Committee advances bill to make pimping, pandering a felony on first offense

The Judiciary Noncivil Committee advanced Senate Bill 547 on March 19, 2026, moving to reclassify pimping and pandering so a first offense is prosecuted as a felony rather than a high-and-aggravated misdemeanor. Sponsor Senator Bridal Strickland said the change focuses on the supply side of commercial sex exploitation and credited high school advocates from Fayette County for proposing the idea.

Strickland told the committee the bill "makes pimping and pandering on the first defense in our state of felony," arguing that stiffer penalties will help reduce the demand that fuels commercial sexual exploitation. She said the measure is part of longer-term work in Georgia, paired with victim supports developed with the help of the governor and first lady.

The bill drew a mix of support and caution at the committee. Brandy Blue, Legislative Fellow for the ACLU of Georgia, warned that the statute's current definition of "pimping" is broad and could reach people who are not organizers or profiteers. "Increasing its penalty to a felony could have consequences far beyond targeting those who actually manage or profit from prostitution," Blue said, noting examples such as a friend or family member who receives a gift or someone who gives a ride. She urged the committee to consider a narrow amendment that would preserve enhanced penalties for pandering while limiting the breadth of the pimping definition.

Advocates who work with survivors urged the committee to support the bill. Kim Elzolfagari, vice president of government affairs for Street Grace, said states that treat pimping and pandering as felonies have seen law-enforcement attention on demand-side operations and that tougher penalties can change enforcement incentives. Trisha Boschert, founder of She's My Sister South Atlanta, said her organization walks alongside adult survivors whose exploitation often began in early adolescence; she described misdemeanor penalties as inadequate for the harms she and survivors see.

After testimony and brief committee discussion, members moved a do-pass recommendation and advanced SB547 by voice vote. The committee indicated the bill was favorably reported out of committee (recorded by the chair as passed on the recommendation). The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or any specific amendments adopted during the committee consideration.

Next steps: the bill was advanced from the committee and will proceed according to the chamber's legislative schedule.