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GeorgiaHB 1622025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Georgia Bureau of Investigation; restriction and seal of First Offender Act sentences until such status is revoked; provide

Sponsored By: Katie Dempsey (Republican), Leesa Hagan (Republican), Rob Leverett (Republican), Matt Reeves (Republican), Tyler Paul Smith (Republican), Bill Werkheiser (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Judiciary Non-CivilJudiciaryGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More record privacy for first offenders

Georgia limits public and private sharing of covered first-offender arrest, charge, sentence, warrant, and probation records. Courts must seal First Offender Act court records and restrict covered law-enforcement records at sentencing or during the sentence. People sentenced before July 1, 2026, can petition the sentencing court if their sentence remains unrevoked and they have not been found guilty. Courts must order relief within 90 days of filing; clerks must seal records within 60 days of the order. Law enforcement must comply within 30 days after receiving the order. Sharing limits continue after active probation ends through the rest of the sentence, with statutory exceptions. Authorized access remains for criminal-justice employment, criminal-justice agencies, courts, public defenders, supervision, parole, judicial oversight, victim notification, and the person involved. Other exceptions cover disclosures required by law, firearm transfer or licensing decisions, court orders, and specified first-offender rules. Sealing and restrictions end when the sentence is revoked and the person is found guilty while serving it.

Sealed records for discharged first offenders

Georgia restricts court records when a first offender is exonerated and discharged without a court finding of guilt. Clerks must seal case documents within 60 days of discharge or a sealing order. People discharged before July 1, 2026, can petition the discharge-granting court to seal public records, including clerk-held indexes. They must notify the clerk and prosecutor; courts must order sealing within 90 days after filing. Law enforcement, jails, and detention centers must restrict records within 30 days after receiving the order. Access remains for the person involved, Georgia judges, judicial oversight, court-ordered access, and specific statutory disclosures. Prosecutors and public defenders can also access records without a court order after filing a sworn statement explaining their relevance to a criminal proceeding. Authorized users must keep the records confidential as far as practical.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Katie Dempsey

    Republican • House

  • Leesa Hagan

    Republican • House

  • Rob Leverett

    Republican • House

  • Matt Reeves

    Republican • House

  • Tyler Paul Smith

    Republican • House

  • Bill Werkheiser

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Bill Cowsert

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 385 • No: 0

House vote • 3/23/2026

Agree to Senate Substitute

Yes: 166 • No: 0 • Other: 5

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 47 • No: 0 • Other: 3

House vote • 2/19/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 172 • No: 0 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2026

  2. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/5/2026House

  3. Act 403

    5/5/2026

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/6/2026House

  5. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

    3/23/2026House

  6. Senate Third Read

    3/12/2026Senate

  7. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/12/2026Senate

  8. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/10/2026Senate

  9. Senate Taken from Table

    1/12/2026Senate

  10. Senate Recommitted

    1/12/2026Senate

  11. Senate Tabled

    4/2/2025Senate

  12. Senate Read Second Time

    3/25/2025Senate

  13. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/21/2025Senate

  14. Senate Read and Referred

    2/20/2025Senate

  15. House Third Readers

    2/19/2025House

  16. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    2/19/2025House

  17. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/12/2025House

  18. House Second Readers

    1/30/2025House

  19. House First Readers

    1/29/2025House

  20. House Hopper

    1/28/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 162/AP* (v8)

    PDF

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