Georgia CommonsSearch bills
Words find bills whose text, title, or summary carries them; a bill number such as HB 340 opens that bill. Search matches the words of the bill: ask in the words the bill would use.
40 bills for “Criminal procedure”.
Criminal procedure; inclusion of certain contact information on bonds and recognizances; require
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 222 would require Georgia criminal bail bonds to list the full name, mailing address, email address, and phone number of the defendant and each surety.
… Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to bonds and recognizances in criminal proceedings, is amended by revising Code …
Conduct of Proceedings in Criminal Trials; legislative intent; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia Senate bill would change how errors are preserved for appeal in criminal trials, ending the requirement that lawyers formally 'except' to a judge's ruling and adopting a federal-style plain-error review standard.
… It is the intent of the General Assembly in enacting this Act to adopt Rules 51 and 52 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, as interpreted by …
Criminal procedure; include aggravated assault as a bailable offense only before a superior court judge
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would add aggravated assault on a public safety officer to the list of crimes that can only be bailed out through a superior court judge, not a magistrate or other lower court.
… subsection (a) of Code Section 17-6-1, relating to when offenses bailable, procedure, schedule of bails, and appeal bonds, by revising paragraphs (13) and (14) and by …
Criminal procedure; death penalty shall not be imposed if only evidence is testimony of a single eyewitness; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would bar prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in cases where the only evidence against a defendant is one eyewitness's testimony.
… generally, is amended by revising Code Section 17-10-30, relating to the procedure for imposition of death penalty generally, by adding a new subsection to read as …
Criminal procedure; extend retention period of evidence of sexual assault when victim elects not to immediately report assault
Summary by Georgia Commons: A House Judiciary Committee substitute for HB 626 would require Georgia law enforcement agencies to keep sexual assault evidence for 30 years, instead of just 12 months, when a victim chooses not to immediately report the assault to police.
The House Committee on Judiciary, Non Civil offers the following substitute to HB 626: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Code Section 17-5-71 …
Criminal procedure; installation and use of mobile tracking devices by law enforcement; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would create a formal court process for law enforcement to get judicial approval before installing GPS or similar tracking devices on people, vehicles, or objects during criminal investigations.
… installation and use of mobile tracking devices by law enforcement; to provide a procedure for obtaining court authorization for such installation and use; to provide for the scope …
Criminal procedure; scent of marijuana, cannabis, or hemp; provide imitations on stops, searches, seizures, or arrests
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would bar police from stopping, searching, or arresting someone based only on the smell of marijuana, cannabis, or hemp, whether burnt or not.
House Bill 496 By: Representatives Clark of the 108th, Miller of the 62nd, Ridley of the 22nd, Jackson of the 68th, and Kendrick of the 95th A BILL …
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; provide financial assistance to law enforcement agencies to equip certain motor vehicles with bullet-resistant features; establish grant program
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 967 would let Georgia's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council run a grant program that helps local law enforcement agencies pay to add bullet-resistant windows and door panels to patrol vehicles.
… Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, is amended by adding a new Code section to …
Criminal procedure; imposition of death penalty; include offense of trafficking of persons for labor and sexual servitude
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 1154 would add trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude to the list of crimes that can trigger Georgia's death penalty aggravating circumstances, applying to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026.
… Code Section 17-10-30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to procedure for imposition of death penalty generally, is amended as follows: "17-10-30 …
Crimes and offenses; riot; provide for a felony penalty
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would make riot a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, up from a misdemeanor, and add it to the list of offenses subject to Georgia's special bail procedures.
… Code Section 17-6-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to when offenses bailable, procedure, schedule of bails, and appeal bonds, is amended in subsection …
Criminal procedure; implied consent to a drug facilitated sexual assault examination for unconscious victims of alleged sexual assault; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would let hospitals perform forensic medical exams, including a drug facilitated sexual assault test, on unconscious sexual assault victims without their consent when circumstances require quick action, and would protect them from prosecution based solely on that exam.
… facilitated sexual assault examination</ins> regardless of whether the victim participates in the criminal justice system or cooperates with law enforcement in pursuing prosecution of the underlying crime …
Disclosure and Dissemination of Criminal Records; a judicial procedure for purging a person's involuntary hospitalization information; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia Senate bill would replace the automatic five-year purge of involuntary hospitalization records used for gun background checks with a court petition process that people must use to get their records cleared.
… the FBI in conjunction with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, so as to provide for a judicial procedure for purging a person's involuntary hospitalization information …
Judgements and Rulings; certain appellate procedures regarding the denial of sovereign and any other immunity available to the state; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia Senate bill would let parties in civil lawsuits immediately appeal a judge's ruling on sovereign, official, or legislative immunity, instead of waiting until the whole case is over.
