C.G.A. § 24-13-24.
• Subsection (c) allows confidential treatment of investigation materials when the committee's authorizing rules or resolution provide for it.
• Subsection (d) creates a court process for contempt when a subpoena is disobeyed, and a special confidential procedure when a subpoena application requests confidentiality, giving the committee chairperson the choice to abandon the subpoena or accept public disclosure.
• Subsection (e) preserves all existing General Assembly authority, immunity, privilege, and power and exempts prior investigations and subpoenas from the new law.
• Section 2 makes the law effective immediately upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without signature.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date
2. 2025-05-14Act 314
3. 2025-05-14Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-04-04Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2025-04-02House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2025-04-02House Third Readers (House)
8. 2025-03-27House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)Primary sponsor
• Rob Leverett (R, HD-123)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   33 yea, 23 nay

   PASSAGE: Senate Vote #183

2. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2025

   91 yea, 67 nay (3 not voting, 19 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #402

3. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

   31 yea, 22 nay (0 not voting, 3 excused)

   AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE: Senate Vote #451

• legislative investigations
• subpoena power
• government transparency
• General Assembly rules