2023-24 Georgia Legislative Update
Feb 20, 2024
Police Benevolent Association of Georgia
2023-24 Georgia Legislative Update
As of February 19, 2024 (6 Legislative Days until Cross-Over Deadline)
GEORGIA HOUSE
HB 130 – Student Loan Repayment for Peace Officers up to $20,000
Georgia General Assembly - HB 130 (ga.gov)
Passed House. Passed Senate by Substitute 01/29/24. House Agreed to Substitute 02/06/24
Sponsor: Matthew Gambill
Co-Sponsors: J Collins, Bill Hitchens, Bill Werkheiser, Eddie Lumsden, & Yasmin Neal
HB 424 – Courts, Office of the Sheriff, Revise Qualification Requirements
Georgia General Assembly - HB 424 (ga.gov)
Assigned: House Public Safety & Homeland Security passed by Substitute. House Re-Committed 03/29/23. House Public Safety & Homeland Security passed Substitute as Amended 02/07/24. Scheduled for House Floor vote on 02/20/24
Sponsor: Ken Vance
Co-Sponsors: Clint Crowe, J. Collins, Bill Hitchens, Eddie Lumsden, & Alan Powell
HB 451 – First Responder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Supplemental Insurance
Georgia General Assembly - HB 451 (ga.gov)
House Public Safety & Homeland Security Passed by Substitute 01/25/24. House Recommitted 02/08/24.
Sponsor: Devan Seabaugh
Co-Sponsors: Greg Kennard, Bill Hitchens, Houston Gaines, Beth Camp, & Derrick McCollum
HB 472 – MCCD and Capitol LEO Allowed to Retire at 55 with Minimum Years of Service
Georgia General Assembly - HB 472 (ga.gov)
Assigned: House Retirement Committee on 02/22/23
Sponsor: Clint Crowe
Co-Sponsors: Shaw Blackmon, Bill Hitchens, Eddie Lumsden, Alan Powell, & Joseph Gullett
HB 500 – Arson of a Law Enforcement Vehicle
Georgia General Assembly - HB 500 (ga.gov)
Passed House. Assigned: Senate Judiciary Passed 01/26/24.
Sponsor: Deborah Silcox
Co-Sponsor: Matt Reeves, Scott Hilton, Mike Cheokas, & Lauren Daniel
HB 509 – Adds Family Violence as an Element of Burglary in the First Degree
Georgia General Assembly - HB 509 (ga.gov)
Passed House. Assigned: Senate Children & Families. Senate Recommitted 01/08/24.
Sponsor: Mandi Ballinger
Co-Sponsors: Scott Hilton, Matt Reeves, Lauren Daniel, Mike Cheokas, & Darlene Taylor
HB 824 – SLEO Retirement Plan and Drop Program
Georgia General Assembly - HB 824 (ga.gov)
Assignment: House Retirement on 03/29/23
Sponsor: John Carson
Co-Sponsors: Bill Hitchens, Clint Crowe, Eddie Lumsden, Mike Choakas, & Shaw Blackmon
HB 930 – Prohibits Publishing Booking Photos Until After Conviction
Georgia General Assembly - HB 930 (ga.gov)
Assignment: House Public Safety & Homeland Security on 01/23/24
Sponsor: Jordon Ridley
Co-Sponsors: Jason Ridley, Matt Reeves, Alan Powell, Mitchell Horner, & Carter Barrett
HB 964 – Mandates Annual Ethics and Inclusivity Training for all First Responders
Georgia General Assembly - HB 964 (ga.gov)
Assignment: House Public Safety & Homeland Security on 01/24/24
Sponsor: Sandra Scott
Co-Sponsors: Viola Davis & Kim Schofield
HB 973 – Certain Retirement for Long-Term Service LEO & Others to be Tax Exempt
Georgia General Assembly - HB 973 (ga.gov)
Assignment: House Ways & Means on 01/24/24
Sponsor: Beth Camp
Co-Sponsor: J. Collins, Bill Hitchens, Eddie Lumsden, Stan Gunter, & Derrick McCollum
HB 980 – Employee Empowerment & Transparency Act
Georgia General Assembly - HB 980 (ga.gov)
Assignment: House Industry & Labor on 01/24/24
Sponsor: Kim Schofield
Co-Sponsors: Doreen Carter, Dewey McClain, Pedro “Pete” Marin, Viola Davis, & Sandra Scott
HB 984 – Insurance Commissioner May Approve Off-Duty Use of Vehicle by Department LEO
Georgia General Assembly - HB 984 (ga.gov)
Passed House on 02/12/24. Assignment: Senate Insurance & Labor on 02/13/24
Sponsor: Eddie Lumsden
Co-Sponsors: Steve Tarvin, Darlene Taylor, Noel Williams, Jr., & Joseph Gullett
HB 996 – Provides Arrest Powers to Certified Jailers
Georgia General Assembly - HB 996 (ga.gov)
Assignment: House Public Safety & Homeland Security on 01/25/24
Sponsor: Ken Vance
Co-Sponsor: Joseph Gullett, Alan Powell, Bill Hitchens, & Rob Leverett
HB 1001 – Possession of Driver’s License by Electronic Means
Georgia General Assembly - HB 1001 (ga.gov)
Passed House Motor Vehicles by Substitute on 02/16/24
Sponsor: Clay Pirkle
Co-Sponsors: John Corbett & J Collins
HB 1054 – Modifies Options on Refusal to Sign a Citation
Georgia General Assembly - HB 1054 (ga.gov)
Assignment: Passed House Motor Vehicles on 02/13/24
Sponsor: Yasmin Neal
Co-Sponsors: Bill Hitchens, Ken Vance, Scott Holcomb, & Matt Reeves
HB 1089 – Allows Expanded Jurisdiction for Campus PD and Other Security Personnel
Georgia General Assembly - HB 1089 (ga.gov)
Assignment: House Public Safety & Homeland Security on 02/01/24
Sponsor: Soo Hong
Co-Sponsors: Mandi Ballinger, Chuck Martin, Bill Hitchins, & Clint Crowe
HB 1117 – Allows U.S. Nationals to be Eligible for Certification as a Georgia LEO.
