Georgia CommonsHouse Rules Committee, February 11, 2026
2025-2026 Regular Session · 341 CAP · 53 min
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Summary
Written by an AI model (gpt-6.1-sol) from the transcript. It is not part of the record, and the video is what was said.
The committee heard presentations on vehicle titles, bankruptcy exemptions, foster caregivers, firefighter safety, judicial privacy, student sports physicals, pharmacy payments and insurance coverage. It returned HB 211 and HB 1024 to the Judiciary Committee. It approved a substitute for HB 998 and placed it on Thursday’s House calendar along with HR 999, HB 948, HB 983 and SB 195. The committee held off on scheduling HB 810 after a request to consider it Tuesday instead. No further action was recorded on the other bills presented. The chair announced that the committee would not meet Thursday morning and would next meet Tuesday.
Bills discussed (14)
Each account covers the stretch of the meeting it names. The bill's number is said in that stretch, unless it was the only bill on a committee's agenda.
HB 1181. Motor vehicles; application for certificate of title; provisions
From 0:27:01 · turns 22 to 26
The sponsor said HB 1181 would allow a deceased person's vehicle title to transfer directly from the state where the estate is based to a first-degree relative living in Georgia. The sponsor said current law requires an intermediate title in the executor's state before a Georgia title can be issued. There were no questions or recorded action.
HB 1024. Property; debtor's aggregate interest in real property or personal property used as a residence; revise exemption
From 0:27:56 · turns 28 to 126
The sponsor said HB 1024 would raise the bankruptcy homestead exemption to $50,000 for individual filers and $100,000 for joint filers, saying it had not been updated in more than 10 years. No members asked questions. Later, the committee agreed to return the bill to the Judiciary Committee, with no opposition voiced.
HB 256. Social services; foster parents bill of rights; revise provisions
From 0:28:37 · turns 32 to 53
The sponsor said HB 256 would update Georgia's Foster Parent Bill of Rights to cover agency foster parents, relative caregivers and other caregivers consistently. The sponsor described clearer rights concerning communication, training, case planning, everyday parenting decisions, protection against retaliation and an administrative grievance process. The sponsor said the bill would not change court authority or custody, create new juvenile-court rights, or require new services or spending. It would also establish volunteer advocates overseen by the Office of Child Advocate to support foster parents during administrative investigations and disputes, without serving as lawyers or interfering with child-safety decisions. The sponsor said 30 to 50 percent of foster parents leave annually, often citing inadequate support or fairness. Asked whether the advocates would parallel CASA advocates for children, the sponsor said they would serve a similar role for foster parents. Another member commended the sponsor's experience as a foster and adoptive parent. Asked about department support, the sponsor said the department helped develop the language and had not opposed it. No action was recorded.
HB 1086. Preston Fant and Brant Chesney Firefighter Safety Act; enact
From 0:32:05 · turns 55 to 70
The sponsor said HB 1086 would require low-cost signs on buildings using light-frame wood or steel trusses to warn firefighters that those structures can fail more quickly during a fire. The sponsor cited Florida's use of an eight-inch Maltese-cross sign and reported endorsements from firefighter organizations, state fire-safety officials and the Insurance Commissioner. A member asked what the trusses were made of and why building codes allow them. The sponsor answered that the trusses are structurally sound under ordinary conditions but fail sooner under fire. No action was recorded.
HB 1042. Real Estate Security and Title Act; enact
From 0:34:17 · turns 72 to 77
The sponsor said HB 1042 would protect information that could reveal judges' homes, including tax parcel identifiers, phone numbers and spouses' names. The sponsor cited an Indiana shooting involving a judge and the judge's spouse as a reason for the proposal. The sponsor also said the bill would broaden the area from which special masters can be selected to resolve property-title disputes, addressing shortages of eligible people in some areas at the State Bar's real-property section's request. Finally, the sponsor described changes recognizing credit-union funds in foreclosure transactions and putting court decisions about credit bids into law. There were no questions or recorded action.
HB 970. Quality Basic Education Act; expand which healthcare professionals may conduct preparticipation physical examinations
From 0:36:05 · turns 79 to 104
The sponsor said HB 970 would put current high-school sports physical policies into law and strengthen them, allowing physicians, osteopathic physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to conduct examinations. The sponsor said it would require cardiovascular screening to help reduce cardiac-related student-athlete deaths and had endorsements from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association. The sponsor described physicals as valid for 12 months, or through the following school year when completed after April 1. Asked whether students throughout Georgia could obtain the heart screening, the sponsor said it was already part of current practice, schools could continue on-site physicals, and parents could use private practitioners. A second member asked about further testing. The sponsor clarified that screening would be required during the physical and agreed that findings indicating a concern would lead to further examination. No action was recorded.
