Legislation Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee (60)
Use the drop down to the left to select the next 25 bills to display.

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0005 SupportChange in Grants to Counties Formula for Juvenile Judge Salaries Johnnie Caldwell
7/1/2017 Effective Date Juvenile Justice Judiciary -
2017/01/27-Report 2017/02/17-Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report Compensation
Debra Nesbit General County Government Juveniles Public Safety and Courts
This legislation changes the current amount for juvenile court judgeship grants-to-counties funding.  The grant increases from $85,000 to $100,000 per circuit, with an additional funding for circuits with four or more superior court judgeships, the grant will include $25,000 per superior court judgeship over four. For example a circuit with nine superior court judgeships would receive $225,000 per year for that circuit.
HB 0014 InactiveClarification - All Fees Collected By the Sheriff Go To General Fund Jeff Jones
5/1/2017 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
2017/01/13-Report 2017/03/10 - Report Debra Nesbit Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Public Safety and Courts
Revenue & Finance Sheriff
During the 2010 legislative session, a bill was passed and enacted dealing with juries.  Inadvertently, language requiring sheriffs to remit fees collected to the county within 30 days of receipt was deleted from this particular code section.  This legislation simply adds the language back. 
HB 0015 NegotiatingMandatory Electronic Filing for Civil Cases in Superior and State Courts Wendell Willard
3/30/2017 Senate Conference Committee Appointed 46th, 30th, 19th Judiciary Judiciary -
2017/01/27-Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/17 - Report Civil Procedure Clerk of Court
Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts
This legislation mandates all clerks of superior court accept electronically filed cases by January 1, 2018.  The cost of such filing shall not exceed $7.00.  The bill includes a hardship clause that extends that deadline for six months for counties who need additional time.  An amendment was added to the bill that prohibits the Council of the Superior Court Clerks, any state entity, or governing authority of any local government from keeping any portion of the fee.  NOTE:  This bill has been added to SB 407, the Governor's Criminal Justice Reform Bill.
HB 0076 InactiveClerks of Court - Revisions to Recording Maps, Plats and Plans Rick Jasperse
5/8/2017 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
2017/01/27-Report 2017/02/03-Report 2017/02/10 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/17 - Report
Clerk of Court General County Government Land Use/Zoning Todd Edwards

This is clean up legislation for HB 1004 from the 2016 legislative session.  All maps, plats, plans and condominium plans must now be submitted electronically to the clerk of superior court.  The remainder of the bill was worked out over the interim between counties, cities, surveyors, engineers, architects and the clerks, specifying the format for the submittal of plats and plans, required data for plats, which plats must be certified by land surveyors, and other certification required for plats.  Attempts to add language stating that maps not creating new roads or utilities do not need local approval prior to submittal to the clerk were unsuccessful. 

For the guidance document, click here

HB 0126 NeutralRestructure of Judicial Qualifications Commission Wendell Willard
7/1/2017 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
Debra Nesbit Magistrate Court Probate Court Public Safety and Courts State Court
Superior Court
This legislation changes the provisions governing the Judicial Qualifications Commission.
HB 0137 NeutralRestriction of Contingency Fees for Appointed Assistant District Attorneys in Forfeiture Action Scot Turner
3/7/2018 Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Judiciary Judiciary -
Clerk of Court Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit District Attorneys Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons
Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance
This legislation prohibits district attorneys from compensating appointed assistant district attorneys on a contingent basis by percentage of assets realized from a forfeiture.
HB 0138 NeutralSuperior courts; fifth judge of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit; provide Lee Hawkins
1/1/2018 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
Local Legislation Public Safety and Courts Superior Court
HB 0159 NeutralAdoption Code Rewrite Albert Reeves
9/1/2018 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
Clerk of Court Debra Nesbit Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Health and Human Services Open Records/Meetings Act
Probate Court Public Safety and Courts Sex Offender
This legislation substantially revises and modernizes the adoption laws in Georgia. 
HB 0162 SupportSetoff of Court Fees from Income Tax Refunds Betty Price
3/5/2018 Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute Judiciary Judiciary -
2017/02/17-Report Debra Nesbit Revenue & Finance
This bill changes setoff debt collection procedures regarding the transfer of setoff amounts by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). As allowed by existing law, the AOC may recoup fees owed to local courts from a taxpayer's income tax refund. This bill would allow the AOC to transfer those setoff funds to the local courts prior to final resolution of a taxpayer's challenge to whether such court fees are owed.
HB 0185 WatchAllow Associate Probate Judges to Also Serve as a Judge Advocate in the Military Christian Coomer
3/27/2018 Senate Tabled Judiciary Judiciary -
Debra Nesbit General County Government Personnel/Employment Probate Court Public Safety and Courts
This legislation allows fulltime associate probate court judges to serve as a judge advocate general or other military role in a military reserve.  Under current law, full time associate probate judges are not allowed to practice law outside of his or her role as judge.  
HB 0197 SupportRequirements for Solicitation Regarding Conveying Real Estate Sam Teasley
7/1/2017 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
Clerk of Court Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts
This legislation requires advertisements for services to obtain copies of deeds, mortgages and liens to include a notification that the advertisement is not a bill or official government document.
HB 0203 NeutralBreach of Restrictive Covenants - Statute of Limitation Brian Strickland
1/8/2018 Senate Recommitted Judiciary Judiciary -
Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance

