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HB 453GEORGIASession 2025_26State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Georgia House Bill 453 Enacts the Red Flag Protective Order Act to Temporarily Restrict Firearm Access

Original title: Georgia Red Flag Protective Order Act; enact

Last action · February 19, 2025: House Second ReadersSponsors: Shea Roberts and 4 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 453 establishes the Georgia Red Flag Protective Order Act, allowing family members or law enforcement officers to petition superior courts for s that temporarily prohibit individuals who pose a significant danger from possessing or purchasing firearms, ammunition, or s. The bill requires respondents to immediately surrender all firearms and ammunition to local law enforcement upon the issuance of an order and mandates the Administrative Office of the Courts to produce standardized forms and informational materials.

Why it matters

The measure creates a legal mechanism for courts to order the temporary removal and surrender of firearms from individuals deemed by to present an imminent danger to themselves or others, while establishing due process procedures including hearings, s, and avenues for respondents to request order vacations or extensions.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Family or household members

Eligible to file petitions for risk protection orders and must receive notice and resource referrals from petitioners.

Directly affected

Law enforcement officers and agencies

Responsible for serving notices and orders, taking possession of surrendered firearms and licenses, and entering orders into crime information databases.

Directly affected

Respondents

Subject to firearm surrender requirements, restrictions on purchasing or possessing weapons, and potential court-mandated mental health or chemical dependency evaluations.

Key Facts

  • Establishes a civil process allowing family or household members or law enforcement officers to file a petition in superior court for a risk protection order.
  • Authorizes courts to issue temporary ex parte risk protection orders without notice if there is reasonable cause to believe the respondent poses a significant danger in the near future.
  • Requires courts to hold a hearing on a temporary ex parte order within two business days of filing, and a hearing on a standard risk protection order no later than 14 days after issuance.
  • Mandates that respondents immediately surrender all owned firearms, ammunition, and weapons carry licenses to local law enforcement upon the issuance of an order.
Show all 9 facts
  • Permits risk protection orders to be issued for up to 12 months if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent poses a significant danger.
  • Allows respondents to submit one written request for a hearing to vacate a risk protection order per issuance or extension, where the respondent bears the burden of proof by clear and convincing evidence.
  • Requires law enforcement agencies to enter risk protection orders into the Georgia Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center databases.
  • Makes making a false statement under oath in a hearing under this act or knowingly violating a risk protection order a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
  • Directs the Administrative Office of the Courts to create standardized petitions, informational brochures, instructions, and court staff handbooks in consultation with stakeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can file a petition for a risk protection order under this act?
A petition may be filed by a family or household member of the respondent or by a law enforcement officer.
How long can a risk protection order remain in effect?
A can be issued for a period deemed appropriate by the court, not exceeding 12 months, unless extended by the court or vacated earlier.
What must a respondent do with their firearms and ammunition once an order is issued?
The respondent must immediately surrender all firearms and ammunition in their custody, control, or possession, along with any s, to the local law enforcement agency.
Does a petitioner have to pay court filing fees or hire an attorney?
No, the court cannot charge fees for filing or service of process to a petitioner seeking relief under this act, and neither party is required to be represented by an attorney.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.

Procedural history

3 actions
  1. Feb 19, 2025House
    House Second Readers
  2. Feb 18, 2025HouseIntroduced
    House First Readers
  3. Feb 13, 2025HouseIntroduced
    House Hopper

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Shea RobertsHouse · District 52DemocraticPrimary sponsor
Esther PanitchHouse · District 51DemocraticCosponsor
Lisa CampbellHouse · District 35DemocraticCosponsor
Bryce BerryHouse · District 56DemocraticCosponsor
Tangie HerringHouse · District 145DemocraticCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift99% confidence

Creation of Civil Risk Protection Orders

The legislation introduces an entirely new part to Georgia code establishing civil risk protection orders with specific evidentiary standards and surrender mandates.

Georgia General AssemblyAdministrative Office of the CourtsGeorgia Crime Information Center

Connected Entities

Tangie Herring, National Crime Information Center, Administrative Office of the Courts and 5 more
PersonTangie Herring“Representative of the 145th district and cosponsor”Map →
OrganizationNational Crime Information Center“Maintains records of risk protection orders”Map →
OrganizationAdministrative Office of the Courts“Responsible for developing instructions, brochures, and standard forms”Map →
OrganizationGeorgia Crime Information Center“Maintains records of risk protection orders and suspends weapons carry licenses”Map →
PersonShea Roberts“Representative of the 52nd district”Map →
PersonEsther Panitch“Representative of the 51st district and cosponsor”Map →
PersonLisa Campbell“Representative of the 35th district and cosponsor”Map →
PersonBryce Berry“Representative of the 56th district and cosponsor”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.legis.ga.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
  • Controversy90
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz75
    Current news / social attention level

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