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Georgia authorizes digital recording systems for certain trial and grand jury proceedings starting in 2026
Original title: Appellate practice; digital recording of certain trial proceedings; provide
Last action · April 30, 2025: House Date Signed by GovernorSponsors: Tyler Smith and 5 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.
What This Bill Does
House Bill 179 permits judges in specific felony, misdemeanor, civil, state, and Business Court proceedings to use s instead of or alongside traditional court reporters, beginning January 1, 2026. The legislation establishes uniform rules for operating these digital systems and dictates how transcripts must be certified and filed for appeals.
Why it matters
Alters how court records are captured across Georgia trial, business, and appellate courts, directly affecting litigants, district attorneys, and court clerks who manage trial transcripts and appeal records.
Background
- Georgia court proceedings historically relied primarily on stenographic court reporters to create official verbatim trial transcripts. context
- The Georgia General Assembly enacted House Bill 179 during the 2025-2026 legislative session to modernize judicial record-keeping. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Litigants
Civil and criminal litigants may have their trial proceedings recorded via digital systems instead of traditional court stenographers, influencing how appeal records are prepared.
Directly affected
Trial Judges
Judges in superior, state, city, and Business Courts receive discretion to authorize and utilize digital recording systems for recording eligible proceedings.
Directly affected
District Attorneys
District attorneys gain the option to record grand jury proceedings using digital recording systems and maintain exclusive control over those recordings and transcripts.
Directly affected
Court Reporters
Certified court reporters face updated statutory guidelines regarding the transcription, certification, and handling of audio recordings produced by digital systems.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does House Bill 179 change regarding court trials?
It permits judges in certain felony, misdemeanor, civil, and Business Court proceedings to use s in place of or alongside traditional court reporters, subject to uniform rules set by the Supreme Court.
Does a digital recording automatically serve as the official court record?
No. A digital recording is not considered the official record of the proceeding unless it is transcribed and certified pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 15-14-5.
Can grand jury proceedings be digitally recorded under this law?
Yes. District attorneys are authorized to use s to record grand jury proceedings and retain control over those recordings and transcripts.
When does this law take effect?
The Act becomes effective on January 1, 2026.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
16 actions- Jan 1, 2026Georgia General AssemblyEffective Date
- Apr 30, 2025HouseEnrolledHouse Date Signed by Governor
- Apr 30, 2025GovernorEnrolledAct 23
- Apr 10, 2025HouseHouse Sent to Governor
- Apr 4, 2025HouseFloorHouse Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
- Apr 2, 2025SenateSenate Third Read
Show 10 earlier actions
- Apr 2, 2025SenateFloorSenate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- Mar 27, 2025SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Mar 27, 2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
- Mar 6, 2025SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
- Mar 4, 2025HouseHouse Third Readers
- Mar 4, 2025HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- Feb 28, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Feb 3, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Jan 30, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Jan 29, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
Version history & redline
5 versions on fileComparing Sen Ctee Sub LC 48 1604S → HB 179/AP*
removed addedOfficial text
25 removed: LC 48 1604S
