---
title: Georgia House and Senate meetings on February 9, 2026
collection: meetings
id: meetings:day:2026-02-09
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09.md
date: 2026-10-23
status: active
corpus_version: meetings-2026-10-23-8c15ead0f18d
license: Machine transcript and summaries by Georgia Commons from the General Assembly's public video; the video stays on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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date: 2026-02-09
count: 11
---

# Georgia House and Senate meetings on February 9, 2026

## House Rules Committee, February 9, 2026

50 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1162193637. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/house-rules.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard bill presentations on education, courts, financial regulation, property, public safety and other topics. The longest discussion concerned HB 934, with questions about the effect of transferring securities regulation on an ongoing investigation, staffing and agency workloads. Members also questioned school weapons-detection costs and possible local court costs from accepting juvenile cases involving military installations. The committee placed six bills on the February 9 floor calendar and four measures on the February 10 calendar, with no opposition voiced. The other measures presented were not placed on either calendar during this meeting.

## Senate floor session, February 9, 2026 (legislative day 15)

1 h 57 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1162571826. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/senate-floor.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed SB 146, covering cemeteries and family burial plots, 46-0; SB 150, extending a program for retired teachers to return to full-time classrooms, 48-1; and SB 411, addressing dry needling by licensed professionals, 49-2. Each passed with a committee substitute. The Senate also agreed to an amended House version of SB 170 providing rural hospital generator grants, 50-0. Members adopted SR 648, recognizing the Junior League movement’s anniversary, and an unnamed consent calendar of resolutions. Other legislation received first or second readings or committee referrals. A senator gave notice of plans to consider House action on HB 54 the next legislative day. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. on February 10.

## House floor session, February 9, 2026 (legislative day 15)

2 h 10 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1162581812. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/house-floor.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed six bills addressing an additional judge, mini trucks, frivolous property liens, substance use recovery organizations, disabled veterans' tax exemptions and physician licensing. Members also heard first and second readings, received a committee report, recognized Sonic Edge of Pebblebrook High School and adopted a group of honorary resolutions. During member remarks, speakers discussed gun safety, respectful debate, adoption and other community concerns. The chair announced that afternoon committee meetings would start one hour later than scheduled. The House adjourned until February 10 at 10 a.m.

## Senate Rules Committee, February 9, 2026

29 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1163255473. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/senate-rules.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee unanimously approved a substitute for SB 395 addressing information sharing for the low-THC oil patient registry. In the calendar portion of the meeting, members heard presentations on retirement benefits, vehicle registration, AI-generated sexual material, postsecondary education oversight, an agency name change, small claims court limits, insurance decisions using AI, and unlawful occupancy. The longest discussion concerned SB 405, with members debating access to lower-cost court proceedings and protections for defendants. The committee unanimously placed SB 384 and SB 435 on the next day's calendar. No further action was shown on the other bills presented.

## Senate Health and Human Services Committee, February 9, 2026

1 h 15 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1163336866. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/senate-health-and-human-services.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee held a hearing on SB 439, which would set disclosure and payment requirements for agencies that refer families to assisted living communities and personal care homes. Senior living providers supported the proposal, describing families’ confusion about referrals and disputes over fees. Local referral agencies supported transparency but opposed requirements they said would burden families in crisis and small businesses. Members asked about fees, conflicts of interest and existing law. No vote was taken. The chair asked for proposed changes by noon the next day and said the bill could return Wednesday if the parties worked out their concerns.

## House Judiciary Committee, February 9, 2026

1 h 58 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1162607331. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/house-judiciary.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four bills. HB 1024 would raise the amount of home equity protected in bankruptcy, following discussion about homeowners’ needs and repayment to creditors. The committee approved a substitute to HB 211 setting a gross negligence standard for PFAS receivers, despite objections about public notice and questions about its wording. Survivors, whistleblowers and advocates supported HB 1187, which addresses confidentiality agreements involving sexual abuse and human trafficking. The committee amended that bill to address existing agreements before approving it. The committee also approved HB 1042 after reviewing a substitute and adopting an amendment clarifying payment language for property sales. All four bills passed by voice vote, with no numerical totals stated.

## House Health Committee, February 9, 2026

1 h 44 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1162312121. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/house-health.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved substitutes for HB 970, concerning student-athlete physicals; HB 810, concerning pharmacy reimbursements; and HB 662, concerning eligibility for rural hospital tax credits. No vote counts were stated. The committee also held hearings without votes on HB 1138, which would expand access to contraception through pharmacists, and HB 1089, which would make human-formulated ivermectin available without a prescription. Members raised questions about screening requirements, patient costs, insurance rules and medication safety. The committee also approved a rule requiring substitutes to be submitted one business day before consideration, rather than two hours beforehand.

## Senate Finance Committee, February 9, 2026

1 h 23 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1162328271. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/senate-finance.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved two income-tax proposals and matching House-bill substitutes, each by a 9-3 vote. SB 476 would increase standard deductions, reduce the income-tax rate and remove or limit tax breaks to help pay for the changes. SB 477 would allow further rate reductions if revenue conditions are met. Members questioned the financial estimates, effects on housing and business competitiveness, and funding for public services. The chair said a requested fiscal note for SB 476 was not yet available. The committee also approved replacing the language in HB 134 and HB 463 with the respective income-tax proposals to address concerns about tax legislation originating in the Senate.

## House Regulated Industries Committee, February 9, 2026

2 h 20 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1162536933. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/house-regulated-industries.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved the previously amended version of HB 504 and approved HB 1086, which the sponsor described as requiring signs to alert firefighters to lightweight building components. Most of the meeting focused on a substitute for SB 220 to expand Georgia’s medical cannabis program. Members and witnesses discussed patient access, dosing, physician oversight, possible misuse and public vaping. The committee rejected an amendment to remove the public-use restriction, then approved the substitute by voice vote, with opposition heard. The chair said HB 1095 would be heard at the next meeting because time had run out.

## Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, February 9, 2026

2 h 03 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1162284134. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/senate-state-and-local-governmental-operations.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered three bills. It held HB 309, concerning voter approval before abolishing certain police departments, for more work after questions about its county-only scope, election timing and costs. The committee unanimously approved a revised SB 437 after adding a three-story limit and restricting virtual inspections to certain follow-up inspections. It also heard testimony on SB 447, concerning development permit review deadlines. Supporters emphasized predictable timelines and housing supply, while other witnesses raised concerns about environmental review, staffing, outside agencies and the bill’s reach. The chair said that bill needed further work, and the committee voted to table it, with two opposed.

## House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, February 9, 2026

1 h 27 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1163397124. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-09/house-judiciary-juvenile.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee unanimously approved a substitute for HB 256, which the sponsor said would update foster caregivers’ rights and allow trained volunteer advocates to help with administrative disputes. The committee also held a hearing on HB 673, which would expand first-offender treatment for people who committed certain serious crimes as children. Supporters described barriers to rebuilding their lives, while prosecutors raised concerns about sentencing, sealed records and public safety. The chair said that bill needed more work and requested a substitute for further discussion. No vote was taken on it.