HB944: HB944 Motor vehicles; federal regulations regarding safe operation of commercial motor carriers and commercial vehicles; update reference date

Georgia law incorporates federal safety rules for commercial motor carriers, commercial vehicles, and hazardous materials transport by referring to a specific date of federal regulations (49 C.F.R.). This bill amends O.C.G.A. section 40-1-8 to move that reference date forward from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026. This is a routine annual update that keeps Georgia's definition of 'present regulations' aligned with the most current version of federal trucking safety rules, so that state enforcement matches whatever changes the federal government has made to those rules over the past year. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision. It does not change who is regulated or what activities are covered; it only updates which version of the federal rulebook applies.

• Changes the reference date for federal motor carrier safety regulations (49 C.F.R.) in Georgia law from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026.
• Revises the definition of 'present regulations' in O.C.G.A. section 40-1-8, the section governing commercial motor carrier and hazardous materials safety rules.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this updated reference date.

Commercial motor carriers, truck and bus drivers, companies that transport hazardous materials, and the Georgia Department of Public Safety, which enforces these federal safety standards as incorporated into state law.

By updating the reference date, Georgia ensures that the commercial trucking and hazmat safety rules its officers enforce match the current federal regulations rather than an outdated version, keeping state enforcement consistent with any recent federal rule changes.

• Section 1 revises subsection (a) of O.C.G.A. section 40-1-8, updating the definition of 'present regulations' to mean federal rules in effect as of January 1, 2026, rather than January 1, 2025.
• Section 1 also keeps unchanged definitions for 'Commissioner' (the commissioner of public safety) and 'Department' (the Department of Public Safety).
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the Act, a standard closing provision.

1. 2026-05-06Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-06Act 420
3. 2026-05-06House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-23Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-23Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-20Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-19Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)Primary sponsor
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Eddie Lumsden (R, HD-012)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 10, 2026

   160 yea, 4 nay (5 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #494

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 23, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #786

• commercial trucking regulations
• motor carrier safety
• hazardous materials transport
• Department of Public Safety