FORSYTH, Ga. — Gov. Brian Kemp signed a series of bills into law regarding public safety on Wednesday, including the highly contested Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act.
At the Georgia Public Training Center in Forsyth, First Lady Marty Kemp and several other state leaders and local law enforcement agencies joined the Peach State governor as he signed the bills into law.
Tuesday's bills included some highly controversial topics like the immigration bill, with House Bill 1105 gaining momentum after Laken Riley's death near the University of Georgia's campus.
In her case, 26-year-old Veneuzeulan native Jose Ibarra was arrested and charged with her murder. As part of the investigation, authorities found that Ibarra had illegally entered the country.
Here's a list of the bills the governor signed:
House Bill 1105
The measure was seen as controversial as it made its way through the legislature. It requires police and sheriff's departments to identify undocumented immigrants who commit crimes and detain them for deportation by federal immigration authorities.
Republican Sen. John Albers voted in favor of the bill, arguing that it's about public safety, not immigration.
"We don't have folks come up afterward and say this is about immigration; this is about something else, this is about criminals that are found to be illegal aliens," Albers said.
After signing the bills, Kemp spoke with news reporters about the immigration bill.
"People who thought sanctuary cities were a good idea. They are not. People have to come into the country legally. We support legal immigration, but when you got people coming in here illegally, committing crimes, multiple crimes, especially killing someone, we are not going to stand for that," Kemp said.
Senate Bill 37
This bill would revise the qualification requirements for a sheriff in the state of Georgia, requiring certification as a peace officer to be a candidate.
Jailers would also need the same certification, according to the bill's text.
The measure also briefly mentioned a salary for sheriffs working in more than one court. Those who qualify will be paid a higher salary for working both courts but will not receive any cost increases.
Senate Bill 63
A new law, Senate Bill 63, will require cash bail for 30 additional crimes. The offenses of criminal trespassing and misdemeanor battery are now included.
Recently, several demonstrators who were arrested at an Emory University protest encampment in support of Palestine last week were charged with criminal trespass.
Some of the protesters received more serious charges like disorderly conduct, simple battery and others.
After officially signing the legislation into law, Kemp made a few remarks about the latest protest on Georgia college campuses.
"The legal protesters who are out there, you can carry on in this state. Just like we saw in 2020 with the civil unrest, there are rules you can follow, rules you can protest by on private campuses like Emory, but when people start breaking the law and damaging personal property, we are not going to allow other students, people on campus, or other citizens to be disruptive by people who are breaking the law," Kemp added.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia has announced its opposition to this measure.
Senate Bill 159
This measure would increase the penalties for those providing contraband to inmates in jail or in person. Stronger penalties would also apply to those who work at the facility and provide the contraband.
Recently, 8 Georgia Department of Corrections employees were arrested in connection to a contraband operation investigation.
"Georgia will not tolerate those who put our communities at risk by trafficking drugs, weapons and contraband both in and out of our correctional facilities," Kemp previously said when the arrests were announced.
The bill would also penalize those who use an unmanned aircraft to take photos of an incarceration facility.
House Bill 1193
This bill would require certain vehicles, including tow trucks and other emergency vehicles, to have flashing or revolving amber lights.
It would standardize the use of lights across code sections.
House Bill 451
Kemp also signed off on a bill providing insurance coverage to help first responders cope with job-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment.
The bill is also known as the Ashley Wilson Act.
Gwinnett County Police Officer Ashley Wilson saw her partner, Officer Antwan Toney, shot and killed in the line of duty in October 2018.
Since then, she's been honoring Officer Toney's legacy in memory of her fallen brother-in-blue.
Officer Wilson advocated for first responders who are struggling with PTSD because for the days, weeks, months and years after Officer Toney's death, she faced hardships with PTSD.
The bill will become effective on January 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 421
Georgia is now strengthening penalties against false reports of shootings and bomb threats at homes, known as swatting.
"The whole purpose is to cause confusion and hopes that someone is injured in some way," said Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a previous interview.
The legislation is in response to the influx of swatting calls that targeted Georgia elected officials back in December, including Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Sen. Raphael Warnock and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
"It can put people in harm's way because the authorities think they're going into an emergency situation," Jones also stated about the calls.
Senate Bill 10
The state is also cracking down on drag racing. Gov. Kemp gave the green light to the new law that makes knowingly attending and facilitating drag racing a misdemeanor and increases the fines for illegal street racing.
Drag racing has often plagued the metro Atlanta area, leading to multiple arrests and even some deaths.
Earlier this month in Troup County, two people died following a drag-racing crash. Police arrested a 45-year-old man in connection to the crash.
Just this week, multiple people were arrested in Carroll County at an unpermitted drag racing meet. Authorities said about 500 cars were involved in the incident, and over 1,000 people attended.
Deadly incidents related to drag racing have led multiple metro Atlanta city councils to consider city ordinances that would restrict or strengthen the consequences of drag racing.
House Bill 130
This bill would help full-time peace officers with their student loans. It states that the officer must have completed five years of service and must be a POST-certified public state or local officer on or after Jan. 1.
The Georgia Student Finance Commission would repay up to $20,000, according to the governor's office.
This comes after Gov. Kemp signed a sweeping number of bills that supported agriculture.
In the weeks prior, he also signed several bills helpful to Georgians, including healthcare, tax cuts and more.