Georgia CommonsSearch every collection
Search Georgia Commons
Bills, Supreme Court opinions, the Code and the two constitutions, and House and Senate meeting transcripts, in one search. Ask in plain words: the search ranks passages by meaning as well as by their words.
Filters:Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee 2026 Clear filters
Found 10 matching documents.
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · February 23, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, February 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved four bills and held one for more work. Members unanimously approved a substitute to SB 470 addressing signal jammers, an amended SB 327 adding a sixth superior court judge in the Clayton Judicial Circuit, and SB 202 establishing reciprocal evidence-sharing rules for misdemeanor cases. After extensive testimony about constitutional protections, religious freedom and effects on Muslim Georgians, the committee approved SB 486 on foreign laws and tribunal decisions, 4 to 3, with the chair breaking a tie. The committee held SB 499 after members questioned removing enhanced penalties involving firearms equipped with silencers. Funding for the additional Clayton judgeship remained an issue for the budget process.
I couldn't talk to them right then, but when I came back from court, they were still there. These are mothers that their children have been murdered, and these are cases that have been pending for, one, over five years. We've been trying to get to it, and it's not that, you know, for lack of trying. It's that we just have that many cases, the judges have...
All right. Any questions for District Attorney Moseley or Judge Mason? Thank y'all. Thank y'all. We have one other person, Mr. Sullivan from the Black Republican Council, that's here. You want the last word? Yes, sir. Come on down. Oh, thank you. Nobody else told me. You know, this whole time, maybe it was better, I don't know. Okay, I will make this quick...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · February 26, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, February 26, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved four bills: SB 488, addressing product liability for AI systems that harm minors, passed 7-1; SB 418, addressing unauthorized nude or sexually explicit images, passed unanimously after an amendment expanding who could enforce it; SB 499, addressing firearm suppressors, passed 7-2 by substitute; and SB 572, changing the process for self-defense immunity claims, passed 7-2 without amendments. The longest discussion concerned SB 572. Supporters argued it would protect people acting in lawful self-defense, while prosecutors, defense lawyers and a gun-safety organization raised concerns about its wording and effects. The sponsor committed to further discussions as the bill moves forward.
Uh, continuing on but not of importance like he said, uh, like the chairman said, on lines 81 through 85, we are just restating where you cannot use stand-your-ground law as a defense for criminal actions, and this is reaffirming that you cannot shoot... I don't even like saying that word. You cannot fire on police officers and later claim that it was...
Maybe like 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, something, just something, as opposed to just having to wait and wait, and we'll get around to you eventually, especially in counties that, in judicial circuits that may not be as pro-gun or self-defense as others. Thank you. Thank you. Sully- Mr. Chairman, can I ask a question? Yeah, sure. Got one question for you....
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · February 25, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered and unanimously approved three bills. SB 552 would protect public school students’ political expression and access to student meeting spaces. SB 542 would add clergy to laws against improper sexual contact involving positions of authority. The committee approved that bill with a substitute after hearing supporting testimony from a survivor and the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. SB 406 would establish state oversight of homeowners and similar associations and change foreclosure rules. Members approved an amendment requiring immediate decisions after administrative hearings, but withdrew a proposed board-training requirement. The chair said SB 406 would move to Rules.
But, um, but again, I, I guess going back to your question, to me, an administrative, some sort of administrative hearing to me needed to be the first remedy available. I don't wanna cut ... We, we could have a discussion all the time, which is important, but we also wanna keep a quorum or the bill could stall out- Okay ... for not being able to take...
