HR 1243: Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund; authorize creation - CA

Right now Georgia's Constitution restricts how the legislature can dedicate revenue to special funds. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the General Assembly to create the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund by general law and to dedicate specified revenue sources to it. Money placed in the fund could only be used for expanding, maintaining, and operating 9-1-1 systems statewide, including the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (an upgraded, internet-based emergency call system). Any other use of the money would be void. Funds deposited would not lapse at the end of the budget year and would be exempt from certain constitutional spending limits. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it must go before Georgia voters on a ballot with a yes or no question before it can take effect.

• Proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the General Assembly to create the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund through a future general law.
• Allows the General Assembly to dedicate specified state revenues directly into this fund by law.
• Restricts fund spending exclusively to expanding, maintaining, and operating 9-1-1 systems, including the move to Next Generation 9-1-1 technology.
• Declares that any appropriation from the fund for other purposes would be void.
• Exempts the fund's money from lapsing at year end and from certain constitutional budget limits.
• Requires the amendment to be submitted to Georgia voters for ratification or rejection on a statewide ballot.

Georgia voters, who will decide the amendment's fate at the ballot box, and the General Assembly, which would gain new authority to dedicate revenue. County and local 9-1-1 call centers and emergency responders across the state would benefit from any resulting dedicated funding.

If voters approve this amendment, lawmakers could steadily fund the costly upgrade to Next Generation 9-1-1 systems, which handle texts, photos, and better location data during emergencies, without that money disappearing into the general budget or lapsing each year.

• Section 1 amends Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI of the Georgia Constitution to add a new subparagraph authorizing the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund.
• The fund's money must be used exclusively for expansion, maintenance, and operation of 9-1-1 systems, including the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1.
• Any appropriation from the fund for purposes other than 9-1-1 systems is declared void.
• Fund revenues do not lapse and are exempt from limits in Article VII, Section III, Paragraph II of the Constitution.
• Section 2 sets the exact ballot question voters will see and requires the amendment to be ratified by voters to take effect.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 484
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-31Senate Reconsidered Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-20Senate Reconsidered (Senate)
7. 2026-03-19Senate Notice to Reconsider (Senate)
8. 2026-03-19Senate Lost (Senate)

• Charles Martin (R, HD-049)Primary sponsor
• Jon Burns (R, HD-159)
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)
• Karla Drenner (D, HD-085)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   162 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 13 absent)

   Adopt: House Vote #635

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 19, 2026

   31 yea, 14 nay (3 not voting, 6 absent)

   Adoption Of Constitutional Amendment: Senate Vote #750

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2026

   33 yea, 10 nay (9 not voting, 2 absent)

   Motion For Reconsideration: Senate Vote #759

4. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Adoption Of Constitutional Amendment: Senate Vote #878

• 9-1-1 systems
• constitutional amendment
• emergency services
• state funding
• ballot measure