SB 607: Grand Juries; creation, selection, composition, compensation, procedures, and term; provide

Right now, grand juries in Georgia are organized county by county, which can make it hard to investigate election-related crimes that cross county lines or affect statewide races. This bill would add a new part to Georgia law creating a 'State Grand Jury of Georgia' focused only on crimes involving voting, elections, and violations of Georgia's election laws. Under the bill, the Attorney General could petition the Supreme Court of Georgia to impanel a state grand jury of 13 to 23 people, drawn from the statewide master jury list, serving up to 12 months. The Attorney General or a designee would serve as the grand jury's legal advisor, and the panel could issue subpoenas, hear witnesses, and return indictments to be prosecuted in whatever county has proper venue. Proceedings would be kept secret, with misdemeanor penalties for improper disclosure. The change would only take effect January 1, 2027, and only if Georgia voters ratify a companion constitutional amendment in the November 2026 general election; otherwise the law is automatically repealed.

• Creates a new 'State Grand Jury of Georgia' limited to investigating crimes involving voting, elections, and Georgia's election laws statewide.
• Lets the Attorney General petition the Supreme Court of Georgia to impanel a state grand jury, which the Chief Justice can approve by majority vote.
• Sets grand jury size at 13 to 23 people drawn from the statewide master jury list, serving for up to 12 months, with per diem and mileage pay.
• Gives the state grand jury subpoena power to compel witnesses, documents, and evidence from anywhere in Georgia, enforceable through contempt proceedings.
• Requires proceedings to stay secret, making unauthorized disclosure a misdemeanor, while allowing disclosure to law enforcement or courts under specific conditions.
• Makes the entire law contingent on voters approving a companion constitutional amendment in the November 2026 election, with automatic repeal if it fails.

The Attorney General's office, the Supreme Court of Georgia and superior court judges, district attorneys, people summoned for statewide jury service, election officials and candidates who could become subjects of investigation, and any Georgian who might witness or be accused of election-related crimes.

If enacted and approved by voters, Georgia would gain a statewide investigative tool aimed specifically at election crimes that cross county lines, potentially speeding up or broadening investigations that individual county grand juries and district attorneys currently handle on their own within their local jurisdictions.

• Section 15-12-105 states the law's purpose: giving the state broader investigative authority over voting and election crimes that affect more than one county.
• Section 15-12-107 lets the Attorney General petition the Supreme Court under seal to impanel a state grand jury, requiring a majority of justices to approve.
• Section 15-12-108 sets juror qualifications and requires 12 of the 13-23 jurors to find probable cause to return an indictment.
• Section 15-12-109 makes the Attorney General or a designee the legal advisor, requires consultation with local district attorneys first, and sets rules for recusal or disqualification.
• Section 15-12-110 caps a state grand jury's term at 12 months and describes how jurors are randomly selected and impaneled.
• Section 15-12-111 grants subpoena power over people, documents, and evidence anywhere in Georgia, enforceable by contempt.
• Section 15-12-114 requires secrecy of proceedings, limits who may be present, and makes unauthorized disclosure a misdemeanor.
• Section 2 makes the entire Act effective January 1, 2027 only if voters ratify a related constitutional amendment in November 2026, otherwise it is automatically repealed.

1. 2026-03-06Senate Tabled (Senado)
2. 2026-03-04Senate Read Second Time (Senado)
3. 2026-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senado)
4. 2026-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
5. 2026-02-25Senate Hopper (Senado)

• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)Patrocinador principal
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)

• election law
• grand juries
• voting crimes
• Attorney General powers
• state constitutional amendment