# Georgia HB 161: Georgia Bureau of Investigation; authority to issue subpoenas of electronic communication records for purposes of investigating certain cyber enabled threats to life and property; provide

Georgia HB 161, Georgia Bureau of Investigation; authority to issue subpoenas of electronic communication records for purposes of investigating certain cyber enabled threats to life and property; provide, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Beth Camp (Republican), Clint Crowe (Republican), Kimberly New (Republican) and 2 others; status signed, last action 2025-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB161-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 161
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Georgia Bureau of Investigation; authority to issue subpoenas of electronic communication records for purposes of investigating certain cyber enabled threats to life and property; provide
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-28
- Last action: 2025-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: Beth Camp (Republican), Clint Crowe (Republican), Kimberly New (Republican), Matt Reeves (Republican), Tyler Paul Smith (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary Non-Civil, Judiciary, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (356 yes, 30 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Georgia adds terrorism protections and severe penalties: mixed, low. The law creates a domestic terrorism crime for committing or attempting a Georgia felony, alone or through related acts. It requires intent to seriously harm or kill people, or disable or destroy key infrastructure, government facilities, or public transportation. The destruction route requires maj…
- Georgia investigators gain access to customer records: mixed, low. With the attorney general’s consent, designated Georgia Bureau of Investigation leaders can subpoena records from communication and remote-computing providers. This power covers listed crimes, including certain computer-related crimes involving minors and domestic terrorism. Providers must give cus…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Beth Camp (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Clint Crowe (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Kimberly New (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Matt Reeves (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Tyler Paul Smith (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John Albers (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-25 | House | Agree to Senate Substitute | pass | 150 | 18 | 6 |
| 2025-03-20 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 48 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025-03-06 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 158 | 8 | 7 |

## Actions (16)

- 2025-07-01: Effective Date
- 2025-05-08: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-05-08: Act 68
- 2025-04-07: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2025-03-25: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- 2025-03-20: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2025-03-20: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-03-18: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-03-10: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: House Third Readers (House)
- 2025-03-06: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2025-03-04: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2025-01-30: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-01-29: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-01-28: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 161/AP* (v8): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/237200)

## 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 161/AP* (v8) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/237200)

## 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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB161-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).