Okay. So give- Yeah, I would like a decision right then and there. Then we need to give you an amendment. Okay. 'Cause that's what I was gonna say. I'll accept. Well, I'll make a motion- Not that I have a choice. Why don't we- Okay ... hold on your amendment- Yeah, you see what I'm saying? ... and until we have a motion. Yeah. We have- Do pass. Do you have...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · March 9, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, March 9, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee unanimously approved HB 535 on credit for jail time before probation revocation hearings, with added fentanyl trafficking provisions; HB 1196 on trespass involving wild animal enclosures; HB 162 on sealing first-offender records earlier; HR 251 on a public vote to make probate judge elections nonpartisan; and HB 999 on magistrate court fees and an election-law correction. Members amended HB 162 to update two dates to July 1, 2026. The committee also discussed HB 530, which would establish electronic filing in probate courts, but took no action. The chair requested a revised version addressing paper filings by attorneys for possible consideration Thursday.
I guess so. Yes. Any other questions from the committee? There are a couple people that want to speak on the bill. All right. This is about as smooth as it's gonna get today probably. I blame the time change. You know, Senator Watson's not here. Is he? No. If he had just passed that bill, we could've not had to deal with the time change, you know, that's a...
That was the intent, and if you find that we didn't, obviously when, when you're able to look at this, we can make those changes moving forward. Thank you, Chairman, 'cause that's, you know, I'm shooting from the hip when I'm looking at these things, and it looks like it, um, there, and that's my, that's the biggest interest I had was making sure everything...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · March 2, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, March 2, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee advanced six measures: SR 262, calling for a convention to consider a federal balanced-budget amendment; SB 594, addressing digital identity fraud; SB 547, increasing pimping and pandering penalties; SB 591, prohibiting disruption of religious services; SB 592, increasing sentences and limiting parole for certain crimes; and SB 532, requiring notices in certain default court proceedings. The committee tabled SB 413, concerning lease termination after firearm injuries, following questions about eligibility and documentation. Discussion included concerns about the scope of a constitutional convention, protest rights, mandatory life sentences, and who must provide notice of court hearings.
um, in addition, there's, you know, language that's missing. Like, for example, on, on line 70 it says, "A record from a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency." I think we mean a record or a police report. I don't... In all the cases I've been involved in where there's been a gunshot wound, I've seen police reports. I, I deal with this, I've been...
Thank you. All right. Any questions from the committee for Mr. Williams or Mr. Stanley? Thank you for your time. All right. Thank you. May I address those issues? Yeah, briefly. Yep. Uh, yeah, so just wanna follow up with some questions that were here on the definition of victim service provider. Any city or state contracted entity, um, that, that deals...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · March 19, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, March 19, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee took up eight bills and recommended all eight for passage. It unanimously approved HB 304 on municipal courts, HB 447 on gift card fraud, HB 1185 on business court cases, and HB 460 on private attorney-client communications in custody. It approved HB 676, concerning penalties for improper property liens, by 8 to 1. It amended HB 1247, concerning courts’ treatment of state agency interpretations and reviews of agency activities, then approved it by 7 to 3. The committee also unanimously approved amended versions of HB 1290, concerning sexual abuse of vulnerable adults, and HB 267, whose replacement text addressed DUI courses and financial support for children whose parent is killed by a drunk driver.
All right, we'll get back on the agenda. House Bill 460. Representative Panitch, come on down. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. We are working off the version that passed the House, LC481499S. Yes. It also passed Senate committee last year. That's right. So last, same one. Thank you for reminding me of that. One we passed out last year. Yes. All...
Sound legal advice depends upon the lawyer being fully informed by the client. When we allow jails to record the calls and then these calls to be used at trial as evidence, we strip that privilege away, and we undermine the very system this body has been sworn to uphold. So what this means in practice is a defendant sitting in the jail has no way to speak...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · March 16, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered seven bills and unanimously recommended all seven for passage. Members approved measures on certified court reporters for depositions, probate-court filing procedures, interstate travel for child exploitation, flood-history disclosures for home sales, benefits for injured law enforcement officers, notice of warrant application hearings and family cash bonds, and corrections to state law. The probate-filing, flood-disclosure and warrant-notice measures passed as committee substitutes. Discussion focused most heavily on whether requiring personal service of warrant hearing notices would burden local law enforcement. After the sponsor and legislative counsel said judges would retain flexibility to approve other delivery methods, the committee advanced that bill without another amendment.
