# Georgia HB 123: Criminal procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has an intellectual disability; provide Georgia HB 123, Criminal procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has an intellectual disability; provide, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Stan Gunter (Republican), Scott Holcomb (Democrat), Matt Reeves (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (House Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB123-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Georgia HB 123 - State: Georgia - Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session - Title: Criminal procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has an intellectual disability; provide - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-27 - Last action: 2025-05-13, House Date Signed by Governor - Sponsors: Stan Gunter (Republican), Scott Holcomb (Democrat), Matt Reeves (Republican), Deborah Silcox (Republican), Tyler Paul Smith (Republican), Bill Werkheiser (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Judiciary Non-Civil, Judiciary, General Bill - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (375 yes, 4 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Disability findings mean life, not death: benefit, low. In death-penalty cases with a pretrial disability notice, the jury first decides guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. After conviction, the defendant presents disability evidence, the state can respond, and the defendant can rebut. The jury separately decides whether intellectual disability is more lik… - Disability pleas and verdicts require evidence: benefit, low. When defendants raise insanity, mental illness, or intellectual disability, courts and juries have five verdict options. These are guilty, not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity, guilty but mentally ill, and guilty but with intellectual disability. The last two options are limited to felony c… - Pretrial disability findings block death penalty: benefit, low. Georgia defendants facing the death penalty can file notice claiming intellectual disability before trial. The court may hold a hearing at the defendant’s request and must hold one if both sides request it. Defendants must share relevant reports, witness names, and materials at least 60 days before… - Disability claims pause defendants’ speedy-trial clock: cost, low. After a defendant files a pretrial intellectual-disability notice, time spent deciding the claim does not count toward speedy-trial deadlines. Time while competency determinations or competency trials are pending is also excluded. These pauses can extend the time before a defendant’s speedy-trial d… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Stan Gunter (Republican), House - Sponsor: Scott Holcomb (Democrat), House - Sponsor: Matt Reeves (Republican), House - Sponsor: Deborah Silcox (Republican), House - Sponsor: Tyler Paul Smith (Republican), House - Sponsor: Bill Werkheiser (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brian Strickland (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-31 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 53 | 1 | | | 2025-03-31 | House | Agree to Senate Substitute | pass | 150 | 3 | 13 | | 2025-03-04 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 172 | 0 | 3 | ## Actions (16) - 2025-05-13: House Date Signed by Governor (House) - 2025-05-13: Act 191 - 2025-05-13: Effective Date - 2025-04-08: House Sent to Governor (House) - 2025-03-31: Senate Third Read (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate) - 2025-03-31: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House) - 2025-03-27: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate) - 2025-03-27: Senate Read Second Time (Senate) - 2025-03-06: Senate Read and Referred (Senate) - 2025-03-04: House Third Readers (House) - 2025-03-04: House Passed/Adopted (House) - 2025-02-20: House Committee Favorably Reported (House) - 2025-01-29: House Second Readers (House) - 2025-01-28: House First Readers (House) - 2025-01-27: House Hopper (House) ## Bill text - HB 123/AP* (v5): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/238516) ## Related bills - SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed) - SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed) - SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed) - SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed) - HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed) - HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed) ## Sources - [HB 123/AP* (v5) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/238516) ## Related - [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026) - [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026) - [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026) - [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026) - [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026) - [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026) - [Georgia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia/bills) - [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB123-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).