SB 470: "Emergency & Public Safety Signal Protection Act"; enact

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Discussed in meetings (14)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. Senate Judiciary Committee, February 23, 2026

   From 0:22:42 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute to SB 470 creating crimes involving signal jammers. The sponsor described devices that can block alarms, cellular calls, GPS, Wi-Fi and emergency communications, and said criminals could use them during burglaries or home invasions. The sponsor said the substitute targets intentional interference with communications and includes felony penalties of one to seven years in prison and fines up to $10,000, with increasing fines elsewhere in the bill. The sponsor also described exceptions for authorized public-safety uses, including certain technologies at prisons and airports. An attorney for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation attended to answer questions but added no substantive testimony. No committee members asked questions, and no public witnesses signed up. The committee unanimously approved the bill by substitute.

2. Senate Rules Committee, February 25, 2026

   From 0:30:16 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would make all signal jammers illegal. No questions followed. The committee later unanimously included the bill on the floor calendar.

3. Senate floor session, February 26, 2026 (legislative day 25)

   From 3:36:24 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 470 would create felony offenses for possessing, using and distributing signal jammers, with increased penalties when public safety or critical infrastructure is targeted. The sponsor said the devices could disrupt cell phones, Wi-Fi, satellite communications, GPS and radio, preventing alarms and calls for help. The sponsor described mandatory prison time, seizure of the devices as contraband, and exceptions for certain government uses. The committee substitute's reading also described offenses involving manufacturing and selling jammers and restrictions on suspending certain penalties. No senators asked questions or spoke against the measure. The Senate adopted the substitute without objection and passed it 47 to 0.

4. House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee, March 11, 2026

   From 0:13:15 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would prohibit signal jammers and create penalties for possessing, using, manufacturing, selling or distributing them, with exceptions for federally authorized activities. The sponsor described home invasions in which jammers prevented emergency calls and alarm communications, and said their use was expanding rapidly. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation attorney explained three levels of offenses: possession or distribution, interference, and interference targeting public safety or critical infrastructure. Members questioned whether the definition could cover ordinary electronics, privacy shielding in homes, or protected spaces at businesses and event venues. The sponsor and attorney said they did not believe the privacy uses described would be prohibited, but members remained concerned about language covering passive devices and direct or indirect interference. Another member questioned compatibility with federal communications law. The attorney said the bill drew from federal and other state laws and included exceptions accommodating future federal authorization. The sponsor requested that the bill advance, offering to address concerns later. The chair instead held it until Tuesday and asked members to work with the sponsor on possible refinements. No amendment or vote occurred.

5. House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee, March 17, 2026

   From 0:36:23 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor described an amendment developed with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and legislative counsel to address a member’s concerns about distinguishing signal jamming from shielding. The amendment removed “active or passive” from the signal jammer definition, specified that a device operates by emitting a signal, and removed language covering property used directly or indirectly. The sponsor said these changes would address shielding concerns while helping the GBI pursue offenders. A committee member offered the amendment, and the committee adopted it by voice vote. After correcting the substitute’s identifying number and repeating the vote, the chair announced that the amended bill would move to Rules. No vote count was stated.

6. House Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

   From 0:49:00 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor described the bill as Georgia Bureau of Investigation legislation to criminalize signal jammers. The sponsor said these devices can disable communications at homes, businesses and 911 centers and called them an evolving threat. There were no questions. The committee later placed the bill on the Legislative Day 34 calendar without voiced opposition.

7. House floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34)

   From 2:05:47 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2871

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The House sponsor said the committee substitute for SB 470 would criminalize possessing, using, making, selling, distributing, or importing signal jammers. The sponsor said these devices can block cellular, GPS, radar, radio, and other wireless signals, threatening first responders, emergency calls, and critical infrastructure. The sponsor described graduated felony penalties, seizure of jammer devices through civil forfeiture, and exemptions for federally authorized uses and law enforcement. There were no questions. The House adopted the substitute and passed the bill, 163 to 3.

8. Senate floor session, March 27, 2026 (legislative day 38)

   From 5:52:31 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor described SB 470 as Georgia Bureau of Investigation legislation restricting signal jammers. The clerk read provisions prohibiting possession, use, manufacture, sale, distribution and import, with criminal penalties and exceptions. The sponsor said the House clarified two words to distinguish someone shielding their own property from people blocking signals in ways that harm homes or public safety personnel. No questions or opposition followed. The Senate agreed to the House substitute 46-0.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 9, 2026 (legislative day 15), 0:23:07
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23), 0:19:40
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24), 0:35:55
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 3, 2026 (legislative day 26, AM), 0:38:40
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, AM), 0:58:31
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 0:55:09

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