HB 810. Insurance; require that final reimbursements to pharmacies for prescription drugs are based on certain formulas
From 0:39:06 · turns 107 to 134
The presenter said HB 810 would set a minimum pharmacy reimbursement based on national average drug-cost data, require a professional dispensing fee and prohibit certain deductions and payment averaging by pharmacy benefit managers. The presenter said underpayments threaten local pharmacies and that 200 Georgia pharmacies had closed since 2015, including two in the presenter's community. The presenter said the bill targets commercial and private insurance, not Medicaid or the state employee plan. No members asked questions. Later, a motion and second were made to place the bill on Thursday's calendar. After a member said they would be absent and requested Tuesday instead, the chair directed the committee to hold off on scheduling it.
HB 585. Insurance; motor vehicle policy; provide excluded driver
From 0:40:41 · turns 111 to 124
The presenter said HB 585 would require insurers to send information about excluded drivers to the Department of Revenue so police could determine during stops or crashes whether the driver has coverage. One member said this would help officers alert a not-at-fault party to an insurance problem. Asked about premium effects, the presenter gave no figures but said uninsured driving increases costs and that excluding a poor driver can make a household's policy more affordable. The presenter said some policyholders nevertheless allow excluded drivers to use their vehicles. Another member asked whether the bill would shield those policyholders. The presenter said officers could cite excluded drivers for lacking insurance, and policyholders who knowingly permit that driving would face the same penalties as owners driving without insurance. A final member described driver exclusions as a way for owners to refuse requests to borrow a vehicle. No action was recorded.
HB 211. PFAS Receiver Shield Act; enact
From 0:47:41 · turns 124 to 126
The committee agreed to recommit HB 211 to the Judiciary Committee after a motion and second. No opposition was voiced, and there was no substantive discussion.
HB 998. Public utilities; authorize certain Tier 2 local exchange companies to elect to become subject to rate of return regulation
From 0:48:26 · turns 127 to 133 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 568
The presenter offered a Rules substitute for HB 998, describing the Universal Access Fund as support for affordable basic telephone service in rural areas where service may not be economical. The presenter said the fund's scheduled 2030 expiration was limiting some providers' financing. Rather than remove the expiration entirely, the substitute would extend it to December 31, 2040. The presenter said it would also narrow eligibility for smaller providers opting in by August 1, impose a $50 million annual disbursement cap, require audits already requested by the Public Service Commission, and require commission reports to state leaders about the fund. The presenter said these changes responded to concerns and requests for more information about payments into and out of the fund. The committee approved the substitute with a do-pass recommendation and no opposition voiced. It then placed the substituted bill on Thursday's calendar, again without voiced opposition.
HR 999. Georgia citizens, cities, and counties; remember and honor the sacredness of America's 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026; urge
From 0:51:19 · turn 132 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 568
The committee placed HR 999 on Thursday's calendar under modified-open debate rules after a motion and second, with no opposition voiced. There was no substantive discussion.
SB 195. Pharmacies; pharmacists are authorized to dispense preexposure prophylaxis and postexposure prophylaxis under certain conditions; provide
From 0:52:38 · turn 135 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 568
The committee placed SB 195 on Thursday's calendar after a motion and second, with no opposition voiced. There was no substantive discussion.
HB 948. Property; debtors in foreclosures to receive certain information and forms in a notice of foreclosure; provide
From 0:52:20 · turn 135 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 568
The committee placed HB 948 on Thursday's calendar after a motion and second, with no opposition voiced. There was no substantive discussion.
HB 983. Conservation and natural resources; prescribed burning for silviculture purposes is exempt from certain burning notice and permit requirements; clarify
From 0:52:29 · turn 135 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 568
The committee placed HB 983 on Thursday's calendar after a motion and second, with no opposition voiced. There was no substantive discussion.
Official records of this meeting
- 2026 House Journal, pp. 556 to 599 (February 12, 2026)
Transcript
138 turns. Select a time to play that moment of the video.
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Is
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chewing on pepper good for you, Simona?
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Don't say, don't say anything.
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No, I don't care.
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I'm like, I don't know.
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Running around and-
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She couldn't run. And human re-
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Go ahead and start. Morning,
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everybody.
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So they don't have to-
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Morning. If you would, please have a seat, and we'll, uh, call the meeting to order. Give me just a minute to get settled over here. Dean. We got you.
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Good morning. We're gonna call the meeting to order, and recognize Dean Greene to open us with a word of prayer. See if that's working there now.
