Georgia moves closer to major overhaul of HIV criminal law

ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia lawmakers are advancing legislation that would dramatically overhaul a state law that makes it a crime for people to have sex without first disclosing they have HIV.

Advocates say the change would be a milestone in the South, where the bulk of new HIV diagnoses occur and stigma around the disease remains high.

Georgia is among roughly 20 states that criminalize the failure to disclose HIV status before sex.

The new bill would decriminalize that failure unless the person intends to infect someone and engages in a sex act that “has a significant risk of transmission” based on the latest science.