HB1596: HB1596 No Evidence Ignored Act; enact

Georgia law enforcement agencies use forensic databases, such as DNA and fingerprint systems, to find matches between crime scene evidence and known profiles. Currently there is no statewide requirement spelling out how quickly prosecutors must review these matches, called 'hits,' or what they must do once they get one. This bill, called the No Evidence Ignored Act, creates a new legal process for handling that evidence. Under the bill, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation would have to send hit reports to both the local law enforcement agency and the prosecutorial agency (the Attorney General or a district attorney) with jurisdiction over the case. Prosecutors would then have 30 days to determine whether the case already has a conviction. If a hit could clear a convicted person (called 'potentially exculpatory'), the agency must notify the convicted person, contact victims, and alert an innocence organization or defense counsel. The bureau and prosecutors would also file annual public reports on hits and how they were handled. The article does not apply if it would violate federal law or interfere with database access.

• Requires the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to send forensic database hit reports to the submitting law enforcement agency and the prosecutorial agency with jurisdiction over the case.
• Requires prosecutorial agencies to determine within 30 days whether a hit relates to a case with an existing conviction.
• Requires prosecutors to notify victims, convicted individuals, and innocence organizations when a database hit could undermine a conviction (a 'potentially exculpatory' hit).
• Requires the bureau and prosecutorial agencies to compile and publicly release annual reports on the number of hits received and actions taken.
• Exempts the new requirements if they would violate federal law or substantially interfere with law enforcement access to a forensic database.

The bill affects the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, district attorneys and the Attorney General's office, local law enforcement agencies, crime victims, people already convicted of crimes, defense attorneys, and innocence organizations that represent people challenging convictions.

Forensic database matches, such as DNA hits, can sometimes point to the wrong person having been convicted or help solve unsolved crimes. This bill sets deadlines and notification duties so that new evidence reaches prosecutors, victims, and convicted people rather than sitting unreviewed, and it makes the results of that review public each year.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'No Evidence Ignored Act.'
• Section 2 states legislative findings that forensic database evidence can solve cold cases and expose wrongful convictions.
• New O.C.G.A. § 35-3-211 requires the bureau to send hit reports to the relevant law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies and a monthly summary list.
• New O.C.G.A. § 35-3-212 sets a 30 day deadline for prosecutors to classify hits and requires notifying victims, convicted persons, and innocence organizations for potentially exculpatory hits.
• New O.C.G.A. § 35-3-213 requires annual public reports by both the bureau and prosecutorial agencies, due by February 28 each year, detailing hits and actions taken.
• New O.C.G.A. § 35-3-214 exempts the article's requirements if they would violate federal law or substantially interfere with access to a forensic database.

1. 2026-03-27House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-23House Hopper (House)

• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)Primary sponsor

• forensic evidence
• wrongful convictions
• DNA databases
• criminal justice reform
• prosecutors