SR 282: Joint Study Committee on Funding for Next Generation 9-1-1 Sustainability; create

Georgia's 9-1-1 funding system dates to 1977, when landline phones were dominant and the state set a maximum fee of $1.50 per landline to fund 9-1-1 centers. Today most calls come from mobile phones and internet-based services, and the resolution says the funding mechanism may no longer match how people actually contact 9-1-1. This resolution creates the Joint Study Committee on Funding for Next Generation 9-1-1 Sustainability, made up of legislators, state agency leaders, and local government association representatives. The committee would study Georgia's 9-1-1 funding laws and problems related to them, and could recommend legislation. It must file any report before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2025. Legislative members get standard travel and expense allowances, and non-legislative members get expense reimbursement, funded through existing legislative and agency budgets.

• Creates the Joint Study Committee on Funding for Next Generation 9-1-1 Sustainability to review Georgia's 9-1-1 funding laws.
• Sets committee membership at ten legislators (five from each chamber) plus representatives from state agencies and local government associations.
• Directs the committee to study problems with current 9-1-1 funding and recommend legislation if needed.
• Provides standard legislative expense allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for lawmakers and reimbursement for other appointed members.
• Requires any approved report to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House before the committee ends.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

State senators and representatives appointed to the committee, the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, the Department of Revenue, the Georgia Municipal Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, and by extension local 9-1-1 centers and Georgia phone users.

9-1-1 funding today relies on a fee structure built for 1977-era landlines, even though most emergency calls now come from cellphones and internet-based services. This committee's findings could shape future legislation on how Georgia pays for and sustains 9-1-1 emergency response systems statewide.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the joint study committee focused on next generation 9-1-1 funding.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership: five Senate and five House appointees including specific committee members, plus designees from four state agencies and two local government associations.
• Paragraph (3) gives the committee authority to study 9-1-1 funding issues and recommend action or legislation.
• Paragraph (4) lets cochairpersons call and schedule meetings as needed.
• Paragraph (5) details allowances: legislators receive standard allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, state officials get expense reimbursement, and other members get a daily allowance matching O.C.G.A. § 45-7-21(b), capped at five days unless extended.
• Paragraph (6) requires any adopted report or recommendations to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House before the committee's abolishment, signed by the cochairpersons.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
2. 2026-01-12Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
3. 2025-03-06Senate Tabled (Senate)
4. 2025-03-04Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
5. 2025-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
6. 2025-02-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
7. 2025-02-26Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)Primary sponsor
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)

• 9-1-1 funding
• emergency services
• telecommunications policy
• public safety
• legislative study committees