---
title: SB 529. "Justice For Epstein Survivors Act"; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb529
cite_as: SB 529, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb529
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb529.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb529/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73379
date: 2026-02-19
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/sb529.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 529
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-18
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Nikki Merritt
- Harold Jones
- Elena Parent
- Sonya Halpern
- Tonya Anderson
- Gail Davenport
- RaShaun Kemp
- Kenya Wicks
- Jaha Howard
- Nan Orrock
- Josh McLaurin
- Kim Jackson
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB529/2025
upstream_id: 2119549
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- negligent security law
- sexual assault survivors
- property owner liability
- personal injury lawsuits
- elder and child protections
---
# SB 529. "Justice For Epstein Survivors Act"; enact
## Text
Senate Bill 529
By: Senators Merritt of the 9th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 44th, Halpern of the 39th,
Anderson of the 43rd and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 5 of Chapter 3 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to negligent security, so as to exempt certain victims from using an exclusive
remedy; to provide for a conforming change; to provide for a short title; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Justice For Epstein Survivors Act."
SECTION 2.
Article 5 of Chapter 3 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
negligent security, is amended by revising subsection (a) of and adding a new subsection to
Code Section 51-3-53, relating to limitations on liability, to read as follows:
"(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b), and (c), and (d) of this Code section,
the provisions of this article shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for negligent security
against owners or occupiers, and no owner or occupier shall be liable for negligent security
except as provided in this article."
"(d) Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect any claim,
remedy, or cause of action where the wrongful conduct is related to a violation of any
sexual offenses set forth in Chapter 6 of Title 16 or any claim, remedy, or cause of action
where the wrongful conduct injures a person who, at the time of the injury, was younger
than 18 years of age or 65 years of age or older."
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 named for Jeffrey Epstein survivors would let victims of sexual offenses, and victims under 18 or 65 and older, sue property owners for negligent security outside the state's usual exclusive-remedy limits.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law currently treats a specific set of negligent security rules (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-53) as the only way to sue a property owner or occupier when someone is hurt because of inadequate security, such as failing to provide adequate lighting or locks. That law limits owners' liability by making this the 'sole and exclusive remedy,' which can block other kinds of lawsuits.
This bill, called the Justice For Epstein Survivors Act, adds a new exception. It says that claim isn't limited to the negligent security statute if the wrongful conduct involves a sexual offense listed in Georgia's criminal code (Chapter 6 of Title 16) or if the injured person was younger than 18 or 65 or older at the time of the injury. In those cases, victims could pursue other legal claims and remedies beyond what the negligent security statute allows. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.
### What it does
- Adds a new exception to Georgia's negligent security law (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-53) that currently limits injured people to one exclusive legal remedy against property owners.
- Allows victims of sexual offenses listed under Chapter 6 of Title 16 of Georgia's criminal code to pursue claims beyond the negligent security statute's exclusive remedy.
- Extends the same expanded legal options to any injured person who was younger than 18 or 65 or older at the time of the injury.
- Names the bill the 'Justice For Epstein Survivors Act' as its official short title.
- Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new exception.
### Who it affects
Property owners and occupiers who could face negligent security lawsuits, survivors of sexual offenses seeking legal remedies, minors and elderly individuals injured on someone else's property, and Georgia courts that would apply the new exception when hearing these cases.
### Why it matters
Under current law, people hurt because of inadequate property security are generally limited to one type of lawsuit against the property owner. This bill would let sexual offense survivors, minors, and older adults bring additional legal claims, potentially expanding the compensation or accountability available to them beyond what the current exclusive remedy allows.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 gives the bill its short title, the 'Justice For Epstein Survivors Act.'
- Section 2 revises subsection (a) of O.C.G.A. § 51-3-53 to add a reference to a new exception listed in subsection (d).
- The new subsection (d) states that nothing in the negligent security article limits claims tied to sexual offenses under Chapter 6 of Title 16 or claims by victims under 18 or 65 and older.
- A final section repeals any Georgia laws that conflict with the changes made by this Act.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-18)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-19)
- Sponsors: Nikki Merritt, Harold Jones, Elena Parent, Sonya Halpern, Tonya Anderson, Gail Davenport, RaShaun Kemp, Kenya Wicks, Jaha Howard, Nan Orrock, Josh McLaurin, Kim Jackson
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73379
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb529.md?full=1