Prior to the passage of the “Law Enforcement Partners Act,” on the final day of the 2025 legislative session, Georgia and Nebraska were the only two states without a statute providing jurisdiction for state and local law enforcement to request federal law enforcement assistance. But with the passage of Senate Bill 99, Georgia corrected an “inadvertent repeal” of that statute when the citizen’s arrest law was repealed in 2020.
Senate Bill 99, by Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula, restores law enforcement jurisdiction that previously existed.
“When fighting drug dealers or managing a disaster, our state and local law enforcement, should have clear legal authority to partner with federal law enforcement and, the Law Enforcement Partners Act will keep Georgians safe from dangerous criminals and during emergencies such as during a hurricane or the tragedy in the streets of New Orleans on January 1,” said Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth, who carried the bill in the House.
The Law Enforcement Partners Act would restore the law enforcement jurisdictional basis for state and local law enforcement officials in Georgia to request assistance from federal law enforcement in cases of disaster management and joint task forces. According to Reeves, joint task forces often investigate human trafficking, gang activity, drug dealers and other dangerous criminal activities.
The bill expands the definition of the traditional peace officer, and includes state or federal law enforcement officers assisting Georgia agencies during a state of emergency or disaster declared by the Governor; appointed chiefs of police or heads of law enforcement units who are yet to complete their required training; and officers certified in other states or by federal agencies, provided they are in good standing and authorized to carry firearms and make arrests.
These officers must be actively employed by a law enforcement agency and assisting Georgia officers or acting to prevent imminent harm.
Lawmakers said overall, SB 99 seeks to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of law enforcement agencies in Georgia by broadening who can be considered a law enforcement officer and under what circumstances, particularly focusing on interagency support and emergency response.
