HB 653: Georgia Public Service Commission; rename as Georgia Public Utilities Commission

The Georgia Public Service Commission is the state agency that regulates utilities like electric, gas, and telephone companies. This bill would change its name to the Georgia Public Utilities Commission starting January 1, 2027. It spells out that the renamed agency automatically takes over all of the old commission's rules, orders, contracts, and legal obligations, so nothing lapses in the transition. Current commissioners would keep serving out their terms under the new name. Beyond the agency itself, the bill updates dozens of other sections of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, covering topics from campaign contributions to utility rate rules to state salary law, so that every reference to the 'Public Service Commission' instead reads 'Public Utilities Commission.' The whole law is contingent: it only takes effect if Georgia voters ratify a constitutional amendment renaming the commission at the November 2026 general election. If voters reject that amendment, this bill is automatically repealed on January 1, 2027.

• Renames the Georgia Public Service Commission as the Georgia Public Utilities Commission effective January 1, 2027.
• Transfers all existing rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and administrative orders from the old commission name to the new one without interruption.
• Preserves the rights, privileges, and obligations of anyone who had contracts or agreements with the old commission, substituting the new commission as the other party.
• Lets sitting commissioners finish their current terms under the new commission name rather than requiring new elections.
• Replaces the term 'Georgia Public Service Commission' or 'Public Service Commission' with 'Georgia Public Utilities Commission' or 'Public Utilities Commission' across 79 separate Code sections in multiple titles.
• Makes the whole Act contingent on voters approving a companion constitutional amendment in November 2026, and automatically repeals it if that fails.

The Georgia Public Service Commission and its current members, utility companies regulated by it (electric, gas, telephone, and rail), state agencies and local governments referenced in the affected Code sections, and any business or individual with existing contracts, permits, or legal proceedings involving the commission.

If enacted, Georgians would see the state's utility regulator operate under a new name without any gap in its authority over utility rates, permits, and contracts. The change is largely administrative, but it touches dozens of unrelated laws that reference the commission, and it only happens if voters separately approve a constitutional amendment.

• Section 1 renumbers two existing Code sections and swaps 'Georgia Public Service Commission' for 'Georgia Public Utilities Commission' within them.
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 46-2-1, which formally continues the commission's existence under the new name and transfers its rules, contracts, and obligations without interruption.
• Section 2 also lets sitting commissioners finish their current terms under the new name until successors are elected.
• Section 3 lists 79 separate Code sections across many titles, from election law to tax law to public safety law, where the commission's name must be updated.
• Section 4 makes the entire Act effective January 1, 2027, but only if voters ratify a constitutional amendment renaming the commission in the November 2026 election; otherwise the Act is automatically repealed that same date.
• Section 5 repeals any conflicting laws.

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

• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-22)Primary sponsor
• Martin Momtahan (R, HD-17)
• Mitchell Horner (R, HD-3)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)
• Ruwa Romman (D, HD-97)
• Saira Draper (D, HD-90)

• Public Service Commission
• utility regulation
• state agency renaming
• Georgia constitutional amendment