Georgia General Assembly - HB 1117 (ga.gov)
Assignment: Passed House Public Safety & Homeland Security by Substitute 02/15/24. Re-Committed by Rules Committee 02/16/24.
Sponsor: Bill Hitchens
Co-Sponsors: Eddie Lumsden, J. Collins, Ken Vance, & Jasmin Neal
HB – 1126 – Proposes to Eliminate Speed Detection in School Zones by Automated Safety Devices
Georgia General Assembly - HB 1126 (ga.gov)
Assignment: House Motor Vehicles
Sponsor: Clay Pirkle
Co-Sponsors: Rick Jasperse, Joseph Gullett, Robert Dickie, & J. Collins
HB – 1150 – Fingerprints Prohibited in Offenses Related to Window or Windshield Tinting
Georgia General Assembly - HB 1150 (ga.gov)
Assignment: Passed House Motor Vehicles 02/13/24
Sponsor: J. Collins
Co-Sponsors: John Corbett, Steven Sainz, Clay Pirkle, & Clint Crowe
HB 1168 – Certain Medical Conditions & Disabilities Noted on Driver’s Licenses
Georgia General Assembly - HB 1168 (ga.gov)
Assignment: House Public Safety & Homeland Security
Sponsor: Rick Townsend
Co-Sponsors: Buddy DeLoach, Steven Saina, Ken Vance, Matt Reeves, & Chas Cannon
HB 1188 – Extends LE Reimbursement to 3 Years and Defines How to Calculate Cost
Georgia General Assembly - HB 1188 (ga.gov)
Assignment: Passed House Public Safety & Homeland Security 02/13/24
Sponsor: Jody Lott
Co-Sponsor: Alan Powell, Bill Hitchens, J Collins, & Ken Vance
GEORGIA SENATE
SB 37 – Sheriff Candidates Required to be POST Certified in Good Standing at Qualification
Georgia General Assembly - SB 37 (ga.gov)
Passed Senate. Assigned: House Re-Committed to Public Safety & Homeland Security on 03/29/23
Sponsor: Randy Robertson
Co-Sponsors: John Albers, Bo Hatchett, Carden Summers, Kay Kirkpatrick, & Lee Anderson
SB 63 – Setting of Bonds, Schedule of Bails, & Limit Unsecured Judicial Releases
Georgia General Assembly - SB 63 (ga.gov)
Passed Senate. House Passed by Substitute. Conference Committee Report Adopted by Senate on 02/01/24 & by House on 02/06/24.
Sponsor: Randy Robertson
Co-Sponsors: Steve Gooch, Matt Brass, Jason Anavitarte, John Kennedy, & Frank Ginn
SB 78 – Impoundment & Seizure of Off-Road Vehicles Fleeing LEO
Georgia General Assembly - SB 78 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Senate Public Safety Passed. Senate Recommitted 01/08/24.
Sponsor: Randy Robertson
Co-Sponsors: John Albers, Brian Strickland, Mike Dugan, & Lee Anderson
SB 110 – Back the Blue Act to Create Supplemental Funds in Support of LEO Pay & Benefits
Georgia General Assembly - SB 110 (ga.gov)
Passed Senate. Assigned: House Insurance Passed by Substitute. House Recommitted 03/29/23. House Insurance Passed by Substitute on 02/16/24
Sponsor: Larry Walker III
Co-Sponsors: Steve Gooch, Blake Tillery, Jason Anavitarte, Randy Robertson, Carden Summers, Brandon Beach, Mike Dugan, & Brian Strickland
SB 159 – Possession of Cell Phones Behind Guard Line a Felony
Georgia General Assembly - SB 159 (ga.gov)
Senate Passed & House Passed by Substitute. Senate Disagreed to House Substitute on 03/27/23. House Insisted on 01/08/24. Senate Receded 01/22/23
Sponsor: Randy Robertson
Co-Sponsors: John Albers, Mike Dugan, Kay Kirkpatrick, & Larry Walker III
SB 176 – Sets Criminal & Civil Penalties for Release of Certain Personal Information of LEO & Others
Georgia General Assembly - SB 176 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Senate Government Oversight Passed by Substitute. Senate Recommitted 01/08/24.
