[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6632642,"mediaKeyId","2671289-baabf54c4a23009d8e8d852746e0f24d","parentId",2671289,"title","Committee approves 'Halo Act' to bar approaching first responders within 25 feet after warning","audioSeconds",629,"startMs",982000,"endMs",1611000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671289-baabf54c4a23009d8e8d852746e0f24d&start=982&end=1611","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671289-baabf54c4a23009d8e8d852746e0f24d/thumbnail_982000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632642/Georgia/Committee-approves-Halo-Act-to-bar-approaching-first-responders-within-25-feet-after-warning","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632642-e48fa200717550aa2193edecbbb3b7dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160368&Signature=VskeKnabU2NeGYILTcD~UHqcI-NNdaWEIuxOXxSWEBGCXwuMmGPz4SyiLpDR4xnNjbS14U~J0o1nf5zrzFWoSlGmlvkbJIdZWr8qAEoFSzXqLDFarUIm6ccXpDpamcw9wGYa-NN~DVwLsWhT3qSlZTHSl22JkStmjonfnka2Sqw0sm4qU5mDAtjZHyQl24FO6604Yr2wqP9ywEudnaG6a6xruDvBVGeL2cha75PNOaTYHkl0lEm~Wx5m6qfSYJV~mVh0CzxpfrqCYqzzreDBXpwrIPsGLN32VAAISsEoS6gOVSGgm3y1rIA-VQfaPm2f-eeug-Ey6HvMVmRPW4IzLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-03-18T15:12:05.83Z","article","Representative Whit Robertson, the bill’s sponsor, told the House Judiciary Committee during its hearing that Senate Bill 268 — commonly described in testimony as the “Halo Act” — would create a specific offense for interfering with a first responder at an incident scene.

\"After receiving a verbal warning ... and approaches or remains within 25 feet of the first responder with the intent to impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform such duty, threaten the first responder with physical harm, or harass the first responder,\" Robertson said, describing language in the draft. Robertson characterized the offense as \"a misdemeanor of high and aggravated nature.\"

The bill defines \"first responders\" to include law enforcement, fire suppression and rescue agencies, and other personnel who may be engaged in the lawful performance of duties, according to Robertson's presentation. He told the committee the 25-foot distance is grounded in studies of \"reactionary zones\" and is intended to give trained responders time to react to an assault or attack. \"The standard number that they came up with was 25 feet,\" Robertson said, noting the figure comes from long-standing research.

Supporters said the measure targets \"looky loos\" and bystanders who, intent on recording or photographing a scene, impede responders and traffic flow. Robertson stressed the bill would not prohibit people from filming or from yelling unless their conduct actually interferes with the responder's duties. Representative Petish, who said a similar bill had been considered elsewhere, asked about differences; Robertson replied the bill expands the distance to reduce on-scene confusion and crowding.

Maisie Lynn Guertin, executive director of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, testified in committee that Georgia already criminalizes obstruction of police, firefighters and EMS personnel and that those statutes cover many of the behaviors SB 268 targets. \"We already have the crimes of obstruction of law enforcement officer, obstruction of a firefighter, obstruction of an EMS worker,\" Guertin said. She raised practical concerns about the bill’s requirement that a first responder give a verbal warning before the new offense could apply, saying that obligation could be \"cumbersome\" to implement at incident scenes.

After brief additional questions, the committee voted to pass SB 268. The record in the hearing shows the committee approved the bill by voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript excerpt.

The measure will now move to the next legislative step assigned by the committee. Proponents framed the bill as a targeted tool to keep responders safe and maintain traffic flow at crash and emergency scenes; opponents urged caution and noted similar conduct is already unlawful under existing obstruction statutes.

Ending: Committee testimony and discussion centered on how to balance responder safety, public access to scenes and the practicalities of enforcement. The committee passed the bill and it will proceed through the legislative process with the language as amended in committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Judiciary Non-Civil Hong Subcommittee 03.18.25","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Whit Robertson told the House Judiciary Committee that Senate Bill 268, known as the Halo Act, would make it a misdemeanor for a person who, after a verbal warning, knowingly approaches or remains within 25 feet of a first responder with the intent to impede, threaten or harass the responder.","taxTitle","Judiciary, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",17225,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632633,"Panel approves school-safety package bill; debate centers on charging juveniles as adults for terroristic acts",3267,2063000,5330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671289-baabf54c4a23009d8e8d852746e0f24d&start=2063&end=5330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671289-baabf54c4a23009d8e8d852746e0f24d/thumbnail_2063000.jpg","/articles/6632633/Georgia/Panel-approves-school-safety-package-bill-debate-centers-on-charging-juveniles-as-adults-for-terroristic-acts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632633-114288038cdf9dd2c27d70fb15f2d571/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160368&Signature=TEIU~VcJiuZL4gZw7Djbk-Qsmdst9J-XU47IPHZT2lFe5bY1TzIjX8PvOnaICVg9yE5KK6q7T54fCA3BatOtaRtYMDduhhq6Zb5w2XaaNylvTfm7QJnkdAmKs5WnJ7kHIF2fAtW-j9gjlqGxwHSSoQaUAoP8cFnnMON4B8ix16rGE4OHG7NvXfAfc9hksdXicTMfuH~2jgioxXALK~SuscdV9ENToSfcN1NBDf2gx1Z6tVYnY9KZ-HZAJSpNnQNp0XIRmZcariC1wZpnC3YorxxMPBGBrhVmuG4QYiNq-xdhNNE-EGmKvrt3O1dnr1SsEWx1UAiTqPIF9Clre5a5EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Dolezal told the Judiciary Committee that Senate Bill 61 is part of a three-bill school-safety package and described four principal components: creating new school-related terroristic-offense statutes, expanding superior-court jurisdiction for certain serious underlying offenses, requiring notification to public schools when an enrolled or prospective student is placed under electronic monitoring or intensive supervision, and mandating annual site threat assessments in partnership with local law enforcement and GEMA.

