Georgia · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 398: Wiretapping, Eavesdropping, Surveillance, and Related Offenses; criminal offenses of virtual peeping; establish
Passed both chambers Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 398 is a bill introduced in the Georgia Senate on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Wiretapping, Eavesdropping, Surveillance, and Related Offenses; criminal offenses of virtual peeping; establish. Primary sponsor: Bo Hatchett (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Tim Bearden (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Marty Harbin (Republican), Ed Setzler (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Jason T. Dickerson, John Albers (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican). Most recent recorded action (March 31, 2026): Senate Disagreed House Amend or Sub.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to wiretapping, eavesdropping, surveillance, and related offenses, so as to establish criminal offenses of virtual peeping; to prohibit the use of a generative artificial intelligence system to generate images of individuals with the knowledge that such generation was without authorization or consent; to provide for penalties; to provide for an exception; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 22
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bo Hatchett | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 50 |
| Jason Anavitarte | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 31 |
| Brian Strickland | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 42 |
| Randy Robertson | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 29 |
| Tim Bearden | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 30 |
| Matt Brass | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 6 |
| Drew Echols | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 49 |
| Carden Summers | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 13 |
| Shawn Still | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 48 |
| Billy Hickman | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 4 |
| Max Burns | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 23 |
| Sam Watson | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 11 |
| Marty Harbin | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 16 |
| Ed Setzler | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 37 |
| Chuck Payne | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 54 |
| Kay Kirkpatrick | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 32 |
| Bill Cowsert | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 46 |
| Clint Dixon | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 45 |
| Russ Goodman | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 8 |
| Lee Anderson | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 24 |
| Jason T. Dickerson | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| John Albers | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 56 |
| Mike Hodges | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 3 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Senate Disagreed House Amend or Sub
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- House Third Readers
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- House Second Readers
- House First Readers
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- Senate Taken from Table
- Senate Tabled
- Senate Third Read
- Senate Read Second Time
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
Showing 12 most recent of 14 actions. Full history