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