\"Senate Bill 61 really does 3 main things,\" Senator Dolezal summarized. He said the bill draws a line between terroristic threats and terroristic acts, and — after committee changes — would permit minors to be charged as adults in superior court for terroristic acts only, not for threats. The draft also adds attempt and conspiracy to the universe of offenses that may be prosecuted in superior court when predicated on the designated underlying felonies.

The bill drew extensive testimony from advocacy groups, school-policy organizations and defense lawyers who urged the committee to narrow or remove the juvenile-to-adult provisions. Mikayla Arciaga of the Intercultural Development Research Association said SB 61 \"takes an overly punitive approach\" and warned it would \"exacerbate discipline and school-to-prison disparities,\" particularly for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency. Morgan Bridgeman of Georgia Appleseed said the state already has juvenile and education-code options to address school disturbance and that processing large numbers of school-related threats in superior court would \"flood both our juvenile and our superior court systems.\" She said many recorded incidents are non-credible threats or typical adolescent behavior.

Russell Gabriel, introduced by the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and other defense witnesses focused on statutory mechanics, arguing that including attempt and conspiracy could criminalize a wide range of preparatory conduct by juveniles. \"The definition of attempt only requires that the government prove ... a substantial step,\" Gabriel said, warning that seemingly minor acts — buying a burner phone or talking about a plan — could be charged as designated felonies if attempt or conspiracy provisions apply.

District Attorney Cranford testified in support, saying prosecutors and local law enforcement need tools and time to investigate serious school-related acts and that the current juvenile-code mechanism does not always allow sufficient time for full criminal investigations. \"The current juvenile code doesn't sufficiently protect victims and the innocent public from ... very dangerous juveniles,\" Cranford said.

Committee members debated competing policy priorities: keeping schools safe and ensuring interventions appropriate to youth development. Representative Panish moved to strike sections 1 and 4 (the juvenile-to-adult and new-offense provisions); that amendment failed on a committee voice vote. The committee then voted to pass SB 61 as drafted in committee. The transcript records robust public testimony and multiple requests for line-by-line changes; proponents and opponents agreed on the need for more school-based mental-health services, but differed sharply on whether this bill was the right approach.

Ending: Senate Bill 61 passed the Judiciary Committee after extensive public testimony and debate. Supporters called it a measured step to give prosecutors and schools tools to respond to credible threats and acts; opponents urged reliance on juvenile procedures, behavioral-health investments and limiting new adult prosecution pathways for children.","Senate Bill 61, presented to the Judiciary Committee as part of a three-bill school-safety package, passed after hours of testimony that centered on a provision allowing certain school-related \"terroristic acts\" by minors to be prosecuted in superior court.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632637,"Committee shifts prosecuting-attorney oversight to Administrative Office of the Courts, grants limited subpoena power",571,1589000,2160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671289-baabf54c4a23009d8e8d852746e0f24d&start=1589&end=2160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671289-baabf54c4a23009d8e8d852746e0f24d/thumbnail_1589000.jpg","/articles/6632637/Georgia/Committee-shifts-prosecuting-attorney-oversight-to-Administrative-Office-of-the-Courts-grants-limited-subpoena-power","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632637-e63cb37687e6cee272a2be680c3460f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160368&Signature=I3PF9ygJ1uQ8g79v6x5HDTU30JeE~pIlIluPXAgRtS9y7zYPQU2ulDgU4pzlwW4Ao1~i5l8-O7Y2d3NLTAXUDByybsqLLUIthIpMd58GhQrmbtyQfJ7E34QQqMQejaIdfwTzXsdYTN~iZau3Wp5sdtDiVfWiXjzY97u-kxunsCgPdErppDW8Dv78--fgYO13dukSr9mEB8TG8NplCbxMjsK-xCB25KZ8FIxLhiooZqQch0xLM3cr5L6nEJX16IwUgeIBcaZ4biZSQqKVefApNVsEwl0NwPpGtzrpsWK2p5701njGQ14lLllfVu1SyJtUWWejRFpEa6c8ZLXQ3bzWOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Whit Robertson told the committee that Senate Bill 218 would transfer the Prosecuting Attorneys' Qualification Commission (PAQC) from its current structure to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), a change he said would reduce costs and place the commission with a body experienced in judicial matters. \"We are moving the prosecuting attorney's qualification commission away from PAC and moving them over to the AOC,\" Robertson said, describing the administrative and budget reasons behind the proposal.

