- Ndubuisi Onwumere
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2026
Contact:
Minority Whip Kim Jackson Introduces Legislation to Protect Gun Violence Victims
SB 413 will allow gunshot victims to break their lease without penalty in order to move away from perpetrators
Atlanta, Ga. — Friday, January 16, Senate Democratic Caucus Minority Whip Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain) introduced legislation to expand protections to victims of gun violence. Senate Bill 413 would expand current Georgia law allowing tenants with court-issued restraining orders to break their leases without penalty.
The bill was cosponsored by Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II (D-Atlanta), Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Elena Parent (D-Decatur), Senator Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta), Senator Donzella James (D-Atlanta), and Senator Sally Harrell (D-Atlanta).
“Ensuring victims of gun violence have the ability to separate themselves from those who have done them harm is a cause everyone can get behind. We’ve worked to ensure victims of family violence and stalking have these protections. Now, it’s time to expand this right to people whose lives have been endangered,” Minority Whip Kim Jackson said. “SB 413 would empower Georgians to reclaim their lives and safety without fear of being revictimized. I urge my colleagues to join me in the work to make this state a safer place for all people to call home.”
Senate Bill 413 will:
Provide for residential rental or lease agreement terminations if a tenant or a legal occupant of a residence experienced residential firearm violence or reasonably fears such tenant or a legal occupant would experience such violence at such residence.
Background
Minority Whip Jackson has been an outspoken advocate for protecting victims of violent crimes. During the 2021 legislative session, Whip Jackson introduced, led, and passed bipartisan legislation to protect identified victims of stalking by allowing them to terminate their leases without penalties.
Under current Georgia Code, a tenant may terminate a rental or lease agreement 30 days after submitting a written notice of termination, without penalty, if a civil family violence order or criminal family violence order has been issued.
Click HERE to read more about Senate Bill 413.
Minority Whip Kim Jackson is available for comment.
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