The Senate Committee on Judiciary offered the following
substitute to HB removed: 179:
added: 179/AP
House Bill 179 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Smith of the 18th , Hong of the 103rd , Leverett of the 123rd , Gunter of the
8 th , and Evans of the 57th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
[…]
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Voting Record
Agree to Senate Substitute
Total
174
- Yes
- 163
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 5
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 6
How they voted (174)
Chas CannonParty not recordedyes
Long TranParty not recordedyes
Mary Margaret OliverParty not recordedyes
Ruwa RommanParty not recordedyes
Karla DrennerParty not recordedyes
Lydia GlaizeParty not recordedyes
Mack JacksonParty not recordedexcused
Rhonda TaylorParty not recordedyes
Butch ParrishParty not recordedyes
Rhonda BurnoughParty not recordedyes
Kimberly AlexanderParty not recordedyes
Lisa CampbellParty not recordedyes
Inga WillisParty not recordedyes
Debra BazemoreParty not recordedyes
Rob CliftonParty not recordedyes
Mitchell HornerParty not recordedyes
Dale WashburnParty not recordedyes
Brian PrinceParty not recordedyes
Todd JonesParty not recordedyes
Trey RhodesParty not recordedyes
Tyler SmithParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann SantosParty not recordedyes
Carl GilliardParty not recordedyes
Eddie LumsdenParty not recordedyes
150 more members
Lauren McDonaldParty not recordedyes
Sharon CooperParty not recordedyes
Ginny EhrhartParty not recordedyes
Mary Frances WilliamsParty not recordednot voting
Arlene BecklesParty not recordedyes
Steve TarvinParty not recordedyes
Sharon HendersonParty not recordedexcused
Demetrius DouglasParty not recordedyes
Bryce BerryParty not recordedyes
Martin MomtahanParty not recordedyes
Bill YeartaParty not recordedyes
Mark NewtonParty not recordednot voting
Al WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Jon BurnsParty not recordednot voting
Scott HiltonParty not recordedyes
David SampsonParty not recordedyes
Stan GunterParty not recordedyes
Vance SmithParty not recordedyes
David WilkersonParty not recordedyes
Sheila JonesParty not recordedyes
Victor AndersonParty not recordedyes
Alan PowellParty not recordedyes
Park CannonParty not recordedexcused
Derrick JacksonParty not recordedyes
Matt ReevesParty not recordedyes
James BurchettParty not recordedyes
Houston GainesParty not recordedyes
Gerald GreeneParty not recordedyes
Brent CoxParty not recordedyes
Edna JacksonParty not recordedyes
Jaclyn FordParty not recordedyes
Mitchell ScogginsParty not recordedyes
Kasey CarpenterParty not recordedyes
Katie DempseyParty not recordedyes
Jan JonesParty not recordedyes
Scott HolcombParty not recordedyes
David HuddlestonParty not recordedyes
Sylvia Wayfer BakerParty not recordedexcused
Robert FlournoyParty not recordedyes
Clint CroweParty not recordedyes
Mekyah McQueenParty not recordedyes
Marvin LimParty not recordedyes
Shea RobertsParty not recordedyes
Michael SmithParty not recordednot voting
Mike CameronParty not recordedyes
Doreen CarterParty not recordedyes
David ClarkParty not recordedyes
Karen LuptonParty not recordedyes
Jutt HowardParty not recordedyes
Betsy HollandParty not recordedyes
Joseph GullettParty not recordedyes
Matt HatchettParty not recordedyes
Nissa JonesParty not recordedyes
Esther PanitchParty not recordedyes
John LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Carmen RiceParty not recordedyes
El-Mahdi HollyParty not recordedyes
Yasmin NealParty not recordedyes
Billy MitchellParty not recordedyes
Noel WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Joe CampbellParty not recordedyes
Spencer FryeParty not recordedyes
Gary RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Stacey EvansParty not recordedyes
Dar'shun KendrickParty not recordedyes
Rob LeverettParty not recordedyes
David JenkinsParty not recordedyes
Devan SeabaughParty not recordedyes
Emory DunahooParty not recordedyes
Teddy ReeseParty not recordedyes
Will WadeParty not recordedyes
Josh BonnerParty not recordedyes
