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HB123 • 2025

Criminal procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has an intellectual disability; provide

Criminal procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has an intellectual disability; provide

Crime
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Werkheiser, Bill
Last action
2025-05-13
Official status
House Date Signed by Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill text excerpt provided is binary PDF code and file headers, which prevents verification of specific procedural details like hearing timelines or evidence standards mentioned in the candidate explanation.

Rules for Death Penalty Cases Involving Intellectual Disability

This law sets up special court steps to decide if a person accused of a serious crime has an intellectual disability before the death penalty can be considered.

What This Bill Does

  • The law changes Georgia state rules about criminal trials for very serious crimes where the death penalty is asked for.
  • It requires courts to hold special hearings early in the case to check if the accused person has an intellectual disability.
  • If a lawyer wants to say their client has this condition, they must tell the court and give notice before trial starts.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People accused of capital offenses who may have an intellectual disability
  • Lawyers representing people in death penalty trials
  • Courts that handle serious criminal cases

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text provided contains only file headers and code, so specific dates for hearings or exact legal definitions are not included here.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-13 Georgia General Assembly

    House Date Signed by Governor

Official Summary Text

Criminal procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has an intellectual disability; provide