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Georgia · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 542: Sexual Offenses; clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; permit

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 542 is a bill introduced in the Georgia Senate on February 20, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Sexual Offenses; clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; permit. Primary sponsor: Randy Robertson (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), John Albers (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Blake Tillery (Republican), Tim Bearden (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican), Steve Gooch (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican), Marty Harbin (Republican), Larry Walker (Republican), Jason T. Dickerson, Clint Dixon (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican). Most recent recorded action (July 1, 2026): Effective Date.

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 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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 23

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Randy RobertsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate29
Bo HatchettPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate50
Brian StricklandPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate42
Kay KirkpatrickPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate32
Billy HickmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate4
John AlbersPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate56
Max BurnsPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate23
Russ GoodmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate8
Drew EcholsPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate49
Lee AndersonPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate24
Chuck PaynePrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate54
Blake TilleryPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate19
Tim BeardenPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate30
Jason AnavitartePrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate31
Mike HodgesPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate3
Ben WatsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate1
Steve GoochPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate51
Chuck HufstetlerPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate52
Matt BrassPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate6
Marty HarbinPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate16
Larry WalkerPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate20
Jason T. DickersonPrimary sponsorNot applicable (committee)——
Clint DixonPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate45
Carden SummersPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate13

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Effective Date
  2. Act 496
  3. Senate Date Signed by Governor
  4. Senate Sent to Governor
  5. Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub
  6. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
  7. House Third Readers
  8. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
  9. House Second Readers
  10. House First Readers
  11. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
  12. Senate Third Read

Showing 12 most recent of 16 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source