Sponsor: Jason Esteves
Co-Sponsors: Brian Strickland, Gloria Butler, Matt Brass, Elena Parent, John Albers, Harold Jones II, & Sonya Halpern
SB 328 – Modernization of POAB Fund
Georgia General Assembly - SB 328 (ga.gov)
Passed Senate. Assigned: House Retirement on 02/01/24
Sponsor: John Albers
Co-Sponsor: Randy Robertson
SB 329 – POST Accreditation of all Georgia Law Enforcement Agencies
Georgia General Assembly - SB 329 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Senate Public Safety on 03/27/23.
Sponsor: Emanuel Jones
Co-Sponsors: John Albers, Gloria Butler, Elena Parent, Sonya Halpern, Randy Robertson, & Harold Jones
SB 359 – Protecting Georgians Act
Georgia General Assembly - SB 359 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Recommitted to Senate Judiciary on 01/25/24
Sponsor: John Albers
Co-Sponsors: Steve Gooch, John Kennedy, Randy Robertson, Kay Kirkpatrick, Brandon Beach, Chuck Hufstetler, Max Burns, Chuck Payne, & Ed Harbison
SB 362 – Sets Standards for Recognition of Labor Organizations & Receive Economic Development Funds
Georgia General Assembly - SB 362 (ga.gov)
Passed Senate 02/08/24. Passed House Industry & Labor 02/15/24
Sponsor: Mike Hodges
Co-Sponsors: Shawn Still, Carden Summers, Shelly Echols, Randy Robertson, John Albers, Billy Hickman, Max Burns, Clint Dixon, Ross Goodman, Marty Harbin, Larry Walker III, Steve Gooch, Jason Anavitarte, John Kennedy, Frank Ginn, Greg Dolezal, Ed Setzler, & Bo Hatchett
SB 363 – Establishes GPSTC Law Enforcement Unit
Georgia General Assembly - SB 363 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Senate Public Safety Passed 01/29/24
Sponsor: John Albers
Co-Sponsors: Randy Robertson, Jason Anavitarte, Russ Goodman, Carden Summers, John Kennedy, Steve Gooch, Frank Ginn, Max Burns, Greg Dolezal, Brian Strickland, Marty Harbin, Lee Anderson, Bill Cowsert, Sam Watson, Matt Brass, Bo Hatchett, & Brandon Beach
SB 371 – Workers Compensation & Pay Differential for Peace Officers
Georgia General Assembly - SB 371 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Senate Judiciary on 01/23/24
Sponsor: Brian Strickland
Co-Sponsors: Emanuel Jones, Randy Robertson, Gloria Butler, John Albers, Elena Parent, Harold Jones II, & Steve Gooch
SB 414 – Personal Privacy Protection Act
Georgia General Assembly - SB 414 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Passed Senate Judiciary on 02/15/24
Sponsor: John Kennedy
Co-Sponsors: Steve Gooch, Randy Robertson, Jason Anavitarte, John Albers, Chuck Payne, Billy Hickman, Max Burns, Ben Watson, Bo Hatchett, Marty Harbin, Shelly Echols, Mike Hodges, Carden Summers, Larry Walker III, Shawn Still, Frank Ginn, & Sam Watson.
SB 415 – Police Registration Oversight for Tracking and Capture Technology (PROTECT) Act
Georgia General Assembly - SB 415 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Senate Judiciary on 01/30/24
Sponsor: Randy Robertson
Co-Sponsors: Chuck Payne
SB 418 – GA POST Training in Animal Fighting and Recognition of Animal Abuse
Georgia General Assembly - SB 418 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Passed Senate Public Safety by Substitute on 02/15/24
Sponsor: Rick Williams
Co-Sponsors: Lee Anderson, John Albers, Randy Robertson, Kim Jackson, Harold Jones II, & John Kennedy
SB 490 – Redefines Punishments upon Conviction for Fleeing and Eluding a LEO
Georgia General Assembly - SB 490 (ga.gov)
Assigned: Senate Public Safety on 02/13/24
Sponsor: Bill Cowsert
Co-Sponsors: John Albers, John Kennedy, Randy Robertson, Steve Gooch, & Bo Hatchett
January 15, 2025
For Skylar Patten, a 2024 graduate of Union Grove High School, basketball has been a way of life for many years now.
moreMay 14, 2024
The Georgia Police Benevolent Association is committed to keeping you informed of legislation that may affect your work-life, pay and benefits.
moreApril 19, 2024
The Police Benevolent Association of Georgia Augusta's River Region Chapter is hosting the 3rd annual Back the Badge Car Show on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.
more