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Read. Follow. Verify.Georgia HB 552 protects parents from criminal liability for allowing children to engage in independent activities
Last action · February 24, 2025: House Second ReadersSponsors: Noelle Kahaian and 2 others
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What This Bill Proposed
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-11-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to the juvenile code, so as to revise the definition of neglect; to amend Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes against the person, so as to provide for an exception to certain offenses of reckless conduct and child cruelty for parents and legal custodians permitting children to participate in independent activities under certain conditions; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Parents and legal guardians gain legal protections against investigation, arrest, and criminal prosecution when permitting children to participate in specified independent activities, while state and local government employees receive civil and criminal immunity for following these protocols.
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.
parents and legal guardians
Parents and legal guardians gain statutory exemptions and immunity from criminal liability and neglect investigations when allowing children to participate in specified independent activities.
minor children
Children are permitted by law to engage in age-appropriate independent activities such as walking to school, outdoor play, and independent travel without triggering state intervention.
law enforcement officers
Law enforcement officers and government employees receive criminal and civil immunity when acting in good faith compliance with the new protocols regarding independent child activities.
Key Facts
- Parents and legal guardians acting in good faith are permitted to allow children to engage in independent activities consistent with their maturity, such as walking to school, outdoor play, or visiting nearby commercial facilities.
- Children may remain in a vehicle without an adult present if it does not cause harm or imminent risk, the temperature is safe, and the child can open doors or windows if needed.
- Children may remain at home without an adult present if the parent returns the same day, ensures the child can rapidly contact a responsible adult, and provides for foreseeable emergencies.
- Parents and guardians are explicitly protected from being detained, arrested, criminally charged, or investigated for child abuse or neglect unless a child appears injured, in distress, or at imminent risk from an identifiable source.
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- State and local government officers, employees, and agents acting in good faith compliance with the new provisions are granted immunity from criminal and civil liability.
- The definition of 'neglect' in the juvenile code is revised to exclude good-faith independent activities permitted by parents or guardians.
- The Act is designated as the 'Georgia Parents, Children, Child Welfare, and Law Enforcement Protection and Fiscal Responsibility Act' and the 'Brittany Patterson Act'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What independent activities are explicitly permitted for children under this bill?
Can a parent still be investigated for neglect if a child is found unsupervised?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.
Procedural history
3 actions- Feb 24, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Feb 21, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Feb 20, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Legal Safe Harbor for Independent Parenting
The bill establishes explicit statutory safe harbors for routine independent childhood activities, shifting state enforcement away from investigating parents unless actual harm or imminent risk is present.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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