HR398: HR398 Georgia Public Service Commission; rename as Georgia Public Utilities Commission - CA

The Georgia Public Service Commission is the elected body that regulates utilities in the state, and its name and structure are set out in the Georgia Constitution. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would rename it the Georgia Public Utilities Commission starting December 31, 2026, with the new commission legally treated as the successor to the old one, inheriting all its rights, powers, and duties. The amendment keeps the commission's structure the same: five members elected by the people to six year terms, with a chairperson chosen from among the members. Current commissioners would simply continue serving out their terms under the new name. A related section of the Constitution dealing with the commission's regulatory authority is also updated to use the new name. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it must be submitted to Georgia voters for ratification or rejection at the ballot box, with the specific yes or no question spelled out in the resolution.

• Proposes a constitutional amendment renaming the Georgia Public Service Commission as the Georgia Public Utilities Commission, effective December 31, 2026.
• Declares the new commission the legal successor to the old one, automatically assuming all its rights, powers, and duties.
• Keeps the commission's existing structure: five elected members serving six year terms, with a chairperson chosen from the membership.
• Lets sitting commissioners finish out their current terms under the new commission name without new elections.
• Updates a separate constitutional provision on utility regulation authority to reference the renamed commission.
• Requires the amendment to be placed on the ballot for Georgia voters to ratify or reject, with specific ballot language provided.

Georgia voters, who would decide the amendment at the ballot box; current and future Public Service Commission members, who would continue serving under a new name; and Georgia utility companies and consumers, whose regulator would be renamed but not restructured.

If voters approve the change, Georgians would see their utility regulator operate under a new name starting in 2027, but its powers, election process, and oversight of electric, gas, and telecommunications utilities would stay the same, so day-to-day regulation of utility rates and service would not change.

• Section 1 revises Article IV, Section I of the Constitution to rename the commission and make the new body the successor to the former Public Service Commission as of December 31, 2026.
• Section 1 preserves the five member, six year term structure and allows sitting commissioners to finish their terms under the new name.
• Section 2 revises Article IX, Section II, Paragraph I(c)(5) to refer to the 'Georgia Public Service Utilities Commission' in the provision limiting extensions of regulatory power.
• Section 3 requires the amendment to be published and submitted to voters under Article X, Section I, Paragraph II, and sets the exact ballot question language.

1. 2025-02-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-26House Hopper (House)

• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)Primary sponsor
• Martin Momtahan (R, HD-017)
• Mitchell Horner (R, HD-003)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)
• Ruwa Romman (D, HD-097)

• Public Service Commission
• utility regulation
• constitutional amendment
• ballot measure