Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Introduced 6 R cosponsors

SB 572 — Criminal Prosecutions; an additional justification for use of force in defense of self or others; provide

Last action — House Committee Favorably Reported

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 24, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse in defenses to criminal prosecutions, so as to provide for an additional justification for use of force in defense of self or others; to amend Code Section 51-11-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to no duty to retreat and immunity in certain instances of threat or use of force, so as to extend immunity from civil liability in justified use of force cases to legal representatives and heirs of the person against whom force was used; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. House Committee Favorably Reported

  2. House Second Readers

  3. House First Readers

  4. Senate Passed/Adopted

  5. Senate Third Read

  6. Senate Read Second Time

  7. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

  8. Senate Read and Referred

  9. Senate Hopper

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 241 not signed on · 23 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (241)

241 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 241 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASSAGE

Passed 30 Yea · 23 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 30002
Democrat 02300
Unaffiliated 0001
Total 302303
% of votes cast 54%41%0%5%
How each member voted (56)
Member Party Vote
VACANT — Not Voting
David Lucas Democrat Nay
Derek Mallow Democrat Nay
Donzella James Democrat Nay
Ed Harbison Democrat Nay
Elena Parent Democrat Nay
Emanuel Jones Democrat Nay
Freddie Powell Sims Democrat Nay
Gail Davenport Democrat Nay
Harold Jones II Democrat Nay
Jaha Howard Democrat Nay
Josh McLaurin Democrat Nay
Kenya Wicks Democrat Nay
Kim Jackson Democrat Nay
Michael 'Doc' Rhett Democrat Nay
Nabilah Parkes Democrat Nay
Nan Orrock Democrat Nay
Nikki Merritt Democrat Nay
RaShaun Kemp Democrat Nay
Randal Mangham Democrat Nay
Sally Harrell Democrat Nay
Sheikh Rahman Democrat Nay
Sonya Halpern Democrat Nay
Tonya Anderson Democrat Nay
Ben Watson Republican Yea
Bill Cowsert Republican Yea
Billy Hickman Republican Yea
Blake Tillery Republican Yea
Bo Hatchett Republican Yea
Brian Strickland Republican Yea
Carden Summers Republican Yea
Chuck Hufstetler Republican Yea
Chuck Payne Republican Yea
Clint Dixon Republican Yea
Drew Echols Republican Yea
Ed Setzler Republican Yea
Frank Ginn Republican Yea
Greg Dolezal Republican Yea
Jason Anavitarte Republican Yea
Jason T. Dickerson Republican Yea
John Albers Republican Yea
Kay Kirkpatrick Republican Yea
Larry Walker, III Republican Yea
Lee Anderson Republican Yea
Marty Harbin Republican Yea
Matt Brass Republican Not Voting
Max Burns Republican Yea
Mike Hodges Republican Yea
Randy Robertson Republican Yea
Rick Williams Republican Yea
Russ Goodman Republican Yea
Sam Watson Republican Yea
Shawn Still Republican Not Voting
Steve Gooch Republican Yea
Steven McNeel Republican Yea
Timothy Bearden Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 572 do?
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse in defenses to criminal prosecutions, so as to provide for an additional justification for use of force in defense of self or others; to amend Code Section 51-11-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to no duty to retreat and immunity in certain instances of threat or use of force, so as to extend immunity from civil liability in justified use of force cases to legal representatives and heirs of the person against whom force was used; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Who sponsors SB 572?
SB 572 is sponsored by Blake Tillery (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Steven McNeel (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), and Brian Strickland (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 572?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 24, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 572?
Track SB 572 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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