---
title: SB 3. Prosecuting Attorneys; convictions for district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, deputy district attorneys; provide additional qualifications
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb3
cite_as: SB 3, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb3
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb3.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb3/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69276
date: 2025-01-14
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/sb3.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 3
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-01-13
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Greg Dolezal
- Brandon Beach
- Randy Robertson
- Larry Walker
- Ben Watson
- Blake Tillery
- Billy Hickman
- Kay Kirkpatrick
- Bill Cowsert
- Frank Ginn
- Russ Goodman
- Drew Echols
- Sam Watson
- Max Burns
- Timothy Bearden
- Brian Strickland
- Lee Anderson
- Clint Dixon
- Shawn Still
- Bo Hatchett
- Marty Harbin
- Colton Moore
- John Kennedy
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB3/2025
upstream_id: 1916658
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- district attorneys
- criminal justice
- pardons
- legal qualifications
- prosecutors
---
# SB 3. Prosecuting Attorneys; convictions for district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, deputy district attorneys; provide additional qualifications
## Text
Senate Bill 3
By: Senators Dolezal of the 27th, Beach of the 21st, Robertson of the 29th, Walker III of the
20th, Watson of the 1st and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to general provisions regarding prosecuting attorneys, so as to provide additional
qualifications regarding convictions for district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, deputy
district attorneys, and other attorneys at law employed by district attorneys; to provide for
related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions regarding prosecuting attorneys, is amended by revising Code
Section 15-18-3, relating to qualifications for district attorneys, as follows:
"15-18-3.
(a) To be eligible to fill the office of district attorney, a person must:
(1) Have been a resident citizen of this state three years just preceding his or her election
or appointment;
(2) Permanently reside in the circuit at the time of his or her election or appointment;
(3) Have attained the age of 25 years;
(4) Have been duly admitted and licensed to practice law in the superior courts for at
least three years; and
(5) If previously disbarred from the practice of law, have been reinstated as provided by
law.
(b) Any person who solicits, accepts, or refuses to reject a pardon for any crime under the
laws of this state, any other state, or the United States shall not be eligible for election or
appointment to the office of district attorney nor to serve as a district attorney."
SECTION 2.
Said article is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 15-18-21, relating
to qualifications of attorneys and investigators employed by district attorney, as follows:
"(b)(1) Any assistant district attorney, deputy district attorney, or any other attorney at
law employed by the district attorney shall:
(A) Be be a member of the State Bar of Georgia,;
(B) Be admitted admitted to practice before the appellate courts of this state,;
(C) Serve shall serve at the pleasure of the district attorney;, and
(D) Have shall have such authority, powers, and duties as may be assigned by the
district attorney; and
(E) Not have been convicted of a felony under the laws of this state, any other state,
or the United States nor solicited, accepted, or refused to reject a pardon for a felony
under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United States.
(2) An assistant district attorney, deputy district attorney, or any other attorney at law
employed by a district attorney shall immediately vacate his or her position upon initial
conviction of a felony under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United States
or upon soliciting, accepting, or refusing to reject a pardon for a felony under the laws of
this state, any other state, or the United States."
SECTION 3.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
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.
Senate Bill 3 would add new eligibility rules for Georgia district attorneys and their staff attorneys, barring anyone convicted of a felony or who accepts a pardon for one from holding or keeping those jobs.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law already sets basic qualifications to become a district attorney, such as residency, age, and years practicing law. This bill adds a new disqualification: anyone who seeks, accepts, or does not refuse a pardon for any crime under Georgia law, another state's law, or federal law cannot be elected or appointed district attorney.
The bill also changes the rules for assistant district attorneys, deputy district attorneys, and other attorneys a district attorney employs. It adds a requirement that these attorneys not have been convicted of a felony or accepted a pardon for a felony. If one of these attorneys is convicted of a felony, or seeks or accepts a pardon for a felony, while employed, the bill requires them to immediately vacate their position. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it, or without his signature if it becomes law another way.
### What it does
- Adds a rule that anyone who solicits, accepts, or fails to reject a pardon for any crime cannot be elected or appointed district attorney.
- Requires assistant district attorneys, deputy district attorneys, and other attorneys employed by a district attorney to have never been convicted of a felony.
- Bars those same attorneys from having sought, accepted, or failed to reject a pardon for a felony.
- Requires an assistant district attorney, deputy district attorney, or other employed attorney to immediately vacate their position if convicted of a felony or if they accept a pardon for one while serving.
- Sets the effective date as the moment the Governor signs the bill, or its becoming law without his signature.
### Who it affects
Georgia's district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, deputy district attorneys, and other attorneys employed by district attorney offices across the state's judicial circuits. Voters and appointing officials who choose district attorneys are also affected, since the pool of eligible candidates would narrow.
### Why it matters
The bill would remove people with certain felony convictions or pardons from eligibility to serve as, or work under, a district attorney, and would force immediate removal from office if a conviction or pardon happens during employment. This changes who can hold or keep some of Georgia's most powerful law enforcement positions.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 15-18-3 to add subsection (b), barring anyone who solicits, accepts, or refuses to reject a pardon for any crime from election or appointment as district attorney.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 15-18-21(b) to require assistant district attorneys, deputy district attorneys, and other employed attorneys to not have felony convictions or felony pardons.
- Section 2 also adds a new paragraph requiring immediate vacation of the position upon a felony conviction or upon soliciting, accepting, or not refusing a felony pardon.
- Section 3 sets the effective date as approval by the Governor or the bill becoming law without his approval.
- Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-01-13)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2025-01-14)
- Sponsors: Greg Dolezal, Brandon Beach, Randy Robertson, Larry Walker, Ben Watson, Blake Tillery, Billy Hickman, Kay Kirkpatrick, Bill Cowsert, Frank Ginn, Russ Goodman, Drew Echols, Sam Watson, Max Burns, Timothy Bearden, Brian Strickland, Lee Anderson, Clint Dixon, Shawn Still, Bo Hatchett, Marty Harbin, Colton Moore, John Kennedy
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69276
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb3.md?full=1