Georgia bill to require bail for more crimes fails to pass

Georgia state Rep. Sam Park was one of several lawmakers who spoke out against Senate Bill 63 on Wednesday, March 30, 2023. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Georgia lawmakers won’t require cash bail for more crimes after all, failing to pass a bill that would have imposed bail for offenses including misdemeanor marijuana possession.

The Georgia House voted 95-81 on Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 63, which would have required cash or property bail for 31 additional crimes, including some misdemeanors. But the House and Senate could not agree on a final version, and the measure failed to pass as the 2023 session ended just after midnight Thursday.

The bill could still be considered when lawmakers return in 2024.