SR 482: Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC); create a study committee; urge

This resolution sets up a 14 member Senate Nuclear Power Study Committee made up of senators, one House member, and representatives from Georgia Power, electrical membership corporations, the Public Service Commission, and the Municipal Electrical Authority of Georgia. The committee's job is to study advanced nuclear reactors and related issues like fusion power and radioactive waste, and to recommend any action or legislation it thinks is needed. The resolution lays out how the committee is run: the President of the Senate names a chairperson, the chairperson calls meetings, and legislative members get standard legislative expense allowances while other members get state employee style reimbursement, capped at five days unless extended. Any findings or recommended legislation must be approved by a majority of a quorum and filed with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates a 14 member Senate Nuclear Power Study Committee with representatives from the Senate, House, Georgia Power, electrical membership corporations, the Public Service Commission, and the Municipal Electrical Authority of Georgia.
• Directs the committee to study advanced nuclear reactors, fusion power, and radioactive waste issues and recommend legislation if it finds any necessary.
• Sets pay and expense rules: legislative members get standard legislative allowances, state officials get expense reimbursement only, and other members get a daily allowance capped at five days unless extended.
• Requires any committee report or recommended legislation to be approved by majority vote and filed with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee ends.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

Members of the Georgia Senate and House who may be appointed to the committee, Georgia Power, electrical membership corporations, the Public Service Commission, and the Municipal Electrical Authority of Georgia, all of which supply representatives, plus any Georgians affected by future nuclear energy legislation the committee proposes.

The resolution itself does not change nuclear energy law, but it sets up a formal process for Georgia lawmakers, utilities, and regulators to study advanced nuclear reactors and possibly draft future legislation affecting how nuclear power is developed and regulated in the state.

• Paragraph (1) creates the Senate Nuclear Power Study Committee.
• Paragraph (2) sets its membership at 14: five senators, up to one House member, two from Georgia Power, two from electrical membership corporations, two from the Public Service Commission, and two from the Municipal Electrical Authority of Georgia.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying nuclear power issues and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) sets allowance and reimbursement rules, capping non-legislative daily allowances at five days unless extended, funded through Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any report with legislative recommendations to be approved by majority vote of a quorum and filed with the Secretary of the Senate.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-02-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-02-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2025-03-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-03-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)Primary sponsor
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Brandon Beach (R, SD-021)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #875

• nuclear power
• energy policy
• Public Service Commission
• Georgia Power
• legislative study committees