HR 398: Georgia Public Service Commission; rename as Georgia Public Utilities Commission - CA

Georgia's Constitution currently establishes the Public Service Commission, a five-member elected body that regulates utilities like electric, gas, and telecommunications companies. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would simply rename that body the Public Utilities Commission. The new commission would legally be the successor to the old one, taking on all of its rights, powers, and duties as of December 31, 2026. Current commissioners would keep serving out their terms under the new name. The amendment also updates a related section of the Constitution dealing with local and general laws to reflect the new name. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it must go before Georgia voters, who would see a yes-or-no ballot question asking whether to approve the rename.

• Proposes a constitutional amendment renaming the Georgia Public Service Commission as the Georgia Public Utilities Commission, effective for terms starting in 2027.
• Makes the new commission the legal successor to the old one, transferring all its rights, powers, and duties.
• Keeps the same five elected members, six-year terms, and chairperson selection process, with sitting commissioners continuing to serve out their terms under the new name.
• Updates a reference in Article IX of the Constitution to match the new commission name.
• Requires the proposed amendment to be submitted to Georgia voters for ratification or rejection via a yes/no ballot question.

The five elected members of the Georgia Public Service Commission, the utility companies (electric, gas, and telecommunications providers) the commission regulates, and Georgia voters, who would decide the name change through a statewide ballot referendum.

The change is a rename rather than a shift in authority or duties: the commission would keep the same powers, structure, and elected members. Voters would need to approve the change at the ballot box before it takes effect, and the new name would formally apply starting in 2027.

• Section 1 amends Article IV, Section I of the Constitution to rename the commission and states it is the successor to the old commission as of December 31, 2026.
• Section 1 also preserves the five-member structure, six-year terms, and the current commissioners' ability to finish their terms under the new name.
• Section 2 updates Article IX, Section II, Paragraph I(c)(5) to replace 'Public Service Commission' with 'Public Utilities Commission' in a provision about extending regulatory power.
• Section 3 requires the amendment to be published and put to voters, specifying the exact yes/no ballot language asking whether to approve the rename.

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)

• Public Service Commission
• utility regulation
• constitutional amendment
• Georgia ballot measures