Senate Bill 617
By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Jones II of the 22nd, Jackson of the 41st, Parent of the 44th
and Kemp of the 38th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 3 of Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to dispossessory proceedings, so as to prohibit public access to court records of
dispossessory proceedings under certain conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 3 of Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
dispossessory proceedings, is amended in Code Section 44-7-50, relating to demand for
possession, procedure upon a tenant's refusal, and notice to vacate or pay, by adding a new
subsection to read as follows:
<ins>"(e) A court of competent jurisdiction shall order all records of the court relating to a
dispossessory proceeding to be made unavailable to the public when the tenant has
prevailed in the proceeding, has met all the conditions of a settlement agreement, or three
years have lapsed since the resolution of the dispossessory action."
</ins>
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.