HB 1207: Domestic relations; creation of a registry of recidivist domestic violence offenders; provide

Georgia currently has no dedicated public registry for people convicted more than once of domestic violence. This bill would add a new chapter to Title 19 of Georgia law creating a 'recidivist domestic violence offender registry.' A person would qualify if convicted of a domestic violence felony, or convicted of a domestic violence offense with at least one prior domestic violence conviction. Sentencing courts would order qualifying offenders to register, and court clerks would send conviction records and photos to the Georgia Crime Information Center within 60 days. The registry, public on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's website, would list a person's name, aliases, birth year, photo, offenses, counties of conviction, and sentences, but not addresses or ID numbers. Entries would stay listed for two to ten years depending on prior convictions, with a process to request removal and appeal to court. Offenders would pay a $150 registration fee, split between the local court and the state treasury. The bill would apply to convictions on or after January 1, 2027.

• Creates a new public registry, run by the Georgia Crime Information Center and posted on the GBI website, listing recidivist domestic violence offenders.
• Requires sentencing courts to order registration for anyone convicted of a domestic violence felony, or of domestic violence with at least one prior domestic violence conviction.
• Requires court clerks to send conviction records, sentences, and photographs to the Georgia Crime Information Center within 60 days of conviction.
• Sets registry listing periods of two, five, or ten years depending on the number of prior domestic violence convictions.
• Charges registered offenders a $150 fee, split $50 to the local court and $100 to the state treasury.
• Creates a process to request removal from the registry and to appeal a denial to a court within 30 days.

People convicted of repeat or felony domestic violence offenses in Georgia, court clerks who must report convictions, the Georgia Crime Information Center and Georgia Bureau of Investigation who maintain the registry, and members of the public who could search it online.

Georgians would gain a searchable public tool to check whether someone has a history of repeat domestic violence convictions, while people who qualify would face a new registration requirement, a $150 fee, and public listing of their offense history for up to ten years.

• Code Section 19-13B-1 defines key terms, including who counts as a 'recidivist domestic violence offender' based on felony or repeat convictions.
• Code Section 19-13B-2(a)-(b) creates the registry and requires sentencing courts to order registration, with clerks reporting records to the Georgia Crime Information Center within 60 days.
• Code Section 19-13B-2(c)-(d) lists what information goes into the registry and bars inclusion of addresses, Social Security numbers, or ID numbers.
• Code Section 19-13B-2(e) sets listing durations of two, five, or ten years based on the number of prior convictions.
• Code Section 19-13B-2(f) creates a removal request process through the Georgia Crime Information Center with judicial review available within 30 days of a denial.
• Section 19-3B-3 sets a $150 registration fee, split between the sentencing court and the state general fund.
• Section 19-13B-4 grants immunity from liability for good-faith actions taken under the chapter.
• Section 2 applies the law only to domestic violence convictions on or after January 1, 2027.

1. 2026-02-09House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2026-02-06House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2026-02-05House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)Patrocinador principal
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Sheila Jones (D, HD-060)
• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)

• domestic violence
• criminal justice
• public safety registry
• court records
• Georgia Crime Information Center