This legislation alters various provisions regarding private restrictive covenants on land, including dictating circumstances under which control of such development may transfer to the unit/lot owners for failures on the part of the developer (for example, failure to pay property taxes for two or more years). 

The text of this bill was added to SB 46. 

HB 0213 WatchMandatory Minimum Sentence for Drug Offenses Involving Fentanyl Rich Golick
1/8/2018 Senate Recommitted Judiciary Non-Civil Judiciary -
Correctional Institutions/Jail Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts
This legislation adds the sale, manufacture or possession of fentanyl to the list of offenses with a mandatory minimum sentence.
HB 0280 NeutralGuns - Campus Carry Mandi Ballinger
7/1/2017 Effective Date Public Safety and Homeland Security Judiciary -
2017/02/10 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report Firearms/Carry Laws General County Government Public Safety and Courts
Todd Edwards
This legislation allows for the licensed, concealed carrying of handguns on the property of a public technical school, vocational school, college or university, or other public institution of postsecondary education - applying to all license holders.  Firearms will continue to be prohibited from athletic events, student housing (including fraternity and sorority houses), preschool or childcare space, college career academy or other specialized school,  any room used for classes in which high school students are enrolled, rooms where disciplinary proceedings are conducted,      
HB 0292 InactiveGuns - 2017 Omnibus Bill I Rick Jasperse
5/8/2017 Effective Date Public Safety and Homeland Security Judiciary -
2017/02/10 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report Airports Correctional Institutions/Jail Econ. Dev. & Transportation
Firearms/Carry Laws General County Government Georgia Bureau of Investigation Government Immunity Law Enforcement
Probate Court Probation Public Safety and Courts Sheriff Todd Edwards

HB 292 is this year's omnibus gun bull.  Georgia will recognize carry licenses for those moving here from other states (which have reciprocity laws with Georgia) for 90 days, so long as the person abides by Georgia's laws; probate judges are authorized to provide information on gun safety; DNR must post a link on its Web site for hunting gun safety course information; folks who legally change their name can get a free replacement license (if within 90 days of their license registration); retired law enforcement officers from other states do not need a license.  Any sheriff or retired sheriff, deputy or retired deputy sheriff, member or retired member of the Georgia State Patrol, member of retired member of GBI and retired law enforcement officer can carry a gun into a courthouse, unless the Sheriff providing security for the courthouse provides a lock box and screens out all other weapons by security personnel.                

