Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1377: Transit SPLOST; time limits upon recalling of an election; provisions
Last action March 3, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
A House Transportation Committee substitute for HB 1377 would bar counties from using Transit SPLOST sales tax money to offer free or reduced transit fares, and would make counties in air-quality nonattainment areas wait eight years before re-asking voters to approve the tax after a failed vote.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia allows certain counties, especially those in metro-Atlanta nonattainment areas with air quality problems, to ask voters to approve a special sales tax (called a Transit SPLOST) dedicated to transportation projects like roads, transit, and bridges. This bill changes two things about that law. First, it amends the definition of 'transportation purposes' in O.C.G.A. § 48-8-260 so that Transit SPLOST money can no longer be used to pay for free or reduced fares on public transit. Second, it amends O.C.G.A. § 48-8-269.46 so that if voters in a nonattainment area reject a Transit SPLOST referendum, the county cannot simply resubmit the question again right away. Instead, it must wait eight years from the date of the failed election before holding another vote on the same tax.
What the bill does
- Prohibits counties from spending special district mass transportation sales and use tax (Transit SPLOST) revenue on free or reduced fares for public transit riders.
- Removes the previous 'from time to time' language allowing quick resubmission of a failed Transit SPLOST referendum in nonattainment areas.
- Requires counties in nonattainment areas to wait eight years after a failed Transit SPLOST vote before putting the tax question back on the ballot.
- Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with these changes.
Who it affects
Counties and transit agencies in nonattainment areas (mainly metro Atlanta) that levy or want to levy the Transit SPLOST, public transit riders who might have benefited from reduced or free fares funded by the tax, and local election officials who schedule SPLOST referenda.
Why it matters
Transit agencies would lose the option to use this sales tax to subsidize free or discounted rides, potentially affecting fare policy and ridership. Counties whose Transit SPLOST fails at the ballot box would have to wait eight years before trying again, slowing efforts to secure transit funding through repeated votes.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises the definition of 'transportation purposes' in O.C.G.A. § 48-8-260 to exclude free or reduced fares for public transit services from allowable uses of Transit SPLOST funds.
- Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 48-8-269.46(c) to remove language letting counties resubmit a failed Transit SPLOST question 'from time to time' and instead require an eight-year wait from the date of the prior failed election.
- Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“but excluding purposes of providing free or reduced fares for public transit services;”
Discussed in meetings (7)
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.
House floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23)
From 5:01:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Withdrawn, Recommitted)
Summary by Georgia Commons: A member moved to transfer HB 1377 from Ways and Means to Transportation and said both committee chairs agreed. After the clerk read the bill's caption concerning transit sales taxes, the House approved the reassignment without objection. No discussion of the bill's substance was shown.
House Transportation Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:12:16 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute requiring an eight-year wait after a failed transit sales tax referendum. The sponsor cited five failed votes in Gwinnett and one in Cobb, arguing that repeated votes burden opponents who lack counties’ resources for voter education. A second presenter explained language barring transportation sales tax revenue from supporting free or reduced fares, saying that revenue should fund capital improvements. The sponsor distinguished the waiting period from ordinary county and regional transportation taxes and the MARTA penny. Several members questioned whether eight years would prevent newly elected officials from pursuing different plans. Members suggested four years, waiting until a second failure, or limiting election dates. Legislative counsel said the provision initially applied statewide. A Council for Quality Growth witness favored a shorter wait, saying eight years would hinder regional planning and future officials. Responding to questions about long-term taxes and lightly used buses, the witness described bus rapid transit and on-demand service plans, acknowledged that a 30-year tax binds future commissions, and said voters could reject it. The committee adopted the sponsor’s amendment removing section two, described as narrowing the waiting requirement to metro-area counties, then approved the amended substitute by voice vote. No count was stated.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
From 1:43:02 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2013
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1377 would require an eight-year wait before another transit sales tax referendum after a failed vote. A member questioned the restriction on local control and the reason for eight years. The sponsor cited unanimous committee approval and said a waiting period was appropriate for taxes that could last 30 years. Answering another member, the sponsor said a committee change limited the bill to Metro Atlanta and that it covered transit sales taxes, not county or regional transportation taxes or the MARTA penny. The second member raised concerns about restricting local revenue options while lawmakers considered property tax changes. The sponsor reiterated the limited scope and said long tax periods support financing. No decision was recorded.
House Rules Committee, March 5, 2026
From 0:45:45 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2013
Summary by Georgia Commons: A member objected to placing HB 1377 on the floor calendar. The chair called a voice vote and declared that the motion carried. No vote count, reasons for the objection or substantive discussion were given.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- John Carson (R, HD-46)
- Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
- Ginny Ehrhart (R, HD-36)
- Don Parsons (R, HD-44)
- Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
- Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
Topics
- Transit SPLOST
- sales tax
- public transit funding
- transit fares
- nonattainment areas