HB1443: HB1443 Public Service Commission; allow designee of a member of the General Assembly to intervene in certain cases

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 46-2-59), lawmakers can intervene in Public Service Commission proceedings on behalf of their constituents without paying a fee and with full rights as a party. This bill would expand that right so a designee, someone chosen by the legislator, could also intervene in place of the member. The rest of the intervention process stays the same: anyone else wanting to join a case must file a written, verified application within 30 days of the first published notice, explain their interest, and serve it on other parties. The commission or hearing officer still decides who may intervene based on legal or property interests, and can set conditions to keep proceedings orderly. The change would take effect once enacted and signed.

• Adds language to O.C.G.A. § 46-2-59 allowing a member of the General Assembly's designee, not just the member, to intervene in Public Service Commission cases.
• Preserves the existing rule that such intervention on behalf of constituents comes without a fee and with full rights and privileges of a party.
• Leaves unchanged the 30 day deadline and written application process for other people seeking to intervene in commission proceedings.
• Leaves unchanged the commission's authority to condition intervention orders and to review denials of intervention requests.
• Repeals any conflicting laws.

Members of the Georgia General Assembly and any designees they appoint, the Public Service Commission and its hearing officers, utility companies and other parties in commission proceedings, and Georgia constituents whose interests lawmakers or their designees represent in these cases.

If enacted, legislators would no longer need to personally appear to represent constituent interests before the Public Service Commission on utility rate and service matters; a designated representative could step in instead, potentially increasing legislative involvement in commission cases without added cost.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 46-2-59(e)(3) to specify that 'any member of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia or his or her designee' may intervene without fee on behalf of constituents.
• Subsections (a) through (d) and (f) through (j), covering party definitions, application deadlines, response procedures, and review of intervention denials, remain unchanged.
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-02-26House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-24House Hopper (House)

• Don Parsons (R, HD-044)Primary sponsor
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
• Charles Martin (R, HD-049)
• Mary Williams (D, HD-037)

• Public Service Commission
• utility regulation
• legislative intervention rights
• Georgia General Assembly procedure