SB 285: Emergency Communications Authority; increase in the percentage of all 9-1-1 charges to be remitted to the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund; increase

In plain language

What the bill does

Who it affects

Why it matters

Key provisions

From the bill

Discussed in meetings (10)

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. Senate Retirement Committee, February 24, 2026

   From 0:27:15 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute for SB 285 adding a $1 telephone surcharge paid directly to the Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund rather than through 911 collections. The sponsor said the fund needed sustainable revenue as retirements increased and that some rural agencies offered neither pensions nor Social Security coverage. One member supported better benefits but opposed charging consumers instead of using state budget revenue, arguing that the charge would burden lower-income households disproportionately. A second member raised affordability concerns for seniors and customers receiving federally supported phone service and asked about exemptions. Speakers believed an exemption for Lifeline customers remained, but did not conclusively confirm it; the sponsor offered to address it if needed. A witness representing rural telephone and broadband providers supported the surcharge, citing law enforcement’s protection of communications infrastructure and saying a charge across technologies would reduce the risk of losing customers. The sponsor argued that direct funding would avoid dependence on future state budget decisions. Another member supported action because of officers’ risks and service. The committee approved the substitute by a show of hands. Opposition was recorded, but no count was announced.

2. Senate Rules Committee, March 3, 2026

   From 0:19:08 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor described SB 285 as a Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund measure that would add a dollar from telephones and other devices. The presentation did not further explain the charge or allocation. Members selected the bill for the calendar as part of the approved slate.

3. Senate floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27)

   From 5:56:05 · 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 SB 285 would stabilize the Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund and improve retirement security, particularly for officers without strong employer pensions. The committee substitute replaced the original approach involving 911 charges with a public-safety telephone surcharge. An opposing senator described the charge as $1 per line and argued that benefits should instead be funded through the state budget. The sponsor said fund members voluntarily contribute $35 monthly and that the fund receives no state appropriations. Questions established that eligible participants included certified peace officers, dispatchers and correctional officers, but generally not EMTs, paramedics or HERO workers without qualifying certification. One senator opposed that limited coverage. Other supporters pointed to recruitment difficulties, small departments’ limited pensions and the stresses of public-safety work. One supporter said qualifying fire-department EMTs and paramedics could use a separate firefighters’ fund. A clarifying amendment was withdrawn, with the sponsor saying the issue could be addressed in the House. The Senate adopted the committee substitute and passed it 49-4.

4. House Ways & Means Committee, March 18, 2026

   From 0:15:43 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor endorsed revisions developed with House committee members. A committee member explained that the substitute would use existing revenue directed locally toward police rather than impose new fees or taxes, addressing potential constitutional concerns. The member described funding tied to 1.5 percent of local insurance premium tax revenue and an intended state contribution of half a percent to support the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund for two years. The member said a longer-term solution would be pursued the following year. According to the member, the fund was 91 percent funded, and the changes would improve its finances, allow a potential benefit increase after July 1, 2027, and better position the board to grant a cost-of-living adjustment. No substantive questions followed. The committee passed the substitute by voice vote, with no vote total announced.

5. House Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

   From 0:46:30 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: At the chair's invitation, the sponsor requested consideration of the bill and thanked House members for revising and improving the Senate version. The sponsor did not explain its provisions, and members asked no questions. The committee later placed it on the Legislative Day 34 calendar without voiced opposition.

6. House floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34)

   From 1:50:21 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2865

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The House sponsor said the substitute for SB 285 removed the Senate version's proposed $1 monthly telephone-fee increase. Instead, the sponsor said it would direct 1.5% of local insurance-premium-tax revenue to the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund and express an intent to appropriate 0.5% of the state's corresponding revenue. The sponsor said the fund was 91% funded and the change would support its stability and possible cost-of-living increases. After July 1, 2027, the sponsor said the board could raise the monthly benefit earned per year of service from $30 to $35. Answering a member, the sponsor said a 30-year retiree could receive $150 more monthly, or $1,800 annually. Another member asked how the funding serves the public good. The sponsor said local premium-tax revenue already supports police and other public services, while the state contribution would still require appropriations. A member reported that local officers had requested support. The sponsor also described plans for a separate, longer-term retirement proposal in 2027. The House adopted the substitute and passed the bill, 165 to 0.

7. Senate floor session, March 27, 2026 (legislative day 38)

   From 7:51:54 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 285 would support the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund, primarily benefiting municipal and county officers. The sponsor said the House found a revenue source with less impact on constituents. The clerk described requiring a portion of insurance premium taxes to go to the fund and allowing changes to the monthly benefit multiplier. Another member supported replacing a proposed $1 surcharge on phone lines, arguing that surcharge would have been a consumption tax. The vote to agree to the House substitute was 46-0.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24), 0:34:02
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, AM), 0:51:47
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 9, 2026 (legislative day 29), 1:09:24

Status timeline

Sponsors

Votes

Topics