Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB447: Crimes and offenses; crimes of gift card theft, gift card forgery, and gift card fraud; provide
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fraud and related offenses, so as to provide for the crimes of gift card theft, gift card forgery, and gift card fraud; to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties for violations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fraud and related offenses, so as to provide for the crimes of gift card theft, gift card forgery, and gift card fraud; to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties for violations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fraud and related offenses, so as to provide for the crimes of gift card theft, gift card forgery, and gift card fraud; to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties for violations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fraud and related offenses, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "16-9-64. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Cardholder' means any person to whom a physical or virtual gift card is sold, gifted, or issued following the authorized sale of such gift card. (2) 'Card issuer' means any person that issues a gift card. (3) 'Closed-loop gift card' means a card, code, or device issued to a consumer on a prepaid basis primarily for personal, familial, or household purposes in a specified amount, regardless of whether such amount may be increased or reloaded in exchange for H. B. LC 28 0661 payment, and is redeemable upon presentation by a consumer at a single merchant …
Sponsors
- Randy Robertson (R, 29) · primary sponsor
- Joseph Gullett (R, 19) · primary sponsor
- Jones, Todd (R, 25)
- Stacey Evans (D, 57)
- Johnny Chastain (R, 7)
- Carter Barrett (R, 24)
Latest actions
- : Effective Date
- : Act 627
- : House Date Signed by Governor
- : House Sent to Governor
- : Senate Passed/Adopted
- : Senate Third Read
- : Senate Taken from Table
- : Senate Tabled
- : Senate Committee Favorably Reported
- : Senate Recommitted
Votes
- Senate Vote #939 (April 2, 2026): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Vote #226 (March 6, 2025): 168 yea, 2 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB447?
- HB447 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Crimes and offenses; crimes of gift card theft, gift card forgery, and gift card fraud; provide.
- What does HB447 do?
- In its own words: To amend Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fraud and related offenses, so as to provide for the crimes of gift card theft, gift card forgery, and gift card fraud; to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties for violations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB447?
- Signed into law as of May 12, 2026. Latest action: Effective Date (July 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB447?
- Randy Robertson (R, 29), with 5 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB447?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70319
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.