Georgia House bill by Rep. Blackmon requiring full contact details on bonds passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Shaw Blackmon seeks to ensure that bonds in criminal proceedings include clear contact details for principals and sureties, following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Friday, April 4, clearing the House by a vote of 169-0 and the Senate by a vote of 52-0.

The bill, introduced as HB222 on Monday, Feb. 3 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Criminal procedure; inclusion of certain contact information on bonds and recognizances; require’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill revises Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, concerning bonds and recognizances in criminal proceedings. It mandates that every bond or recognizance include legible contact information for the principal and each surety. Specifically, it requires the full name, mailing address, email address, and phone number of the principal and each surety to be listed on the document. The bill aims to ensure that all relevant contact information is easily accessible in criminal proceedings. Additionally, the bill repeals any conflicting laws.

In the House, 74 Democrats and 95 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 20 Democrats and 32 Republicans voted in favor, also with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Bethany Ballard (Republican-147th), Rep. Chuck Efstration (Republican-104th), and Rep. Anissa Jones (Democrat-143rd), along with two other co-sponsors.

Blackmon graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA.

Blackmon, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2015 to represent the state’s 146th House District, replacing previous state representative Larry O’Neal.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday, May 14.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.