Georgia CommonsGeorgia General Assembly
Meetings on February 5, 2026
Machine-readable: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-05.md
House Banks & Banking Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard testimony and approved HB 934, which the chair, serving as sponsor, said would transfer securities and commodities regulation from the Secretary of State to the Department of Banking and Finance. Secretary of State officials urged a study and cost estimate before a transfer. Members questioned those officials about the response to First Liberty and debated whether moving oversight would improve investor protection. Supporters favored placing regulation under an appointed commissioner rather than an elected official who can receive campaign contributions. Other members raised concerns about costs, political appointments and whether a transfer would solve the problems discussed. The committee approved the bill by voice vote, with opposition heard and no count announced.
House Natural Resources & Environment Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered HB 956, which would give the Environmental Protection Division more flexibility to use Solid Waste Trust Fund money, and HB 983, which would clarify protections for prescribed burning. A voice vote on HB 956 drew ayes with no audible opposition, although the chair did not explicitly announce the result. The committee approved HB 983 by voice vote. The Department of Natural Resources commissioner then presented updates on agency operations, storm response, outdoor accessibility, park fees, oyster farming, fishing, food donations, feral hog control and chronic wasting disease in deer. A member asked about expanding efforts to address beaver damage, and the commissioner offered to increase education and technical assistance.
House Special Rules Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved three resolutions: HR 1049, establishing an annual fentanyl awareness observance in October; HR 1177, urging pedestrians to wear bright or reflective clothing at night; and HR 999, encouraging Georgians and local governments to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. A student witness explained the research and school outreach behind the fentanyl proposal. Members also discussed making reflective vests available to warehouse workers through a proposed grant-supported effort. All three resolutions passed by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Rules Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard presentations on recovery support, medical licensing and hospital credentialing, commercial vehicle rules, electronic window tinting and license plates, school emergency response supplies, and ketamine clinic oversight. Members questioned sponsors about licensing delays, hospital participation, vehicle technology restrictions and protections for existing clinic owners. The committee placed HB 629, HB 945 and HB 980 on Friday’s calendar without opposition. No calendar action was shown for the other listed bills presented. The chair announced that there would be no Rules Committee meeting the following day and that the next meeting would be Monday at 9 a.m.
Senate floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed SB 239, which separates funeral director and embalmer licensing, and SB 403, which changes how the state handles and returns unclaimed property, both by 50-0 votes. It also passed HB 414, expanding campaign-finance enforcement involving out-of-state people and groups, by 50-1 after questions about investigations and safeguards. Senators advocated for health insurance affordability, Medicaid expansion and tobacco cessation measures, without votes on those proposals. The chamber received HB 973 from the House and referred it to Appropriations, heard bill readings and committee reports, adopted an unidentified consent calendar of resolutions, and confirmed a Judicial Qualifications Commission appointment by 48-0. Senators also recognized visitors and discussed Black History Month, health and community services. The Senate adjourned until 9 a.m. February 6.
House floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed HB 985, expanding and clarifying eligibility for burial in Georgia veterans cemeteries, by 173 to 0. The House also passed the committee substitute for HB 973, the amended state budget, by 167 to 5 and ordered it sent immediately to the Senate. The budget presentation highlighted homeowner property-tax relief, employee and school staff payments, transportation, education, health care and prison spending. Members received first and second readings and committee reports on other measures, reassigned HB 1119 to the Industry and Labor Committee, and allowed a first reading of a proposal for a third Middle Judicial Circuit judge. The House also honored a baseball Hall of Fame inductee, welcomed community and advocacy groups, and adopted a group of recognition resolutions before adjourning.
Senate Rules Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered four measures for a children and families-themed floor calendar: SB 383 on child fatality reviews, SB 431 on prompt school enrollment for foster students, SR 622 on studying foster care costs, and SB 402 on expanding an autism pilot program for foster youth. After brief presentations and no substantive questions, the committee unanimously approved placing all four measures on the next day's calendar.
House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard presentations on HB 1003, which would increase lawmakers’ expense reimbursements and create a separate security account, and a substitute for HB 733, which would create an insurance consumer advocate and strengthen review of insurance rate increases. Members discussed eligible security expenses, equipment ownership and protection outside formal legislative duties. On insurance, members discussed public access to rate information, the advocate’s independence and workload, legislative oversight, and the costs behind premium increases. The chair requested more information on insurance costs, and both sponsors indicated willingness to continue discussions. No votes were taken on either bill.
House Economic Development & Tourism Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee discussed three bills and postponed action on all three. For HB 490, members reviewed a revised human-trafficking training proposal and discussed who should be responsible for training at short-term rentals. The chair said another revision would address local law enforcement and deferred action until the next meeting. The sponsor presented HB 1098 and HB 1039 together as ways to expand access to economic-development funding in underserved areas. After questions about OneGeorgia funding eligibility, the chair suspended consideration of both bills so program administrators could explain eligibility, spending and the program’s original purpose. No votes on the bills were recorded.
