Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia SB542: Sexual Offenses; clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; permit
Status: Signed into law, May 11, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sexual offenses, so as to permit clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
26 Floor Amend 1 WITHDRAWN Senators Robertson of the 29th, Setzler of the 37th, and Strickland of the 42nd offered the following amendment #1: Amend the Senate Committee on Judiciary substitute to SB 542 (LC 49 2755S) by: Before the word "spiritual" on lines 85 and 115 insert the following: "abuse of such clergy member's"
Sponsors
- Chuck Efstration (R, 104) · primary sponsor
- Randy Robertson (R, 29) · primary sponsor
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
- Brian Strickland (R, 42)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, 32)
- Billy Hickman (R, 4)
- John Albers (R)
- Burns, Max (R, 23)
- Russ Goodman (R, 8)
- Drew Echols (R, 49)
- Lee Anderson (R, 24)
- Chuck Payne (R, 54)
Latest actions
- : Effective Date
- : Act 496
- : Senate Date Signed by Governor
- : Senate Sent to Governor
- : Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub
- : House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- : House Third Readers
- : House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- : House Second Readers
- : House First Readers
Votes
- Senate Vote #842 (March 27, 2026): 47 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Vote #750 (March 23, 2026): 168 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Vote #644 (March 6, 2026): 55 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB542?
- SB542 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Sexual Offenses; clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; permit.
- What does SB542 do?
- A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sexual offenses, so as to permit clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
- What is the status of SB542?
- Signed into law as of May 11, 2026. Latest action: Effective Date (July 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB542?
- Chuck Efstration (R, 104), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB542?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73480
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.