Robert DickeyParty not recordedyes
Sandy DonatucciParty not recordedyes
Miriam ParisParty not recordedyes
Soo HongParty not recordedyes
Ron StephensParty not recordedyes
John CarsonParty not recordedyes
Deborah SilcoxParty not recordedyes
Karen MathiakParty not recordedyes
Phil OlaleyeParty not recordedyes
Jordan RidleyParty not recordedyes
Gabe OkoyeParty not recordedyes
Michelle AuParty not recordedyes
Chris ErwinParty not recordedyes
Angela MooreParty not recordedyes
Gabriel SanchezParty not recordedyes
Saira DraperParty not recordedyes
Noelle KahaianParty not recordedyes
Matt DubnikParty not recordedyes
Lynn SmithParty not recordedyes
Trey KelleyParty not recordedyes
Tim FlemingParty not recordedyes
Carter BarrettParty not recordedyes
Floyd GriffinParty not recordedyes
Solomon AdesanyaParty not recordedyes
Kim SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Bill WerkheiserParty not recordedyes
Bruce WilliamsonParty not recordedyes
Derrick McCollumParty not recordedyes
Terry CummingsParty not recordedyes
Jesse PetreaParty not recordedexcused
Rey MartinezParty not recordedyes
Mike CheokasParty not recordedyes
Steven MeeksParty not recordedyes
Shaw BlackmonParty not recordedyes
Patty Marie StinsonParty not recordedexcused
Charlice ByrdParty not recordedyes
Chuck EfstrationParty not recordedyes
Debbie BucknerParty not recordedyes
Anne WestbrookParty not recordedyes
Matthew GambillParty not recordedyes
Chuck MartinParty not recordedyes
Darlene TaylorParty not recordedyes
Regina Lewis-WardParty not recordedyes
Lehman FranklinParty not recordedyes
Carolyn HugleyParty not recordedyes
Buddy DeLoachParty not recordedyes
Bill HitchensParty not recordedyes
Omari CrawfordParty not recordedyes
Jasmine ClarkParty not recordedyes
Dewey McClainParty not recordedyes
Eric BellParty not recordednot voting
Brad ThomasParty not recordedyes
Lee HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Holt PersingerParty not recordedyes
Robert DawsonParty not recordedyes
Matt BartonParty not recordedyes
Rick TownsendParty not recordedyes
Tangie HerringParty not recordedyes
Don ParsonsParty not recordedyes
Angie O'SteenParty not recordedyes
Leesa HaganParty not recordedyes
Segun AdeyinaParty not recordedyes
Rick JasperseParty not recordedyes
Sandra ScottParty not recordedyes
Kimberly NewParty not recordedyes
L.C. MylesParty not recordedyes
Karlton HowardParty not recordedyes
Beth CampParty not recordedyes
Bethany BallardParty not recordedyes
Tanya MillerParty not recordedyes
John CorbettParty not recordedyes
Imani BarnesParty not recordedyes
Jason RidleyParty not recordedyes
Steven SainzParty not recordedyes
Sam ParkParty not recordedyes
Danny MathisParty not recordedyes
Viola DavisParty not recordedyes
Johnny ChastainParty not recordedyes
Show 2 earlier roll calls
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE
Total
51
- Yes
- 47
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 2
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 2
How they voted (51)
Lee AndersonParty not recordedyes
Nan OrrockParty not recordedyes
Shawn StillParty not recordedyes
Donzella JamesParty not recordedyes
Blake TilleryParty not recordedexcused
Max BurnsParty not recordedyes
David LucasParty not recordednot voting
Billy HickmanParty not recordedyes
Jason AnavitarteParty not recordedyes
Russ GoodmanParty not recordedyes
Bo HatchettParty not recordedyes
Nikki MerrittParty not recordedyes
Sally HarrellParty not recordedyes
Gail DavenportParty not recordedyes
Greg DolezalParty not recordedyes
Rick WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Brian StricklandParty not recordedyes
Tonya AndersonParty not recordedyes
Clint DixonParty not recordedyes
Chuck HufstetlerParty not recordedyes
Marty HarbinParty not recordedyes
Tim BeardenParty not recordedyes
Josh McLaurinParty not recordedyes
Mike HodgesParty not recordedyes
27 more members
John AlbersParty not recordedyes
Chuck PayneParty not recordedyes
RaShaun KempParty not recordedyes
Bill CowsertParty not recordedyes
Sonya HalpernParty not recordedyes
Carden SummersParty not recordedyes
Kim JacksonParty not recordedyes
