HR 1608: House Study Committee on Municipal Electric Franchise Fees; create

Under current Georgia practice, only municipalities can contract with electric light and power companies to collect franchise fees for the use of electric infrastructure within their borders. This resolution says that residents in unincorporated parts of counties end up paying part of those fees too, even though counties get none of the revenue, and calls that arrangement outdated. The resolution creates the House Study Committee on Municipal Electric Franchise Fees, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker, with one serving as chairperson. The committee would study the issue and could recommend legislation. It can meet as needed, members get standard legislative travel and expense allowances for up to five days unless more are approved, and funding comes from the House's existing budget. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Municipal Electric Franchise Fees, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study whether unincorporated county residents are unfairly subsidizing municipal electric franchise fee revenue.
• Authorizes the committee to recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Sets standard legislative expense allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for members, capped at five days unless more are authorized, funded through the House's budget.
• Requires any approved report or recommended legislation to be filed with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

County residents living in unincorporated areas who pay electricity costs tied to franchise fees, municipalities that currently collect those fees from electric companies, county governments, electric light and power companies, and the five House members who would serve on the study committee.

If the committee's work leads to legislation, it could change who collects revenue tied to electric infrastructure use, potentially shifting money between municipalities and counties or altering costs for residents outside city limits. For now, the resolution only authorizes study and possible recommendations, not any immediate change to fees.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Municipal Electric Franchise Fees.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership at five House members appointed by the Speaker, one designated chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying the franchise fee issue and recommending legislation if warranted.
• Paragraph (5) sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days absent additional authorization, funded from the House's appropriated funds.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or legislative recommendations to be filed with the Clerk of the House before abolishment, or minutes filed if no report is approved.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-03-10House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-09House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-06House Hopper (House)

• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)Primary sponsor
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)
• Steve Tarvin (R, HD-002)

• electric franchise fees
• municipal utilities
• county government
• legislative study committees