SB 529: "Justice For Epstein Survivors Act"; enact

Georgia law currently treats a specific set of negligent security rules (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-53) as the only way to sue a property owner or occupier when someone is hurt because of inadequate security, such as failing to provide adequate lighting or locks. That law limits owners' liability by making this the 'sole and exclusive remedy,' which can block other kinds of lawsuits. This bill, called the Justice For Epstein Survivors Act, adds a new exception. It says that claim isn't limited to the negligent security statute if the wrongful conduct involves a sexual offense listed in Georgia's criminal code (Chapter 6 of Title 16) or if the injured person was younger than 18 or 65 or older at the time of the injury. In those cases, victims could pursue other legal claims and remedies beyond what the negligent security statute allows. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Adds a new exception to Georgia's negligent security law (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-53) that currently limits injured people to one exclusive legal remedy against property owners.
• Allows victims of sexual offenses listed under Chapter 6 of Title 16 of Georgia's criminal code to pursue claims beyond the negligent security statute's exclusive remedy.
• Extends the same expanded legal options to any injured person who was younger than 18 or 65 or older at the time of the injury.
• Names the bill the 'Justice For Epstein Survivors Act' as its official short title.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new exception.

Property owners and occupiers who could face negligent security lawsuits, survivors of sexual offenses seeking legal remedies, minors and elderly individuals injured on someone else's property, and Georgia courts that would apply the new exception when hearing these cases.

Under current law, people hurt because of inadequate property security are generally limited to one type of lawsuit against the property owner. This bill would let sexual offense survivors, minors, and older adults bring additional legal claims, potentially expanding the compensation or accountability available to them beyond what the current exclusive remedy allows.

• Section 1 gives the bill its short title, the 'Justice For Epstein Survivors Act.'
• Section 2 revises subsection (a) of O.C.G.A. § 51-3-53 to add a reference to a new exception listed in subsection (d).
• The new subsection (d) states that nothing in the negligent security article limits claims tied to sexual offenses under Chapter 6 of Title 16 or claims by victims under 18 or 65 and older.
• A final section repeals any Georgia laws that conflict with the changes made by this Act.

1. 2026-02-19Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
2. 2026-02-18Senate Hopper (Senado)

• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)Patrocinador principal
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)

• negligent security law
• sexual assault survivors
• property owner liability
• personal injury lawsuits
• elder and child protections