HR1608: HR1608 House Study Committee on Municipal Electric Franchise Fees; create

Under current arrangements, only municipalities (cities) can contract with electric light and power companies to collect franchise fees for the use of municipal electric infrastructure. The resolution's preamble states that residents living in unincorporated parts of counties end up paying for these franchise fees even though the money goes to municipalities, and argues this setup reflects outdated assumptions about which local government owns which property. This resolution does not change that system directly. Instead, it creates the House Study Committee on Municipal Electric Franchise Fees, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker, to study the issue and recommend possible legislation. The committee can meet as needed, members get standard legislative allowances for up to five days unless more are approved, and it must file any findings before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Municipal Electric Franchise Fees to look into how cities collect franchise fees from electric companies.
• Sets the committee at five House members, appointed by the Speaker of the House, with one designated as chairperson.
• Directs the committee to study the issue of county residents effectively subsidizing municipal franchise fee arrangements and recommend legislation if needed.
• Allows committee members to receive standard legislative daily allowances (under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more days are approved.
• Requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee, municipalities that currently collect electric franchise fees, electric light and power companies with franchise contracts, and residents of unincorporated county areas who the resolution says help pay those fees.

If the committee's study leads to future legislation, it could change how electric franchise fees are charged and who benefits from them, potentially shifting costs between city residents, county residents, and utility companies. For now, the resolution only sets up a study, not any actual policy change.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Municipal Electric Franchise Fees.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at five House members appointed by the Speaker, with one serving as chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying franchise fee issues and recommending action or legislation as needed.
• Paragraph (4) lets the chairperson call and schedule meetings as needed.
• Paragraph (5) covers member allowances and funding, capping paid allowances at five days unless more are authorized, funded through House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any adopted findings or legislative recommendations to be approved by majority vote and filed with the Clerk of the House.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-03-10House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-09House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-06House Hopper (House)

• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)Primary sponsor
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)
• Steve Tarvin (R, HD-002)

• electric franchise fees
• municipal utilities
• county vs city government
• legislative study committee