… rulings deemed directly appealable, procedure for review of judgments, orders, or decisions not subject to direct appeal, scope of review, hearings in criminal cases involving a capital offense …
Law enforcement agencies; judicial procedure for purging a person's involuntary hospitalization information; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would replace the automatic five-year purge of involuntary hospitalization records used in gun background checks with a court petition process that people must use to get their records removed.
… the FBI in conjunction with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, so as to provide for a judicial procedure for purging a person's involuntary hospitalization information …
Criminal procedure; offenses involving a victim under 16 years of age; include offense of aggravated sexual battery
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 1282 would add aggravated sexual battery to the list of sex crimes against child victims that get an extended or unlimited window for prosecution under Georgia law.
House Bill 1282 By: Representatives Smith of the 18th, Gunter of the 8th, Hong of the 103rd, Scoggins of the 14th, and Sainz of the 180th A BILL …
Criminal procedure; extend certain protections for victims of family violence and stalking with respect to residential leases
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 188 would let victims of family violence or stalking end just their abuser's part of a shared lease, require landlords to act on those requests, and ban landlords from discriminating against such victims.
… Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, is amended by revising paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Code Section 17-6-1 …
Criminal procedure; personal service of process for notice of a warrant application hearing; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 1131 would require Georgia courts to try personal service, in addition to other approved methods, when notifying someone of a warrant application hearing or informing them of the charge against them, and it adjusts bail bond rules.
… Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating criminal procedure, is amended by revising paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Code Section 17-4-40, relating …
Criminal Procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has intellectual disability; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: Senate Bill 159 would create a pretrial process letting defendants in Georgia death penalty cases prove they have intellectual disability before trial, which would bar prosecutors from seeking execution if proven.
… Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, is amended by adding a new Code section to Part 2 of Article 6 of …
Criminal procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has an intellectual disability; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 123 creates a pretrial process for Georgia courts to decide whether a defendant facing the death penalty has an intellectual disability, and bars execution for anyone found to have one.
… Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, is amended by adding a new Code section to Part 2 of Article 6 of …
Appeal and error; judgments deemed directly appealable; change a provision
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 176 changes Georgia's rules for criminal appeals, creating a new process for defendants to seek late permission to appeal or request a new trial, and setting clearer deadlines for withdrawing guilty pleas.
… out-of-time remedy for certain types of postjudgment relief in criminal cases; to provide for procedure and time frames; to change provisions relating to amendments on motions …
Courts; special grand jury impaneling procedures; revise provisions
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would let state elected officials, not just county or municipal elected officials, petition a superior court to impanel a special grand jury.
… to grand juries, so as to revise provisions regarding special grand jury impaneling procedures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE …
Environmental Protection Division; authorize director to investigate and consider out-of-state regulatory history when processing applications for certain permits
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 1072 would let Georgia's Environmental Protection Division director deny certain environmental permits based on an applicant's regulatory violations or civil or criminal penalties in other states.
… Division, Environmental Advisory Council, duties of council and its members and director, appeal procedures generally, permit applications, and inspections, so as to authorize the director of the Environmental …
"Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act"; establish
Summary by Georgia Commons: Senate Bill 176 would create a formal process in Georgia law for people who were wrongly convicted and imprisoned to petition a court for a finding of innocence and then receive state compensation, capped at $1 million.
… Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, is amended by adding a new chapter to read as follows: <ins>"CHAPTER 22 17 …
Sexual Assault; the maintenance of physical evidence collected from an alleged sexual assault; extend
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia Senate bill would require law enforcement agencies to keep physical evidence from unreported sexual assaults for at least two years instead of 12 months, giving victims more time to decide whether to report.
Senate Bill 564 By: Senators Mangham of the 55th, Wicks of the 34th, Kemp of the 38th and Jones II of the 22nd A BILL TO BE ENTITLED …
Criminal Procedure; offenses that are not serious violent felonies, sexual felonies, or other certain offenses to be charged by accusation of the district attorney; allow
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia Senate bill would let district attorneys charge most felony cases by accusation instead of requiring a grand jury indictment, while also rewriting the state's gun law preemption statute and changing who can sue over local gun rules. The bill was passed by the legislature but vetoed by the Governor.
… Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, is amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 17-7-70.1, relating to …
Criminal procedure; limitations on bars to first offender treatment for certain minor offenders adjudicated as adults; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would let judges give first offender treatment to some minors who were tried as adults for serious crimes, an option currently barred for those offenses, and would let eligible people apply retroactively.
… Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, is amended by revising …
License, Permit, Tag, and Stamp Fees; fees for reef and migratory fish endorsement; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: Senate Bill 420 would create new state fishing endorsements for reef and migratory fish in Georgia, with separate fees for residents and nonresidents, and update reference dates used to define criminal violations of natural resource rules.