Senate Urban Affairs Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered a substitute for SB 166, which the sponsor said would strengthen local enforcement against repeat rental-property violations while letting local governments choose whether to use its provisions. Discussion focused on whether rental registration should apply to all property owners or only owners with at least 10 properties. A proposed amendment lowering that threshold to five received no second. The committee approved the substitute unchanged, with the chair describing the vote as unanimous and noting no opposition.
Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved a substitute for SB 301, concerning protections for monuments, by a 3-1 vote. Members then held a lengthy hearing on SB 437, concerning private building inspections, virtual inspections and shorter review deadlines. Supporters described potential time and cost savings, while members and local-government witnesses raised concerns about safety, oversight and deadlines for complex projects. No vote was taken, and the chair said the committee would return to it at the next meeting. The committee postponed SB 447 until the following week without hearing a presentation.
House Judiciary Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved five bills: HB 1121 on court-term dates in the Cordele Judicial Circuit, HB 948 on notices about surplus foreclosure proceeds, HB 979 on state jurisdiction over juvenile offenses at military installations, HB 545 on ordering appeal transcripts, and HB 1215 on adding a judge to the Middle Judicial Circuit. The committee also discussed a substitute for HB 1042, covering judicial privacy, special-master eligibility and foreclosure payments. Members questioned whether its payment changes would limit cash buyers or disadvantage smaller bidders. The chair deferred that bill until Monday to allow further work on the language. The five approvals were by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
Senate Judiciary Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee unanimously approved both bills and sent them to Rules. Members approved SB 405 without further discussion of its substance, following testimony at an earlier subcommittee meeting. For SB 398, members reviewed a narrower substitute addressing AI-generated obscene images and adopted two amendments. One concerned sexually explicit chatbot responses to children; the other limited certain probation restrictions to felony violations. The committee then unanimously approved the amended substitute. The chair also outlined a process of generally taking public testimony on Mondays and considering full committee votes on Thursdays.
House Transportation Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard transportation funding updates and discussed an airport airspace proposal that had not yet been introduced. State transportation officials outlined proposed I-75 South express lanes and answered questions about tolls, road projects, truck parking and local funding. Airport representatives said the draft would help protect flight paths from buildings, towers and trees, especially where several local governments share responsibility. Members questioned property-owner compensation, local control, appointed boards’ powers and enforcement. The committee voted by voice to form a five-person group of three members and one representative from each airport association to revise the proposal before the next meeting. No vote count was stated. At the close, a witness flagged application language requiring hangar-funding recipients not to request federal money above allocated entitlements for three years, qualifying earlier assurances that receiving hangar funding would not bar other funding requests.
House Education Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved five bills: HB 971 on cross-district access to college and career academies for homeschool and private school students; HB 383 on protections for student athletes' endorsement contracts; HB 1009 on restricting high school students' personal electronic devices during the school day; HB 1023 on weapons detection systems in public schools; and HB 907 on access to completion schools. Members adopted two amendments to HB 383 and approved substitutes for HB 1023 and HB 907. Discussion included school funding, financial protections for young athletes, device-policy enforcement, weapons detection costs and staffing, and instruction at completion schools. Opposition was heard on the voice vote for HB 1023. No numerical vote totals were announced.
Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved a substitute for HB 185, updating nutrition-related licensing and allowing participation in an interstate licensing compact, with one member opposed. The committee also held a hearing on SB 367, which would exempt cancer-related care from state certificate-of-need approval requirements. Supporters described treatment delays and expansion barriers, while other witnesses requested clearer limits. No vote was taken on that bill or a proposed charity-care amendment. The chair also corrected the substitute identification number for SB 86, previously approved at another meeting, and said no wording had changed.
House State Properties Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved HR 1050, covering 11 state-property leases and transfers, and HR 1051, covering 22 easements for utilities, roads and other access. A State Properties Commission representative described each transaction. Members asked why lease and transfer prices varied, and the representative explained the distinction between government and nongovernment recipients. Both measures received do-pass recommendations by voice vote and were sent to Rules. The chair said additional Senate proposals were expected to lead to a later substitute. The chair also postponed consideration of a separate proposal concerning the new legislative office building pending further discussion.
Senate Insurance and Labor Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved two bills addressing insurers’ use of technology. SB 409 would require insurers to share dated aerial or satellite images used to make unfavorable homeowners insurance decisions and explain how customers could address the problems identified. The committee approved an amendment concerning the quality of images submitted by property owners, then approved the amended bill. SB 444 would prevent artificial intelligence from being the sole basis for denying coverage for health care services and require review by a clinical peer. Members discussed consumer notification, privacy, renewal deadlines and possible discrimination. The committee approved SB 444 by a 6–1 vote and sent it to Rules.
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard extensive testimony on SB 74, concerning libraries and access to material considered harmful to minors. Supporters said the proposal would protect children, while opponents raised concerns about access to books and legal risks for librarians. Members discussed an amendment tying liability to failure to follow a governing authority’s decision, but left the language unresolved and planned to meet again February 6 after House adjournment. The committee also approved HB 57, which the sponsor said would add step-grandparent and step-grandchild relationships to Georgia’s incest law.