Elena ParentParty not recordedyes
Doc RhettParty not recordedyes
Drew EcholsParty not recordedyes
Steve GoochParty not recordedyes
Kay KirkpatrickParty not recordedyes
Derek MallowParty not recordedyes
Sam WatsonParty not recordednot voting
Randal ManghamParty not recordedyes
Matt BrassParty not recordedyes
Emanuel JonesParty not recordedyes
Frank GinnParty not recordedyes
Ben WatsonParty not recordedyes
Harold JonesParty not recordedyes
Sheikh RahmanParty not recordedyes
Kenya WicksParty not recordedyes
Larry WalkerParty not recordedyes
Freddie Powell SimsParty not recordedyes
Randy RobertsonParty not recordedyes
Ed SetzlerParty not recordedexcused
Ed HarbisonParty not recordedyes
PASSAGE
Total
174
- Yes
- 164
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 5
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 5
How they voted (174)
Carmen RiceParty not recordedyes
Trey RhodesParty not recordedyes
Devan SeabaughParty not recordedyes
Chas CannonParty not recordedyes
Matt HatchettParty not recordedyes
Johnny ChastainParty not recordedyes
Charlice ByrdParty not recordedyes
Bethany BallardParty not recordedyes
Alan PowellParty not recordedyes
Sandra ScottParty not recordedyes
Karen LuptonParty not recordedyes
Matt ReevesParty not recordednot voting
Karlton HowardParty not recordedyes
El-Mahdi HollyParty not recordedyes
Scott HiltonParty not recordedexcused
Spencer FryeParty not recordedyes
Patty Marie StinsonParty not recordedexcused
Park CannonParty not recordedyes
Jon BurnsParty not recordednot voting
Saira DraperParty not recordedyes
Kim SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Ginny EhrhartParty not recordedyes
Rob LeverettParty not recordedyes
Kimberly NewParty not recordedyes
150 more members
Regina Lewis-WardParty not recordedyes
Imani BarnesParty not recordedyes
Rick TownsendParty not recordedyes
Mary Margaret OliverParty not recordedyes
Robert FlournoyParty not recordedyes
Gabe OkoyeParty not recordedyes
Stan GunterParty not recordedyes
Debra BazemoreParty not recordedyes
Phil OlaleyeParty not recordedyes
Sylvia Wayfer BakerParty not recordedyes
Bruce WilliamsonParty not recordedyes
Mekyah McQueenParty not recordedyes
Floyd GriffinParty not recordedyes
Beth CampParty not recordedyes
Danny MathisParty not recordedyes
David HuddlestonParty not recordedyes
Ruwa RommanParty not recordedyes
Eric BellParty not recordedyes
Steven MeeksParty not recordedyes
Terry CummingsParty not recordedyes
Chuck MartinParty not recordedyes
Jan JonesParty not recordednot voting
Victor AndersonParty not recordedyes
Jutt HowardParty not recordedyes
David ClarkParty not recordedyes
David SampsonParty not recordedyes
Lydia GlaizeParty not recordedyes
Mark NewtonParty not recordedyes
Soo HongParty not recordedyes
Vance SmithParty not recordedyes
Marvin LimParty not recordedyes
Derrick McCollumParty not recordedyes
Lisa CampbellParty not recordedyes
Sheila JonesParty not recordedyes
Eddie LumsdenParty not recordedyes
Noelle KahaianParty not recordedyes
L.C. MylesParty not recordedyes
Mitchell ScogginsParty not recordedyes
Matt BartonParty not recordedyes
Debbie BucknerParty not recordedyes
Omari CrawfordParty not recordedyes
John CorbettParty not recordedyes
Dale WashburnParty not recordedyes
Gabriel SanchezParty not recordedyes
Mitchell HornerParty not recordedyes
Edna JacksonParty not recordedyes
Long TranParty not recordedyes
Jaclyn FordParty not recordedyes
Mary Frances WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Al WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Segun AdeyinaParty not recordedyes
Noel WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Rob CliftonParty not recordedyes
Clint CroweParty not recordedyes
Martin MomtahanParty not recordedyes
Bill WerkheiserParty not recordedyes
Robert DawsonParty not recordedyes
Angela MooreParty not recordedyes
Betsy HollandParty not recordednot voting
Rhonda TaylorParty not recordedyes
Gerald GreeneParty not recordedyes
Chuck EfstrationParty not recordedyes
Anne WestbrookParty not recordedyes
Buddy DeLoachParty not recordedyes
Yasmin NealParty not recordedyes
Kimberly AlexanderParty not recordedyes
