HB 1131: Criminal procedure; personal service of process for notice of a warrant application hearing; provide

Under current Georgia law, before a judge holds a hearing on a warrant application, officials must attempt to notify the person whose arrest is sought using any method the judge approves that is reasonably likely to reach them. This bill adds personal service (physically delivering notice to the person) as an option alongside other judge-approved methods. It makes a similar change to the law on informing an accused person of the specific charge against them, adding personal service as a required method. The bill also changes bail bond rules in O.C.G.A. § 17-6-15. It adjusts the cash escrow or collateral amount that established professional bonding companies must keep on deposit, and it adds a new exemption saying the strict bail fund requirements that apply to charitable groups and companies do not apply to an individual family member posting a cash bond for a relative. The bill repeals conflicting laws and does not state a delayed effective date beyond the general rule that Acts take effect upon the Governor's signature.

• Adds personal service as a way to notify someone that a warrant application hearing will be held concerning their arrest, alongside other judge-approved notice methods (O.C.G.A. § 17-4-40).
• Requires that an accused person be informed of the specific charge and related details through personal service (O.C.G.A. § 17-4-41).
• Changes the cap on the cash escrow account or collateral that established professional bonding companies must maintain (O.C.G.A. § 17-6-15).
• Exempts a natural person who posts a cash bond for an immediate family member from the stricter requirements that apply to professional bonding companies and charitable bail funds (O.C.G.A. § 17-6-15).

People facing arrest warrants or criminal charges in Georgia, judges and court officers who issue warrants and set hearings, professional bail bonding companies and charitable bail funds, sheriffs who regulate bonding companies, and individuals who post cash bonds for family members.

Requiring personal service means a person facing a warrant hearing or a criminal charge would need to be physically handed notice in more cases, which could affect how quickly cases move and whether people learn about hearings in time. The family bond exemption also makes it easier for relatives to post bail without meeting professional surety rules.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 17-4-40(b)(2) to add personal service as an acceptable way to attempt notice of a warrant application hearing.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 17-4-41(c) to require that the accused be informed of the charge and pertinent particulars by personal service.
• Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 17-6-15, changing the cash escrow or collateral cap for professional bonding companies operating 18 months or longer in a county.
• Section 3 also adds a new exemption in O.C.G.A. § 17-6-15(b)(4) so the paragraph's bail fund requirements do not apply to a natural person posting a cash bond for an immediate family member.
• Section 4 repeals all laws in conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 482
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-04-02House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2026-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senado)
7. 2026-04-02Senate Third Read (Senado)
8. 2026-04-02Senate Taken from Table (Senado)

• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)Patrocinador principal
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)
• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes26 de febrero de 2026

   166 a favor, 0 en contra (5 sin votar, 6 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #577

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado31 de marzo de 2026

   39 a favor, 10 en contra (2 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #912

3. AprobadaVotación: Senado2 de abril de 2026

   47 a favor, 2 en contra (3 sin votar, 2 ausentes)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #948

4. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes2 de abril de 2026

   166 a favor, 0 en contra (7 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #865

• criminal procedure
• bail bonds
• warrants
• court notices
• bonding companies