Robertson said the bill would also provide limited subpoena power to the commission. He told members that a proposed provision for search-warrant authority was removed in committee because it was unnecessarily intrusive: \"I was not comfortable with search warrants being a part of that,\" Robertson said.

Committee members proposed and approved two committee amendments during debate. One amendment struck the word \"review\" in the appeal provision and replaced it with language directing that a petitioner receive \"a full hearing to the superior court,\" and that any superior-court decision would be subject to review by the Supreme Court. Robertson described that change as balancing protections for respondents.

A second amendment, introduced by Chairman Smith, inserted language requiring that members of the commission be \"members of the State Bar in good standing.\" That language was added at two points in the bill to clarify qualifications for commission membership.

After amendment and discussion, the committee moved and passed SB 218. The transcript records the committee's voice vote approving the bill; no roll-call tally appears in the hearing excerpt.

Ending: With committee amendments adopted, SB 218 passed out of the Judiciary Committee and will proceed according to the legislature's referral schedule. Supporters said the changes concentrate subject-matter expertise and reduce costs; lawmakers added procedural safeguards for appeals and clarified commission membership.","Senate Bill 218 passed the Judiciary Committee with committee amendments to move the Prosecuting Attorneys' Qualification Commission to the Administrative Office of the Courts, add limited subpoena authority, and change appellate review language to allow a full hearing in superior court and subsequent review by the Supreme Court.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632627,"Committee holds hearing on bill allowing defendants fees when prosecutor disqualified for misconduct",0,5792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671289-baabf54c4a23009d8e8d852746e0f24d&start=5792&end=5792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671289-baabf54c4a23009d8e8d852746e0f24d/thumbnail_5792000.jpg","/articles/6632627/Georgia/Committee-holds-hearing-on-bill-allowing-defendants-fees-when-prosecutor-disqualified-for-misconduct","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632627-04e8a635af2dd8c159baffa0e4f41dd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160368&Signature=czAhVysEQ3hggTeYZN35pDsG2GH5M-6vNwKCGsRISgOudeiR3AAPs4m1qi-defwv070H2m8-nl0ouaZYEuI-R98HMoU92tkWq5lo6k4ApPPKuAt-bPOkzqD8ubwk6QoJQ3alznOKPOW~goX2FakeqUzHtuCoGt~W1hQwi7AbWptBrF30jjbr4uyTJRHXvZxZKmgpjs78ftcqjy2cYd5mUh~BupZFzTseEK~RGcYbayuxfPUtph5e3bYWfKQOTmYivMVFHiNgwLBYckxtl1IPGGXMiKAZy-EcdrH2D3QwAm-OioaKO2t~Boh0MMJ2M7fU2qgyTGIYE4coMbVAXdxoWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Beach presented Senate Bill 244, LC473618S, describing it as a targeted measure to permit an award of reasonable attorney fees and costs against a county when a prosecuting attorney is disqualified for misconduct and the underlying case is dismissed by the court.

\"If a prosecuting attorney in a felony or misdemeanor case is disqualified for prosecutorial or personal misconduct and the overall cases dismissed by the courts, those individuals that were indicted are entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees and cost incurred in defending themselves in the case,\" Beach said. He told committee members such awards would be rare but appropriate where misconduct and dismissal have occurred.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the bill's scope. Representative Panish asked what \"personal misconduct\" meant in practice and referenced a recent high-profile disqualification; Senator Beach said the bill is intended to make defendants whole where prosecutorial misconduct led to dismissal. Representative Roberts asked about the appellate posture of the cited case; the sponsor replied the matter had been dismissed by the Court of Appeals and was pending Supreme Court review.

Several lawmakers raised fiscal concerns about exposing counties to potentially large fee awards. Senator Beach said judges would determine the reasonableness of awards and the statute would apply only when a prosecutor is disqualified and the court dismisses charges; he told members the bill had unanimous passage in the Senate.

The committee did not vote on SB 244; the sponsor requested a hearing-only treatment during the session. Senator Beach said he would return with additional detail; the committee agreed to hold the bill for further consideration.

Ending: The committee held SB 244 as a hearing-only item and deferred action. Lawmakers discussed high-profile prosecutorial disqualification and the potential fiscal consequences for counties if attorneys’ fees were awarded following dismissal for misconduct.","Senate Bill 244 would allow defendants whose cases are dismissed after a prosecutor's disqualification for professional or personal misconduct to seek reasonable attorney fees and costs from the county that originally brought the charges. Sponsor said the bill is rare but necessary to make people whole after serious prosecutorial misconduct; the","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves 'Halo Act' to bar approaching first responders within 25 feet after warning

Panel approves school-safety package bill; debate centers on charging juveniles as adults for terroristic acts

Committee shifts prosecuting-attorney oversight to Administrative Office of the Courts, grants limited subpoena power

Committee holds hearing on bill allowing defendants fees when prosecutor disqualified for misconduct