Plain English Breakdown
The bill text excerpt provided in the source material was unreadable (binary/PDF data), so verification relied entirely on the official summary and metadata.
HB161: New GBI Subpoena Powers and Changes to Terrorism and Immigration Laws
This law gives the Georgia Bureau of Investigation authority to subpoena electronic records for cyber threat investigations, establishes a new crime called domestic terrorism while removing an old definition, and bans local governments from adopting sanctuary policies.
What This Bill Does
- Allows the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to issue subpoenas for electronic communication records when investigating crimes related to cyber-enabled threats to life or property.
- Provides punishment for failing to obey these new GBI subpoenas regarding digital evidence.
- Establishes a new crime called 'domestic terrorism' and repeals the previous definition of domestic terrorism in state law.
- Prohibits local government entities from adopting policies that ignore federal immigration laws, often known as sanctuary policies.
- Requires local governments to certify they are following the ban on sanctuary policies.
Who It Names or Affects
- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) officers who investigate cyber threats and issue subpoenas.
- Local government entities that must stop using immigration sanctuary policies.
- Individuals or groups accused of committing domestic terrorism under the new state definition.
Terms To Know
- Subpoena
- A legal order requiring a person to provide documents, such as electronic records, for an investigation.
- Cyber-enabled threats
- Dangers or crimes that use computers and the internet to harm people or damage property.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official summary does not list specific prison sentences or fine amounts for violating the new domestic terrorism law.
- The exact steps a company must take to respond to an electronic records subpoena are not detailed in this text.
- The source material does not explain how local governments will be punished if they fail to certify compliance with immigration rules.