Amazing. So one, two, three, four, five, six, seven house bills moved out today. Pretty good work, Mr. Chairman. It's good. So some of us have to appear in front of House Judiciary tomorrow and the next day, so hopefully we'll be just as fast and efficient. All right. With that, we are adjourned. Thank you.
All right.
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · March 23, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee advanced 12 bills addressing survivor confidentiality, court administration, juvenile justice planning, criminal penalties, domestic violence records, judicial staffing, public defender oversight and business lawsuits. Members unanimously approved most measures. HB 1076, which would make knowingly obstructing law enforcement with a vehicle a felony, passed 4 to 3 after an amendment excluding stationary vehicles failed. HB 1303, concerning unlawful drug possession around children, passed 4 to 1. HB 1075, increasing penalties for repeated misdemeanor offenses against people and sex offenses, also advanced on a divided vote, though the count is unclear in the transcript. Members amended HB 1061 to include the Georgia Public Defender Council in juvenile justice planning. Several substitutes substantially changed or expanded the bills, including HB 903, which became a measure regulating coin-operated amusement machines.
Your mic has been cut off, so let's go to House Bill 1303. We are working off of the version that passed the House, LC481783S. Are you now prepared? I'm prepared, Mr.- All right, go ahead. The floor is yours. Mr. Chairman, you know, sitting here late night, end of the agenda, uh, presentations are the second worst thing that can happen to a member. Uh, the...
And with the provision here with it using marijuana underline 14, um, that, that just makes me a little, a, a little uneasy because while I'm sure a good judge can adjudicate it, uh, uh, um, compassionately and knowingly, this does muddy the waters just a tiny bit. So if we could just get rid of, uh, of that one, one word, um, I'm, I, I can absolutely get...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · February 5, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee unanimously approved both bills and sent them to Rules. Members approved SB 405 without further discussion of its substance, following testimony at an earlier subcommittee meeting. For SB 398, members reviewed a narrower substitute addressing AI-generated obscene images and adopted two amendments. One concerned sexually explicit chatbot responses to children; the other limited certain probation restrictions to felony violations. The committee then unanimously approved the amended substitute. The chair also outlined a process of generally taking public testimony on Mondays and considering full committee votes on Thursdays.
Mm-hmm. Not to put the prosecuting attorney's counsel on the spot, um, the, do you wanna weigh in on that language? Does that give any... You don't wanna weigh in on that language? Okay. Mm-hmm. Anything from GACDL on that language or anything to add? Nobody else seems concerned except Senator Still. We'll send Elon Musk down to get a mugshot, I guess, in...
All right. Is there a second? Second. Second. All right. Any discussion on the proposed amendment? All those in favor of the amendment, please raise your hand. It is unanimous. All right. Thank you. Thank you for your work on this. Thank you very much. Thank you. Um, there was also mention other proposed amendment, I think the author was okay with, um, from...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee · February 19, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee, February 19, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee unanimously approved SB 443 by committee substitute and sent it to Rules. The chair said a subcommittee had already heard testimony and that the substitute addressed most concerns raised by committee members and speakers. No members asked questions, debated the bill or offered amendments during this meeting.
Trying to find a quorum, and everybody's balancing different committees, and so let's start, though, with a word of prayer. Anybody feeling inspired on the committee? Nobody will look me in the eye. Oh, Senator Still, you up to say a word of prayer? Please bow your heads. Heavenly Father, thank you that we have a day when the non-lawyers outnumber the...
... said you had the sarcasm. It's worse. Um, the- so we have one bill on the counter today. It's to substitute Senate Bill 443 that was already in subcommittee. Senator Summers is currently across the street chairing the Banking Committee, and I was just with him, and he's gonna continue chairing that. But we have a lot of bills still to get through in the...
Narrow the results
Counts are of the documents this search found.