… procedures generally, permit applications, and inspections, Code Section 27-1-39 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to rules and regulations used to establish criminal violations …
Evidence; admissibility of creative or artistic expression evidence at trial; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A House bill would make it harder for prosecutors to use a defendant's song lyrics, poetry, or other artistic work as evidence at trial, requiring judges to presume such evidence is inadmissible unless prosecutors meet specific proof requirements.
… media, but shall not include hand signs used to indicate membership in a criminal street gang, as defined in Code Section 16-15-3, and tattoos. </ins> <ins …
Crimes and offenses; riot; repeal misdemeanor penalty and provide for a felony penalty
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would turn the crime of riot from a misdemeanor into a felony punishable by 1 to 20 years in prison, and would add riot to the list of offenses covered by the state's bail schedule law.
… Code Section 17-6-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to when offenses bailable, procedure, schedule of bails, and appeal bonds, is amended by revising …
Domestic relations; creation and revisions of certain child abuse protocol procedures for cases of alleged child abuse; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: HB 527 would rebuild Georgia's child abuse investigation protocol system around judicial circuits instead of counties, changing who leads and sits on local protocol committees and where their reports get filed.
… upon to create any rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any party in any matter civil or criminal. Such section of the protocol shall not limit …
Criminal procedure; discovery in misdemeanor cases; change provisions
Summary by Georgia Commons: House Bill 525 would rewrite Georgia's discovery rules for misdemeanor criminal cases, requiring defendants who opt into discovery to share witness lists and alibi information with prosecutors in return.
… list of witness and alibi information to the prosecuting attorney; to provide for procedures; to provide for a penalty for noncompliance; to provide for related matters; to repeal …
Georgia Public Safety Support Fund Act; enact
Summary by Georgia Commons: A House bill would create the Georgia Public Safety Support Grant Program, letting the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council accept private and public donations to fund equipment, training, and technology for local police, sheriffs, and courts.
… to provide for administration of such program by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; to establish criteria and procedures for such grants; to provide for reports; to provide for …
Criminal procedure; notice upon change of date, time, or location for a required court appearance from that listed upon a uniform traffic citation; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would require court clerks to mail notice when a traffic citation's court date is changed, and would add a second warning notice before someone's driver's license can be suspended for missing court.
… reinstate such accused driver's license and driving privileges shall be compliant with procedures established by the Department of Driver Services. (3) This subsection shall not apply to …
Lopez family; recognize
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia Senate resolution formally recognizes and commends the Lopez family for their advocacy work after a legal ordeal involving false abuse accusations.
… what is right; and WHEREAS, despite being denied a second medical opinion, being criminally charged, and losing custody of their children due to false accusations, the Lopez family …
Courts and Penal Institutions; substance abuse programs and mental health treatment programs in county and municipal jails for inmates; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia Senate bill would let county and municipal jails set up voluntary substance abuse and mental health treatment programs for inmates, run through new drug court and mental health court procedures.
… to provide for drug court divisions and mental health court divisions to establish procedures for voluntary admission into such programs; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide …
Environmental Protection Division; authorize director to investigate and consider out-of-state regulatory history when processing applications for certain permits
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would let the director of the Environmental Protection Division deny certain environmental permits based on an applicant's regulatory violations and penalties incurred in other states.
… Division, Environmental Advisory Council, duties of council and its members and director, appeal procedures generally, permit applications, and inspections, so as to authorize the director of the Environmental …
Penal institutions; inmate be allowed to dress in plain clothes during trial proceedings; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Georgia House bill would require jail and prison inmates to wear ordinary civilian clothing, not prison uniforms, when they appear in court for trial, and would bar officers from forcing shaved or clipped heads on defendants before trial.
… No person charged with a criminal offense shall be tried in any court while dressed in the uniform or dress of a prisoner or inmate, or in any …
Pardons and Paroles; procedures when a person is denied parole after completing certain prerequisites; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: Senate Bill 25 would give Georgia inmates who complete rehabilitation programs or are serving life sentences new rights before a parole denial, including a video hearing with the full Parole Board and written reasons for any denial.
… to grants of pardons, paroles, and other relief, so as to provide for procedures when a person is denied parole after completing certain prerequisites; to provide for a …
Controlled Substances; possession of certain quantities of marijuana constitute a misdemeanor; provide
Summary by Georgia Commons: Senate Bill 558 would raise the amount of marijuana that counts as a misdemeanor in Georgia from one ounce to three ounces, replacing jail time with fines or community service for most first-time possession cases.
… Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, is amended by revising Code Section 17-7-72, relating to jurisdiction of probate courts …
Motor vehicles; declare vehicles used in the commission of reckless stunt driving offenses contraband and authorize forfeiture
Summary by Georgia Commons: A House Judiciary Committee substitute to HB 1390 would let Georgia seize and forfeit any vehicle used in a reckless stunt driving offense as soon as the driver is convicted, without requiring a prior conviction first.
… is declared to be contraband and subject to forfeiture in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 16 of Title 9. (2) In any case where a …