Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Georgia’s 2026 legislative session begins this January—the second half of the 2025–2026 biennium. That means unfinished business from last year, including Senate Bill 25 (SB 25), is still alive.
SB 25, known as the Parole Transparency Act, would require the Parole Board to provide video-conference hearings before a tentative parole date and written findings when parole is denied or delayed. It’s a simple step toward fairness and accountability—we think there needs to be more.
That’s why some advocates are pushing for something bigger: the Second Chance Parole Reform Act of 2026. This proposal builds on SB 25 and lays out a blueprint for real change—presumptive parole, mandatory hearings, oversight, and expedited review for elderly and terminally ill prisoners.
Bridging Reform and Rights
SB 25 lays the foundation for transparency—requiring hearings and written reasons when parole is denied. The Second Chance Parole Reform Act builds on that same spirit by ensuring those hearings actually mean something. It introduces what advocates call presumptive parole: a standard that says once someone has completed their programs, maintained good conduct, and prepared for reentry, they should be released unless clear evidence shows a continuing risk.
This small but powerful shift creates a genuine right to fair consideration—a promise that parole decisions will be based on facts, not politics or silence. It doesn’t take power away from the Board; it simply ensures accountability to the same principles of justice that Georgia’s laws already uphold.
Both SB 25 and the Second Chance Act share the same goal: to restore trust, transparency, and fairness to Georgia’s parole process. Together, they can turn parole from an uncertainty into a system of earned opportunity—one that protects public safety while reuniting families and rewarding rehabilitation.
At a minimum, we need to add the presumptive parole language to SB25.
Together, these reforms could restore hope to thousands of Georgia families and make parole what it was meant to be: a path home for those who’ve earned it.
Key Dates to Watch
- Session Start: January 13, 2026
- Crossover Day: Early March (around March 6)
- Sine Die: Early April
If SB 25 doesn’t pass the Senate by Crossover Day, it likely won’t move again until 2027. Public pressure between January and March is critical.
How You Can Help
1. Call or email your legislators. Tell them you support SB 25 and the Second Chance Parole Reform Act of 2026.
- Message: “Please support parole transparency and second chances. Georgia families deserve fairness and accountability.”
2. Share your story with the Georgia General Assembly committees when hearings are announced—written or video testimony both matter.
3. Use ImpactJustice.AI to:
- Instantly send personalized emails to lawmakers
Every message makes a difference. Every family deserves to be heard.
This is our moment to bring humanity back into Georgia’s justice system.
Transparency is the first step. A second chance is the goal.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
📚 Further Reading on Parole Reform & Decarceration
1. Fixing Georgia’s Parole System: The Ultimate Plan for Justice
A comprehensive roadmap to create fairness, transparency, and accountability in Georgia’s parole process.
2. A Second Chance for Georgia: Fixing Parole With the Reform It Desperately Needs
Introduces the Second Chance Parole Reform Act of 2026 — a bold proposal for presumptive parole, mandated hearings, and oversight.
3. The Felon Train: How Georgia Turns Citizens into Convicts
Examines how Georgia’s justice system prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation and perpetuates mass incarceration.
4. Punishment for Profit: How Georgia’s Justice System Makes Millions
Reveals how incarceration is financially incentivized — and why parole reform is key to breaking the profit cycle.
5. Buried Alive: Innocent and Sentenced to Life in Prison
A powerful story illustrating how Georgia’s parole failures and wrongful convictions intersect to destroy lives.
6. A Simple Message for the GDC
Outlines practical, immediate steps Georgia could take to reduce violence, release rehabilitated inmates, and restore safety through responsible decarceration.
