Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB460: Evidence; exclude certain communications made between attorney and client when client is in a penal institution
Status: Passed one chamber, March 31, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 24-5-501 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certain communications privileged, so as to exclude from evidence certain communications made between attorney and client when the client is in a penal institution; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Code Section 24-5-501 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certain communications privileged, so as to exclude from evidence certain communications made between attorney and client when the client is in a penal institution; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Code Section 24-5-501 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certain communications privileged, so as to exclude from evidence certain communications made between attorney and client when the client is in a penal institution; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Code Section 24-5-501 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certain communications privileged, is amended by revising paragraph (2) of subsection (a) as follows: "(2) Communications between attorney and client, including any telephonic or electronic communications made with such client when he or she is held in a penal institution as defined in Code Section 16-10-56, subject to the following: (A) Each penal institution shall provide access to a nonrecording telephonic or electronic device for a client held in custody to communicate with his or her attorney; (B) The contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication intercepted pursuant to this chapter, or any evidence derived therefrom, shall not be received in evidence or H. B. LC 48 1468 otherwise disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in a federal or state court unless each party, not less than ten days before the trial, hearing, or proceeding, has been furnished …
Sponsors
- Bill Cowsert (R, 46) · primary sponsor
- Esther Panitch (D, 51) · primary sponsor
- Tyler Smith (R, 18)
- Stacey Evans (D, 57)
- Scott Holcomb (D, 101)
- Yasmin Neal (D, 79)
- Terry Cummings (D, 39)
Latest actions
- : Senate Tabled
- : Senate Committee Favorably Reported
- : Senate Recommitted
- : Senate Taken from Table
- : Senate Tabled
- : Senate Read Second Time
- : Senate Committee Favorably Reported
- : Senate Read and Referred
- : House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- : House Third Readers
Votes
- House Vote #208 (March 6, 2025): 172 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB460?
- HB460 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Evidence; exclude certain communications made between attorney and client when client is in a penal institution.
- What does HB460 do?
- In its own words: To amend Code Section 24-5-501 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certain communications privileged, so as to exclude from evidence certain communications made between attorney and client when the client is in a penal institution; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB460?
- Passed one chamber as of March 31, 2026. Latest action: Senate Tabled (March 31, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB460?
- Bill Cowsert (R, 46), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB460?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70347
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.