GA HB179

Authorizes Georgia courts to use digital recording systems as an alternative to court reporters for recording trial proceedings in felony cases, misdemeanor cases, civil cases, and Georgia State-wide Business Court proceedings, subject to uniform court rules adopted by the Supreme Court

Requires court reporter transcription for felony trials, post-indictment evidentiary hearings where witnesses testify, and all death penalty cases; other felony proceedings may use digital recording at the judge's discretion

Defines "digital recording system" as any method for creating electronic audio or audiovisual recordings of court proceedings for the purpose of creating verbatim transcripts

Requires that digital recordings be transcribed and certified by a certified court reporter before being considered an official court record; transcripts must be presumed true, complete, and correct once certified

Effective date: January 1, 2026