SB 42: Penalties for violating Code Sections 16-6-9 through 16-6-12; certain penalty provisions for the offense of prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering; repeal

Georgia law currently spells out criminal penalties for prostitution and related offenses, such as pimping, pandering, and keeping a place of prostitution, in one code section (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-13). That section has multiple subsections laying out different penalty rules. This bill removes subsection (b) of that code section entirely, a process the bill calls repealing and reserving, meaning the subsection number stays in place in the law but its content is deleted rather than replaced with something else. The bill's text does not restate what subsection (b) said, only that it is struck. The change would take effect as soon as the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without his signature, and any other Georgia laws that conflict with the change are also repealed.

• Repeals subsection (b) of Georgia's penalty law for prostitution and related offenses (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-13), removing whatever penalty rules it contained.
• Leaves the subsection number in place but empty (called 'repealing and reserving'), rather than renumbering the rest of the code section.
• Sets the effective date as the moment the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without his signature.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this change.

People charged with prostitution, pimping, pandering, or keeping a place of prostitution under Georgia law, along with prosecutors, defense attorneys, and courts that apply the penalty rules in O.C.G.A. § 16-6-13 when sentencing these offenses.

Because the penalty structure for these offenses is set out in this code section, removing one of its subsections changes what punishment rules apply going forward. Without the deleted text available, the practical effect on sentencing for those charged depends on what subsection (b) previously required.

• Section 1 repeals and reserves subsection (b) of O.C.G.A. § 16-6-13, the code section covering penalties for violating Georgia's prostitution, pimping, and pandering laws (O.C.G.A. §§ 16-6-9 through 16-6-12).
• Section 2 sets the effective date as approval by the Governor or the bill becoming law without his signature.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date
2. 2025-05-14Act 279
3. 2025-05-14Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-07Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-03-25House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-03-25House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-03House Second Readers (House)

• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)Primary sponsor
• Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-47)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-1)
• Max Burns (R, SD-23)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
• John Albers (R, SD-56)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
• John F. Kennedy (R, SD-18)
• Larry Walker, III (R, SD-20)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 27, 2025

   50 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 excused)

   PASSAGE: Senate Vote #100

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2025

   169 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 6 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #309

• prostitution law
• criminal penalties
• pimping and pandering
• Georgia criminal code