HB 986: Motor vehicles; personal delivery devices; revise operation procedures and restrictions

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Discussed in meetings (14)

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 Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee, February 4, 2026

   From 0:36:39 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair, presenting the bill, proposed raising personal delivery devices' permitted speed from 4 to 7 miles per hour and requiring continuous sound while moving rather than only when approaching. The presenter said slow crossings were backing up traffic, especially right turns, and that continuous sound would help people with disabilities detect devices. The presenter cited a Georgia Restaurant Association support letter and said other states permit speeds of 10 to 12 miles per hour. One member supported increasing speed but asked about injury liability and insurance. The presenter said existing civil and criminal laws provide protections and expressed the belief that delivery companies carry general liability and umbrella insurance. A second member asked whether continuous sound would become a nuisance and whether higher speeds would worsen injuries. The presenter described a sound around 50 decibels, said other states had reported no issues, and argued that device weight limits and the modest speed increase would avoid significant additional risk. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote, with no opposition heard and no numerical tally stated.

2. House Rules Committee, February 9, 2026

   From 0:28:26 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 986 would make three changes to the rules for personal delivery devices, described as wheeled food-delivery robots. The sponsor said Georgia enacted its original law four years earlier and that the changes drew on other states' experience to improve safety and traffic efficiency. The specific changes were not explained. No questions were asked, and the committee took no calendar action.

3. House Rules Committee, February 10, 2026

   From 0:33:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 523

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 986 on the next day's calendar. The motion received a second, and no opposition was stated. No discussion of the bill's contents was shown.

4. House floor session, February 11, 2026 (legislative day 17)

   From 1:35:51 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 526

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 986 updates delivery-robot rules for safety and efficiency after four years of experience. One member questioned whether raising sidewalk speeds would worsen collisions, particularly for people with visual impairments, and raised concerns about flags striking faces. The sponsor said the proposal raises the limit to seven miles per hour, below the 10 to 12 miles per hour used in some other states, and requires continuous sound rather than sound only when approaching someone. The sponsor said faster crosswalk travel would improve traffic flow and that the industry, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Municipal Association and Association County Commissioners of Georgia helped develop the changes. A second member questioned allowing robots to travel faster than normal walking speed. The sponsor acknowledged that possibility but cited other states' safety experience. The House passed the bill, 164 to 3.

5. Senate Science and Technology Committee, March 11, 2026

   From 0:17:15 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 986 would require personal delivery devices to emit a consistent sound while moving and raise their speed limit from four to seven miles per hour, including in crosswalks. The sponsor said the sound change would help people with visual disabilities detect the devices. According to the sponsor, nearly every other state allowing the devices used limits of 10 to 12 miles per hour, but seven was a cautious increase. The sponsor said the Georgia Department of Transportation supported faster crosswalk travel because slow devices were delaying traffic, particularly right turns on wider Atlanta roads. One committee member welcomed the proposal. The chair supported the cautious speed increase but expressed concern that continuous noise could annoy pedestrians and nearby diners. The sponsor responded that the sound would generally be around 40 to 45 decibels and might increase as a device approached someone. No public witnesses spoke. The committee unanimously voted to send the bill to the Rules Committee with a recommendation to pass.

6. Senate Rules Committee, March 16, 2026

   From 0:28:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 986 would update speed and sound requirements for personal delivery devices, including increasing the speed limit from four to seven miles per hour. The sponsor said faster crosswalk travel would help reduce downtown Atlanta congestion and that the proposal drew on other states' experience and feedback from transportation officials and local governments. Asked why the limit was not higher, the sponsor said participants preferred a gradual increase followed by more data collection. Members questioned how speeding would be measured and who would receive citations. The sponsor said violations would be civil matters, speed could be measured by radar or other electronic means, and notices would go to the company operating the device. Asked about state revenue, the sponsor said the state charges no specific fee and suggested the technology could support sales tax revenue and businesses with staffing shortages. The sponsor left delivery guarantees and tire repairs to operators. No vote followed.

7. Senate Rules Committee, March 18, 2026

   From 0:21:17 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair described HB 986 as raising the speed limit for small delivery devices and joked about a possible floor amendment allowing 70 miles per hour. Another member raised the prospect of speed cameras for the devices. No amendment text or amendment vote was presented. The committee later unanimously included the bill in its ten-measure floor calendar.

8. Senate floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34)

   From 4:13:05 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would raise the maximum speed of personal delivery robots from four to seven miles per hour and require them to make noise while moving. The sponsor said many states allow speeds up to ten miles per hour on sidewalks, but proposed trying seven in Georgia. A member confirmed the speed change and jokingly suggested a larger increase; the sponsor said the limit should remain seven. No amendment was offered. The Senate passed the bill 44-2.

• Read aloud: House floor session, January 16, 2026 (legislative day 5), 0:51:19
• Read aloud: House floor session, January 27, 2026 (legislative day 7), 0:38:58
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13), 0:50:39
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 12, 2026 (legislative day 18), 0:24:53
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 12, 2026 (legislative day 31), 0:27:07
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32), 0:29:12

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