HR1475: HR1475 Joint Study Committee on Modified Exhaust Systems on Motor Vehicles; create

Georgia law already bans selling mufflers that cause "excessive or unusual noise," but the resolution says law enforcement cannot enforce that rule because those terms are not defined anywhere in state law. This resolution does not change that law itself. Instead, it creates the Joint Study Committee on Modified Exhaust Systems on Motor Vehicles to look into the problem. The committee would have seven members: four appointed by the Speaker of the House and three by the President of the Senate, each side naming a cochairperson. It would study current definitions and penalties, consider whether shops that modify exhaust systems should face accountability, and look at whether police should be allowed to use handheld decibel meters. Members get standard legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to three days unless more are approved. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates a new seven-member Joint Study Committee on Modified Exhaust Systems on Motor Vehicles, with four House members and three Senate members.
• Directs the committee to study current noise-related exhaust laws, evaluate penalties, and consider holding vehicle modification shops accountable for excessive noise.
• Directs the committee to study whether Georgia should let law enforcement use handheld decibel meters to enforce noise rules.
• Authorizes legislative allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 for committee members, capped at three days unless additional days are approved.
• Sets the committee's funding source as money already appropriated to the House and Senate, with no new state funding created.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026, requiring any findings or recommendations to be filed before that date.

The resolution directly affects the House and Senate members who would be appointed to the study committee. Indirectly, it concerns drivers with modified exhaust systems, vehicle modification shops, and state and local law enforcement agencies that currently say they cannot enforce Georgia's vague noise standard.

No law changes immediately; this only sets up a study. But its recommendations could later lead to clearer legal definitions of excessive exhaust noise, new penalties, accountability for modification shops, or police use of decibel meters, affecting drivers and enforcement statewide.

• Paragraph (1) creates the Joint Study Committee on Modified Exhaust Systems on Motor Vehicles.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at seven: four House members named by the Speaker, three Senate members named by the President, each chamber naming a cochairperson.
• Paragraph (3) directs the committee to study exhaust noise issues and recommend legislation or action it considers necessary.
• Paragraph (5) authorizes standard legislative per diem allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, limited to three days unless more are authorized, funded from existing House and Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a signed report with the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-03House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-03-03House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-26House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-25House Hopper (House)

• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)Primary sponsor
• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Betsy Holland (D, HD-054)
• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)
• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)

• vehicle exhaust noise
• legislative study committee
• traffic law enforcement
• noise regulation