HB1061: HB1061 Mandi Ballinger Act; enact

Currently, Georgia's juvenile justice system generally covers offenders under 17. This bill does not raise the juvenile age itself. Instead it creates a new section of Georgia's Juvenile Code (O.C.G.A. § 15-11-42) establishing an organizational committee tasked with studying what it would take to include 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system. The committee would have 15 members, including legislative committee chairs, the commissioner of juvenile justice, sheriffs, prosecutors, public defenders, and other justice system officials, co-chaired by the House and Senate Judiciary chairs. The committee must start meeting by September 15, 2026, and would examine costs, staffing, equipment, and other operational needs for raising the juvenile age. It must submit a detailed written report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and General Assembly by December 1, 2027. The committee would dissolve on December 31, 2027, and the entire new law section would automatically repeal on January 1, 2028.

• Creates a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 15-11-42) establishing the 'Mandi Ballinger Act' and a 15-member organizational committee.
• Names specific officials and appointees to the committee, including legislative chairs, the juvenile justice commissioner, sheriffs, prosecutors, and public defenders, with House and Senate Judiciary chairs as co-chairs.
• Allows the committee to consult subject matter experts, police chiefs, training centers, juvenile court attorneys, and youth advocates on raising the juvenile age.
• Requires the committee to begin work by September 15, 2026, and submit a detailed implementation report, including cost estimates, by December 1, 2027.
• Sets the committee to dissolve on December 31, 2027, and the entire Code section to automatically repeal on January 1, 2028.

The bill mainly affects Georgia state officials and justice system leaders who would serve on the committee, including legislative committee chairs, sheriffs, prosecutors, public defenders, juvenile court judges, and the juvenile justice commissioner, as well as 17-year-olds who could eventually be affected if the juvenile age is raised.

If Georgia eventually raises the juvenile justice age to include 17-year-olds, it would change where and how these teens are prosecuted, housed, and treated. This bill sets up the planning process, including cost and staffing estimates, before any such change to state law would happen.

• Section 1 adds O.C.G.A. § 15-11-42, naming the law the 'Mandi Ballinger Act' and creating a 15-member organizational committee.
• Subsection (b) lists the specific officials and designees who serve on the committee and names the House and Senate Judiciary chairs as co-chairs.
• Subsection (c) lets the committee consult outside experts, police officials, and youth advocates on standards, practices, and equipment needs tied to raising the juvenile age.
• Subsection (d) requires the committee to begin work by September 15, 2026, and sets its dissolution date as December 31, 2027.
• Subsection (e) requires a detailed written report with cost estimates and implementation timelines to be delivered to state leaders by December 1, 2027.
• Subsection (f) automatically repeals the entire Code section on January 1, 2028.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

1. 2026-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
2. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
3. 2026-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
4. 2026-02-20House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
5. 2026-02-20House Third Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-12House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-02-02House Second Readers (House)
8. 2026-01-29House First Readers (House)

• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)Primary sponsor
• James Burchett (R, HD-176)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
• Mary Ann Santos (D, HD-117)
• Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 20, 2026

   155 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 16 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #538

• juvenile justice
• criminal justice reform
• teen offenders
• state committees