HB 729 moves to amend Chapter 14 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to habeas corpus. The bill calls for the revision of Code Section 9-14-4 to specify that the petition for the writ of habeas corpus be brought physically before the judge or by video conference. When the use of video conferencing is applied, the judge must have realistic visual and audible contact with the applicant. Code Section 9-14-5 is revised to contain more gender neutral pronouns in reference to the judge. Code Section 9-14-10 is revised to allow for video conferencing in the protocol for the respondent's return to writ.