Georgia SB398: Wiretapping, Eavesdropping, Surveillance, and Related Offenses; criminal offenses of virtual peeping; establish

What the bill says

To amend Code Section 16-11-61 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to peeping toms, so as to establish a criminal offense of virtual peeping on an adult; to provide for definitions; 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 16-11-61 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to peeping toms, so as to establish a criminal offense of virtual peeping on an adult; to provide for definitions; 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 16-11-61 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to peeping toms, is amended by adding a new subsection to read as follows: "(c)(1) As used in this subsection, the term: (A) 'Adult' means any individual 18 years of age or older. (B) 'Generative artificial intelligence system' means an engineered or computer based system that is intended to generate, with some degree of autonomy, synthetic content and information, including, but not limited to, images and text responses. (C) 'Image' means any readily recognizable photorealistic representation of an individual, including, but not limited to, a photograph. (D) 'Individual' means a natural person. S. B. 398 (SUB) LC 48 1846S (E) 'Obscene material' means material which meets the following requirements: (i) To the average person, applying contemporary community standards, taken as a whole, the material predominantly appeals or panders to prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion; (ii) The material, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Will Wade (R, 9) · primary sponsor
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050) · primary sponsor
• Jason Anavitarte (R, 31)
• Brian Strickland (R, 42)
• Randy Robertson (R, 29)
• Timothy Bearden (R, 30)
• Matt Brass (R, 6)
• Drew Echols (R, 49)
• Carden Summers (R, 13)
• Shawn Still (R, 48)
• Billy Hickman (R, 4)
• Burns, Max (R, 23)

Latest actions

1. March 31, 2026: Senate Disagreed House Amend or Sub
2. March 31, 2026: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
3. March 31, 2026: House Third Readers
4. March 27, 2026: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
5. February 25, 2026: House Second Readers
6. February 24, 2026: House First Readers
7. February 20, 2026: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
8. February 20, 2026: Senate Taken from Table
9. February 11, 2026: Senate Tabled
10. February 11, 2026: Senate Third Read

Votes

• House Vote #807 (March 31, 2026): 164 yea, 2 nay, passed
• Senate Vote #567 (February 20, 2026): 48 yea, 1 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB398?

SB398 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Wiretapping, Eavesdropping, Surveillance, and Related Offenses; criminal offenses of virtual peeping; establish.

What does SB398 do?

In its own words: To amend Code Section 16-11-61 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to peeping toms, so as to establish a criminal offense of virtual peeping on an adult; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

What is the status of SB398?

Passed both chambers as of March 31, 2026. Latest action: Senate Disagreed House Amend or Sub (March 31, 2026).

Who sponsored SB398?

Will Wade (R, 9), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB398?

On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72204