SB470: SB470 "Emergency & Public Safety Signal Protection Act"; enact

Signal jammers are devices that block or disrupt wireless, cellular, radar, GPS, radio, telephone, or cable signals. Currently Georgia law does not specifically criminalize possessing or using these devices. This bill adds a new Code section making it a felony to possess, use, or operate a signal jammer with intent to interfere with those communication signals, and a separate felony to possess, manufacture, sell, offer for sale, distribute, or import one in the state at all. Penalties run from one to seven years and up to a $10,000 fine for basic violations, rising to one to ten years and up to $25,000 if the jamming targets a public safety agency, a 911 dispatch center, or critical infrastructure. These sentences cannot be suspended, deferred, or reduced by a judge. Any property used to facilitate a violation can be seized as contraband and forfeited, and the Attorney General can start forfeiture cases. Federally approved devices and law enforcement or public safety agencies are exempt. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.

• Creates a new felony for possessing, using, or operating a signal jammer with intent to disrupt cell, GPS, radar, radio, telephone, or cable signals, punishable by one to seven years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
• Sets a harsher felony (one to ten years, up to $25,000 fine) when the jamming targets a public safety agency, a 911 dispatch center, or critical infrastructure like energy or water systems.
• Creates a separate felony for manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, or importing signal jammers in Georgia, punishable by one to five years and up to a $10,000 fine.
• Bars judges from suspending, staying, deferring, or withholding the prescribed sentences for these offenses.
• Declares any property used to facilitate a violation to be contraband and subject to civil forfeiture, and lets the Attorney General start forfeiture proceedings.
• Exempts devices approved under federal law or by the Federal Communications Commission, and exempts public safety, law enforcement, and correctional agencies.

Anyone who possesses, sells, or imports signal-jamming devices in Georgia; people who might use jammers to block cell or GPS signals; law enforcement, correctional, and public safety agencies (who are exempt); the Attorney General's office, which gains forfeiture authority; and owners of property used to facilitate violations, which can be seized.

People who buy, sell, or use devices that block cell phones, GPS, or emergency radio signals could face years in prison and fines that judges cannot reduce, and their equipment or related property could be permanently seized, especially if the jamming interferes with 911 centers or infrastructure.

• Section 1 gives the bill its short title, the 'Emergency & Public Safety Signal Protection Act.'
• Section 2 adds new O.C.G.A. § 16-11-46, defining terms like 'signal jammer,' 'critical infrastructure,' 'public safety agency,' and 'public safety answering point.'
• Subsection (b) and (c) criminalize using a signal jammer with intent to interfere with communications, with penalties of one to seven years and up to $10,000, rising to one to ten years and up to $25,000 for interference with public safety or critical infrastructure.
• Subsection (c)(3) prohibits merging the offense with other crimes and bars suspended, stayed, deferred, or withheld sentences.
• Subsections (d) and (e) criminalize manufacturing, selling, distributing, or importing signal jammers in Georgia, punishable by one to five years and up to $10,000.
• Subsection (f) makes property used to facilitate a violation subject to forfeiture under the Georgia Uniform Civil Forfeiture Procedure Act, and authorizes the Attorney General to bring forfeiture cases.
• Subsection (g) exempts federally authorized devices and public safety, law enforcement, and correctional agencies.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 495
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-19House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-19House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• John Albers (R, SD-056)Primary sponsor
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 26, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #593

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 19, 2026

   163 yea, 3 nay (3 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #728

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   46 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 5 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #837

• signal jammers
• public safety
• criminal penalties
• 911 and emergency communications
• civil forfeiture