---
title: SB 464. Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies; federal immigration authorities from utilizing certain technologies to identify individuals for certain purposes; prohibit
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb464
cite_as: SB 464, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb464
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb464.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb464/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72867
date: 2026-02-05
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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index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb464.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 464
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-04
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Jaha Howard
- RaShaun Kemp
- Randal Mangham
- Michael Rhett
- Nikki Merritt
- Sheikh Rahman
- Nabilah Islam Parkes
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB464/2025
upstream_id: 2108186
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- immigration enforcement
- biometric surveillance
- law enforcement technology
- privacy
---
# SB 464. Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies; federal immigration authorities from utilizing certain technologies to identify individuals for certain purposes; prohibit
## Text
Senate Bill 464
By: Senators Howard of the 35th, Kemp of the 38th, Mangham of the 55th, Rhett of the 33rd,
Merritt of the 9th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions regarding law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to prohibit federal
immigration authorities from utilizing certain technologies to identify individuals for certain
purposes; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;
and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions regarding law enforcement officers and agencies, is amended by adding a new
Code section to read as follows:
"35-1-25.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Biometric data' means any unique physical representation, including, but not limited
to, fingerprints, voice prints, retina or iris images, or DNA profiles.
(2) 'Biometric surveillance technology' means a technology used for the identification
of an individual through the use of his or her biometric data.
(b) Federal immigration authorities shall not use biometric surveillance technology to
identify individuals for the purpose of verifying immigration status."
SECTION 2.
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.
A Georgia Senate bill would bar federal immigration authorities from using biometric surveillance technology, such as fingerprint or facial scans, to check people's immigration status.
### Plain-language summary
Currently Georgia law does not address whether federal immigration officials can use biometric identification tools within the state for immigration enforcement. This bill adds a new section to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A. Title 35, Chapter 1) that defines 'biometric data' and 'biometric surveillance technology' and then bars federal immigration authorities from using that technology to identify people for the purpose of checking their immigration status.
The definitions are broad: biometric data covers fingerprints, voice prints, retina or iris images, and DNA profiles, and biometric surveillance technology means any technology that uses that data to identify someone. The bill has just two sections: the new prohibition itself, and a standard clause repealing any conflicting laws. It does not set penalties or an enforcement mechanism for violations, and no separate effective date is given beyond the Act's general effective date.
### What it does
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. ยง 35-1-25) prohibiting federal immigration authorities from using biometric surveillance technology to verify a person's immigration status.
- Defines 'biometric data' broadly to include fingerprints, voice prints, retina or iris images, and DNA profiles.
- Defines 'biometric surveillance technology' as any technology used to identify a person through their biometric data.
- Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new prohibition.
### Who it affects
Federal immigration authorities operating in Georgia are directly restricted by this bill. It also affects Georgia residents and others in the state whose biometric data, such as fingerprints or iris scans, could otherwise be used to check immigration status.
### Why it matters
If enacted, the bill would limit one specific tool, biometric identification technology, that federal immigration agencies could use to determine someone's immigration status while operating in Georgia, potentially affecting how such enforcement is carried out day to day.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code section 35-1-25 to Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
- Subsection (a) defines 'biometric data' and 'biometric surveillance technology' for purposes of this Code section.
- Subsection (b) states that federal immigration authorities shall not use biometric surveillance technology to identify individuals for the purpose of verifying immigration status.
- Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws in conflict with the Act.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-04)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-05)
- Sponsors: Jaha Howard, RaShaun Kemp, Randal Mangham, Michael Rhett, Nikki Merritt, Sheikh Rahman, Nabilah Islam Parkes
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72867
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb464.md?full=1