HB 1022: Motor vehicles; prohibit electric tinting

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Discussed in meetings (11)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. House Motor Vehicles Committee, February 3, 2026

   From 0:30:04 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1022 would prohibit electronic window tint beyond existing limits, prohibit electronic tint over plates, repeal digital-plate authorization and bar non-state-issued tags resembling Georgia plates. The sponsor described switchable tint and plate displays as ways to evade enforcement, citing officer safety and accountability. The sponsor said violations would be misdemeanors, with certain fines capped at $500 initially and $1,000 for repeat offenses. One member questioned deleted manufacturer provisions; the sponsor said those deletions accompanied repeal of digital-plate authorization. A second member questioned the safety rationale when tint becomes clear before an officer approaches and raised concerns about stops. The sponsor said officers could identify changing tint and discuss it with drivers. A third member questioned the fines, the need for another law and how often this occurred. The sponsor said there were no occurrence figures and the technology was not yet being tracked. Another member asked about medical exemptions and officer discretion. The sponsor said existing tint rules were unchanged. No amendment was offered. The committee approved the bill by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

2. House Rules Committee, February 5, 2026

   From 0:30:34 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1022 would prohibit electronically adjustable window tinting and license plate tinting, and repeal authorization for electronic license plates. The sponsor argued that adjustable tint could conceal violations during traffic stops and that dark windows endangered drivers and officers. The sponsor also described three vehicles in Atlanta reportedly detected with the same plate and said penalties would be $500 for a first offense and $1,000 afterward. One member supported the electronic plate provision but questioned whether the tinting definition would affect manufacturer-installed technology. The sponsor said manufacturers had not been consulted. A second member asked whether the bill prohibited the technology entirely or only its use while driving, noting its potential use to shade parked cars. The sponsor acknowledged that the bill did not provide specifics on that distinction. Another member supported restrictions as a way to address concealed or altered plates. No amendment or calendar action was shown.

3. House Rules Committee, February 17, 2026

   From 1:01:26 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed the bill on the day's calendar after a motion and second, with no stated opposition. The bill's substance was not discussed.

4. House floor session, February 17, 2026 (legislative day 19)

   From 2:22:39 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 639

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1022 would address electronically controlled tint that drivers could darken beyond legal limits and instantly clear during a traffic stop. The sponsor said the bill would prohibit electronic tint beyond existing window-tint limits, prohibit it on license plates and bar unauthorized tags intended to resemble Georgia plates, including digital plates. The sponsor described enforcement authority for the Department of Public Safety, misdemeanor penalties and fines of $500 for certain first offenses and up to $1,000 for later offenses. The sponsor cited officer safety, readable plates and drivers' visibility as reasons for the bill. There were no questions. The House passed it, 133 to 25.

5. Senate Public Safety Committee, March 23, 2026

   From 0:07:24 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1022 would prohibit electric vehicle tinting, which lets drivers change windows from dark to clear after an officer observes a tint violation. The sponsor described this as an officer safety measure and said the prohibition also covered license plates. The chair said the substitute included previously heard provisions extending a digital-license deadline to 2032 and addressing fleeing police. A criminal defense attorney opposed the fleeing provisions. The witness said existing law already required prison time, allowed consecutive sentences for each pursuing officer and could require a 10-year sentence for someone with a prior felony. The witness argued that adding punishment based on pursuit mileage would complicate sentencing and could punish highway pursuits more than dangerous urban pursuits. The witness favored public education about existing penalties. A committee member offered an amendment that the member said would match Florida tint limits, changing front-side window light transmission from 32% to 28% and allowing 15% for other sedan windows. The sponsor agreed to the amendment. The committee adopted it and approved the amended substitute by voice vote, with no vote count stated.

6. Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026

   From 0:40:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1022 combined several measures and was not on the selection sheet. The sponsor described provisions prohibiting electronic window tinting, changing the tint standard from 32 percent to 28 percent to align with Florida, and imposing a mandatory month in jail for each mile of fleeing specified state law enforcement agencies. No substantive questions followed, and it was not included in the final calendar.

• Read aloud: House floor session, January 28, 2026 (legislative day 8), 0:29:22
• Read aloud: House floor session, January 29, 2026 (legislative day 9), 0:53:01
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 3, 2026 (legislative day 11), 0:43:47
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 18, 2026 (legislative day 20), 0:28:31
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 25, 2026 (legislative day 37), 0:35:26

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