Angie O'SteenParty not recordedyes
Brent CoxParty not recordedyes
Katie DempseyParty not recordedyes
Jordan RidleyParty not recordedyes
James BurchettParty not recordedyes
Billy MitchellParty not recordedyes
Gary RichardsonParty not recordedyes
David JenkinsParty not recordedyes
Miriam ParisParty not recordedyes
Sam ParkParty not recordedyes
Darlene TaylorParty not recordedyes
Dewey McClainParty not recordedexcused
Ron StephensParty not recordedyes
Brian PrinceParty not recordedyes
Michael SmithParty not recordedyes
Emory DunahooParty not recordedyes
Steven SainzParty not recordedyes
Michelle AuParty not recordedyes
Sharon CooperParty not recordedyes
Chris ErwinParty not recordedyes
David WilkersonParty not recordedyes
Todd JonesParty not recordedyes
John LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Houston GainesParty not recordedyes
Brad ThomasParty not recordedyes
Holt PersingerParty not recordedyes
Lehman FranklinParty not recordedyes
Leesa HaganParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann SantosParty not recordedyes
Stacey EvansParty not recordedyes
Kasey CarpenterParty not recordedyes
Shaw BlackmonParty not recordedyes
Rick JasperseParty not recordedyes
Demetrius DouglasParty not recordedyes
Dar'shun KendrickParty not recordedyes
Karen MathiakParty not recordedyes
Jason RidleyParty not recordedexcused
Rey MartinezParty not recordedyes
Esther PanitchParty not recordedyes
Derrick JacksonParty not recordedyes
Tanya MillerParty not recordedyes
Jasmine ClarkParty not recordedyes
Bill HitchensParty not recordedyes
Carolyn HugleyParty not recordedyes
Sandy DonatucciParty not recordedexcused
Bill YeartaParty not recordedyes
Butch ParrishParty not recordedyes
Will WadeParty not recordedyes
Nissa JonesParty not recordedyes
Carl GilliardParty not recordedyes
Mike CameronParty not recordedyes
Matt DubnikParty not recordedyes
Inga WillisParty not recordedyes
Lee HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Deborah SilcoxParty not recordedyes
Joe CampbellParty not recordedyes
Shea RobertsParty not recordedyes
Don ParsonsParty not recordedyes
Tangie HerringParty not recordedyes
Jesse PetreaParty not recordedyes
Carter BarrettParty not recordedyes
Arlene BecklesParty not recordedyes
Tim FlemingParty not recordedyes
Doreen CarterParty not recordedyes
Steve TarvinParty not recordedyes
Teddy ReeseParty not recordedyes
Mike CheokasParty not recordedyes
Viola DavisParty not recordedyes
Lynn SmithParty not recordedyes
Trey KelleyParty not recordedyes
Tyler SmithParty not recordedyes
Scott HolcombParty not recordedyes
Sharon HendersonParty not recordedyes
Karla DrennerParty not recordedyes
Matthew GambillParty not recordedyes
Rhonda BurnoughParty not recordedyes
Mack JacksonParty not recordedyes
Solomon AdesanyaParty not recordednot voting
Joseph GullettParty not recordedyes
Josh BonnerParty not recordedyes
Lauren McDonaldParty not recordedyes
John CarsonParty not recordedyes
Bryce BerryParty not recordedyes
Robert DickeyParty not recordedyes
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
Show 1 more sponsor
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift98% confidence
Expansion of Digital Recording in Judicial Proceedings
House Bill 179 broadens court recording options by officially incorporating digital recording systems alongside traditional stenographic court reporters across superior, state, city, and business courts, as well as grand jury proceedings.
Connected Entities
OrganizationDepartment of Law“Provides compensation to court reporters in capital felony cases”Map →
OrganizationBoard of Court Reporting of the Judicial Council“Board overseeing court reporting certification”Map →
PersonTyler Paul Smith“Representative for the 18th district, primary sponsor of House Bill 179”Map →
OrganizationSupreme Court of Georgia“Adopts and publishes uniform court rules for digital recording systems”Map →
OrganizationGeorgia State-wide Business Court“Court subject to new digital recording provisions”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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