 

HB 0319 SupportIncrease Reimbursement to Counties for Habeas Corpus Proceedings William Werkheiser
7/1/2017 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
2017/02/10 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/17 - Report Correctional Institutions/Jail Debra Nesbit
Public Safety and Courts
This legislation increases the maximum amount that may be reimbursed by the state to the counties for court costs for habeas corpus proceedings at both the trial and appellate levels from $10,000 to $30,000 annually.
HB 0341 SupportMandatory Sentences for Sex Trafficking and Changes to Mandatory Notice Albert Reeves
7/1/2017 Effective Date Judiciary Non-Civil Judiciary -
Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts Sex Offender
This legislation changes the requirements to the model notice for the human trafficking hotline, and the mandatory sentences for sex trafficking.
HB 0381 SupportAbandoned Mobile Homes - Method for Removal John Corbett
5/1/2019 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
2017/02/17-Report 2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/03/16 Report 2018/03/23 Report
Code Enforcement General County Government Magistrate Court Progressing Legislation Property Tax
Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance Tags/Titles Tax Commissioner Todd Edwards
This legislation establishes a process whereby private property owners can have abandoned mobile homes removed from their land.  Local governments may elect to provide a qualified "local agent" to make a determination, at the request of a property owner, whether a mobile home is abandoned, derelict or intact.  If deemed abandoned, the local government posts a notice, then the property owner notifies the last known mobile home owner (or posts a legal notice if no responsible party can be ascertained), which begins a process whereby the property owner can pay for the removal of the mobile home.  A hearing procedure is provided in magistrate court for aggrieved mobile home owners in this process.  Neither the local government nor the local agent shall bear any liability with respect to any lawful actions taken under this law.  Action: counties wishing to participate must first appoint a qualified local agent.    
HB 0406 InactiveGuns - Expand Reciprocity with Other States Alan Powell
4/5/2017 Effective Date Public Safety and Homeland Security Judiciary -
Firearms/Carry Laws General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation makes minor revisions to Georgia's weapons reciprocity law.   
HB 0434 SupportEminent Domain - Condemnation of Blighted Property Wendell Willard
7/1/2017 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development
Eminent Domain/Condemnation Financing General County Government Larry Ramsey
This bill establishes a process whereunder a local government can seek initial court determination of whether a property is blighted, and remedy of blight is deemed to be a "public use." If property is determined to be blighted, it can be the subject of condemnation proceedings. Additionally, such blighted property would not be subject to the normal limitations that a government must 1) hold condemned property for at least 20 years and 2) offer the property back to the prior owner if not put to public use within five years.
HB 0497 NeutralExtend Deadlines in Juvenile Deliquency Proceeding Under Certain Circumstances Chuck Efstration
3/6/2017 Senate Read and Referred Judiciary Judiciary -
Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services Juveniles Public Safety and Courts
This legislation changes the procedures for filing petitions for delinquency, as well as other matters involving juveniles. 
HB 0657 NeutralGuns - Unlawful to Provide to a Felon on Probation Jesse Petrea
7/1/2018 Effective Date Public Safety and Homeland Security Judiciary -
2018/02/09 Report Firearms/Carry Laws Probate Court Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation makes it a felony to knowingly and intentionally provide a firearm to another person who is on probation as a felony first offender.   
HB 0670 NeutralAdd Legislators to the Georgia State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision Alan Powell
5/3/2018 Act 325 Juvenile Justice Judiciary -
Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services Juveniles Public Safety and Courts
This legislation requires that legislators be added as members of the Georgia State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision.
HB 0673 NeutralProhibit Distracted Driving John Carson
7/1/2018 Effective Date Judiciary - Non-Civil Judiciary -
2018/01/12 Report 2018/02/23 Report 2018/03/2 Report 2018/03/23 Report Debra Nesbit
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Fire Services Public Safety and Courts Traffic Enforcement Transportation
This legislation creates the offense(s) of violation of usage of a wireless telecommunications device, which prohibits the use of the device for texting, receiving or sending text, or talking on a wireless device while driving.    The fine shall be $50.00 for the first conviction; the second conviction the fine shall be $100.00; and the third offense shall be $150.00, no additional surcharges shall be assessed on any fine for distracted driving.  There is a provision that if proof is presented to the court on the first offense that the driver purchased a hands free device for future use, the charge shall be dismissed.  There is a specific exemption for law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS or any public safety first responder during the performance of their duties.
HB 0790 NeutralAdministrative Hearings - Revised Procedures Chuck Efstration
5/8/2018 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
General County Government Larry Ramsey Public Safety and Courts
This bill would make various changes to the procedures for proceedings involving the Office of Administrative Hearings. This bill reflects recommendations from the Governor's Court Reform Council.
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








Copyright @1996-2015 Association County Commissioners of Georgia