SR 1: Senate Rules; adopt

When the Georgia Senate meets for the 2026 special session, it needs procedural rules to govern how bills move. This resolution adopts the Senate rules that were in effect at the end of the 2026 regular session as the rules for the special session, but changes several of them so they work for a shorter, compressed session. The amendments let committees act during a special session recess, let the Rules Committee set the calendar starting the first day instead of the fifth, shorten Committee of Conference deadlines from days to hours, cut debate time on Local Contested Calendar bills and personal privilege speeches, and require bills needing House action to be transmitted immediately rather than waiting. It also allows a bill or resolution needing House concurrence to be introduced without the usual filing deadline on the first day of the special session.

• Adopts the Georgia Senate's existing rules from the end of the 2026 regular session as the rules for the 2026 special session, with listed changes.
• Lets committees act on bills during a recess or adjournment in a special session, not just a regular session.
• Shortens the time a Committee of Conference has before it can be discharged from five days to twenty-four or forty-eight hours.
• Requires any bill or resolution needing House action to be transmitted to the House immediately at any point during the 2026 special session.
• Cuts debate time for proponents and opponents of Local Contested Calendar bills from ten minutes to three minutes.
• Limits personal privilege speeches to three minutes during a special session, instead of the usual five-minute limit for early regular session days.

This resolution affects Georgia state senators and Senate staff, including the Secretary of the Senate and the President of the Senate, who must follow these procedural rules during the 2026 special session. It also indirectly affects any bills or resolutions senators introduce during that session.

These rule changes speed up how quickly the Senate can move bills during the special session, shortening deadlines for committee reports, debate, and transmitting bills to the House. That means less time for senators to review conference reports or debate contested bills before votes happen.

• Section 1 lets standing committees act on legislation during a recess in a special session, not only a regular session.
• Section 2 and Section 8 let the Rules Committee begin setting the daily calendar on the first day of a special session instead of the fifth legislative day.
• Section 4 shortens the time before a Committee of Conference can be discharged, from five legislative days to twenty-four or forty-eight hours.
• Section 5 allows a bill needing House concurrence to be introduced on the first day of a special session without the normal prior-day filing deadline.
• Section 7 cuts debate time on Local Contested Calendar bills from ten minutes to three minutes for each side.
• Section 9 and Section 10 require immediate transmittal of bills to the House and set notice rules for reconsideration motions during the special session.
• Section 13 limits personal privilege speeches to three minutes during a special session, shorter than the usual five-minute early-session limit.

1. 2026-06-17Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-06-17Senate Engrossed (Senate)
3. 2026-06-17Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)Primary sponsor
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)

1. PassedSenate voteJune 17, 2026

   29 yea, 21 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Motion To Engross: Senate Vote #2

2. PassedSenate voteJune 17, 2026

   30 yea, 21 nay (0 not voting, 4 absent)

   Motion For The Previous Question: Senate Vote #3

3. PassedSenate voteJune 17, 2026

   30 yea, 21 nay (0 not voting, 4 absent)

   Adoption: Senate Vote #4

• legislative procedure
• Georgia Senate rules
• special session
• committee deadlines