Committee advances bill to require 25-foot buffer for first responders, adds step‑grandparent language to OCGA 16‑6‑22(a)(4)

Senate Bill 268, a measure to require bystanders to remain 25 feet from first responders at emergency scenes, was advanced by the Georgia House Judiciary Committee after a voice vote.

The bill “protects our first responders by asking individuals to stay back 25 feet,” Senator Robertson said while summarizing the legislation. The measure, as presented to the committee, does not prohibit recording or commentary at scenes, Robertson said: it only bars harassing conduct that would impede emergency care.

Committee members also approved an amendment that adds language from House Bill 57 to the bill. That amendment inserts a step‑grandparent and step‑grandchild relationship into OCGA 16‑6‑22(a)(4), the subsection the committee described as a list of relationships barred from certain sexual contact. The chair said the committee had added Representative Mike Cameron’s language from HB57 and that the original 25‑foot provision remained intact.

Representative Holly asked whether the 25‑foot restriction remained in the bill and whether the public would be made aware of that distance; Robertson confirmed that the 25‑foot provision remained and that individuals must be advised they must stay back 25 feet. The committee did not discuss a specific mechanism for public notification during this hearing.

There were no recorded roll‑call vote counts in the committee transcript; the chair called for the ayes and the item passed by voice vote.

The committee’s action sends SB 268 to the next step in the legislative process as amended; the committee did not set an effective date or provide implementation detail during the hearing.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 268 (as amended to incorporate HB57 language): advanced by committee on a voice vote; numeric counts not specified in the transcript.