Georgia lawmakers eye 911 modernization, law enforcement bills in 2026

The 2026 legislative session starts Jan. 12, and Georgia lawmakers will consider several pieces of legislation that concern public safety and law enforcement.

Last session, state lawmakers passed two measures to move to modernize Georgia’s 911 call center system to reduce response times and provide responders with more information. House Bill 423 requires all new 911 systems to meet Next Generation 911 standards. HB 429 created a study committee to plan the transition, according to WJBF.

Lawmakers also allocated nearly $6 million last session to start the process. The new system will allow people to text, send photos and videos, and allow responders to pinpoint locations. At least 13 other states have already moved to the new system, according to WJBF.

The study committee provided several recommendations, including creating a state-level fee, trust fund and distribution plan, revising state infrastructure and creating a working group to examine the fees.

Political analyst Bill Crane told WJBF the upgrade will provide major benefits.

“Quicker response times, more data for the first responder, photographs, more detail, more precise geographic location, all of those things coming from a mobile device, as opposed to the standard landline system,” Crane said.

Some bills were introduced last session that will carry over into the 2026 session. This is not a comprehensive list.

• HB 162: This bill will require the restriction and sealing of First Offender Act court records at sentencing.
• SB 32: This bill would impose minimum sentences for individuals convicted of doing violence against law enforcement officers. The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia opposes this legislation because “it will not deter violence against officers and will instead worsen sentencing disparities, remove judicial discretion, and encourage bad-faith plea bargaining,” according to their website. 
• HB 915: This bill would allow county and city law enforcement agencies to employ civilian personnel to assist in certain duties, such as traffic accident investigations and missing person searches.
• HB 920: This bill would prohibit individuals who have been members of hate groups from serving in law enforcement and organized militia.