SB542: SB542 Sexual Offenses; clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; permit

Georgia law currently does not have a specific criminal offense targeting clergy members who exploit their spiritual authority over someone to engage in sexual contact. Senate Bill 542 adds a new section to Georgia's sexual offenses law (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-5.2) that creates two new crimes: improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the first degree (for sexually explicit conduct) and in the second degree (for other sexual contact). Both crimes require that the clergy member was in a pastoral counseling or spiritual authority relationship with the victim and used undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false representation, false pretense, or intimidation. The bill defines who counts as a clergy member, what counts as a pastoral counseling or spiritual authority relationship, and what counts as sexual contact. It exempts married couples. First degree convictions carry one to 25 years in prison and up to a $100,000 fine. Second degree carries a high and aggravated misdemeanor for a first offense and a felony for repeat offenses, with life imprisonment possible for anyone with a prior sexual felony conviction. Prosecutions must begin within 15 years of the offense.

• Creates a new crime, improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the first degree, for sexually explicit conduct obtained through undue influence, coercion, or similar means within a pastoral relationship.
• Creates a second new crime, improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the second degree, covering other sexual contact obtained the same way.
• Sets penalties for first degree convictions at one to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
• Sets penalties for second degree convictions as a high and aggravated misdemeanor for a first offense and a felony (one to five years) for repeat offenses.
• Imposes a mandatory life sentence or life probation with electronic monitoring for anyone with a prior sexual felony conviction who is convicted under this new law.
• Sets a 15 year deadline for prosecutors to bring charges under this new Code section, overriding any other statute of limitations.

The bill directly affects clergy members, defined broadly to include ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, and similar religious functionaries, as well as anyone who holds themselves out as such. It also affects people who receive pastoral counseling or spiritual guidance from those figures, and Georgia prosecutors and courts handling these new charges.

The bill gives Georgia prosecutors a specific tool to charge clergy members who use their spiritual authority to pressure people into sexual contact, an act that previously might have gone unprosecuted or been charged under vaguer laws. Penalties escalate sharply for repeat sexual offenders, up to life imprisonment.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 16-6-5.2 to Georgia's sexual offenses chapter, defining clergy member, pastoral counseling or spiritual authority relationship, sexual contact, and sexually explicit conduct.
• Subsection (b) creates first degree improper sexual contact by a clergy member for sexually explicit conduct obtained through undue influence or similar coercive means.
• Subsection (c) creates second degree improper sexual contact by a clergy member for other sexual contact obtained the same way.
• Subsection (d) exempts sexual contact between people who are lawfully married to each other.
• Subsection (e) sets first degree penalties at one to 25 years imprisonment and a fine up to $100,000.
• Subsection (f) sets second degree penalties as a high and aggravated misdemeanor for a first offense and a felony of one to five years for later offenses.
• Subsection (g) requires life imprisonment or lifetime probation with electronic monitoring for defendants with a prior sexual felony conviction.
• Subsection (h) sets a 15 year statute of limitations for prosecutions under this new law, regardless of other limitations periods in Georgia law.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 496
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. 2026-03-23House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-23House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)Primary sponsor
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   55 yea, 0 nay

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #644

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 23, 2026

   168 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #750

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 5 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #842

• clergy sexual abuse
• sexual offenses law
• criminal penalties
• religious organizations
• statute of limitations