# Georgia’s 2026 Legislative Session: A Second Chance for Real Parole Reform > Georgia’s 2026 legislative session could finally bring transparency and fairness to parole. With SB 25 and the new *Second Chance Parole Reform Act of 2026*, advocates are demanding written explanations, video hearings, and real opportunities for release. Learn how families can act now and use Impact Justice AI to push lawmakers for change. **Published**: 2025-11-11 **Source**: https://gps.press/georgias-2026-legislative-session-a-second-chance-for-real-parole-reform/ **Author**: Justice Reed --- 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**](https://gps.press/a-second-chance-for-georgia-fixing-parole-with-the-reform-it-desperately-needs/). 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](https://gps.press/second-chance-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](https://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**](https://gps.press/fixing-georgias-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**](https://gps.press/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**](https://gps.press/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**](https://gps.press/punishment-for-profit-how-georgias-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**](https://gps.press/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**](https://gps.press/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.* --- ![GPS](https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GPS-Ad2-1024x764.jpg)