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Yeah. Let us pray. Almighty God, as we come to do the people's business, keep us in thy strength. Give us the courage to know right from wrong. And Father, we just ask you to be with us and let us be those individuals that will be the servants of the people. And Father, we ask you to be with us and guide us and direct us. Help those that are in need.
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Bless those that are hurting. And Father, we just ask you now to go with, with us through this meeting and through this day and through the whole session, Father, doing the people's business. And we thank you, oh Lord, for thy blessings. Be with us now. Forgive us of our sins and shortcomings. In thy holy name we pray, amen.
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Amen.
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Thank you, Dean. Okay. Uh, we've got some special guests here with us today, and if any of you folks make it down to Georgia Southern, you might want to know these people that I'm gonna introduce to you today. It's Chief of Police Day here at the Capitol, as you all know. We're glad to have some of our finest here with us today. The Chief of Police at Georgia Southern University, they're in the back. Trey Drowdy. Raise your hand, Trey. Charlie, uh, Bowen, David Wright, and Tyrone McBride.
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Thank you for being here today, and thank you for what you do every day to make our campuses an, uh, safe. Appreciate y'all being here. Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Okay, let's go ahead and get started. Uh...
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Well, I was gonna take the ladies first, but, uh, Chairman Gullett, go ahead since you're up there.
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Come on through.
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Go. Representative Ballard.
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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I've, and members of the committee, I've got House Bill 1181. That's on page three. It's about the fifth one down. This bill, uh, cuts some red tape that, um, is in our code. It, it allows a decedent's car title to come directly from the state where the estate is domiciled to the first degree relative who is a Georgia resident. Currently under Georgia law, if the executor is in a different state, it has to be titled in that different state before it can be titled in Georgia.
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And so I wanna get rid of that intermediate step.
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And I'll take any questions the committee has.
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Okay. Don't, don't see any questions. Thank you.
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Okay. Thank you so much.
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Vice Chair Hong. Soo Hong.
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Thank you, Chairman and members of the committee. I have HB 1024, which is on page two, bottom of page two. This bill will update the current bankruptcy homestead exemption, which has not been updated for over 10 years, and it will increase it to $50,000 for individual filing and $100,000 for joint filers. Thank you. I'll take any questions.
- 0:28:18
Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Chair McGullett.
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Thank you, members. Um, I'll take a little bit of personal privilege, if you don't mind, just to explain this bill a little bit more in depth than I normally would. Um, this is House Bill 256. It's LC481711S. Uh, it was Chairman Wiedower's bill prior to his resignation, uh, and I have taken it over since then. Uh, it's a bill that we passed very similarly in, uh, 2024, um, but didn't get an agree over in the Senate. I think we've worked that out. But what this bill does is it updates the Georgia's Foster Parent Bill of Rights, um, to reflect how foster care is actually delivered today.
- 0:29:02
Since the original bill was enacted in the early 2000s, placements now, now routinely include DFCS foster parents, private agency foster parents, relative caregivers, and fictive kin. This bill ensures that all caregivers providing day-to-day care to pr- to children in the state are treated consistently and fairly. The bill focuses exclusively on the relationship between foster caregivers and the Department of Family and Children's Services. It does not create new rights in juvenile court, does not alter custody or judicial authority, and does not mandate new services or expenditures.
- 0:29:34
What it does is it clarifies and updates existing rights relat- uh, related to communication, training, participation in case planning, normalcy for children, and procedural fairness. It reinforces the reasonable and prudent parent standard, uh, provides explicit protection against retaliation, and creates a clear administrative grievance process. Uh, the bill also establishes a certified volunteer advocate program, which is overseen by the Office of Child Advocate, to support foster parents during administrative interrogations and disputes.
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I'm sorry, not interrogations, investigations or disputes. Uh, this advocate is not legal counsel, does not interfere with child safety decisions. Um, ultimately, this bill is about stability and retention. As you all know, 30 to 50% of foster parents leave the system each year, uh, often citing a lack of support, clarity, or fairness in the process. Um, we're just improving transparency and consistency, and, uh, I think this bill is the, is the right way to go, and happy to answer any questions with it.
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Okay. I have a question. Secretary, uh, Kelley.
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Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gullett, you talk about the certified volunteer advocate. I know we have the CASA advocates for the children.
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Mm.
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So is this just like a parallel program for the actual foster parents?
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Yeah. Basically, it's, it's approved by the, uh, uh... It's in the Section 4, relative care... I'm sorry. Certified vol- yeah, it's, it's, it's approved by the Child Advocate and Protection of Children, so ex- exactly. It's basically a CASA for foster parents when they have disputes with, with DFCS.
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Okay.
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Thank you. Have a question, uh, Chairman Smith?
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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is it not true that you yourself are a foster parent and you and your wife have actually adopted your child? And I commend you for your patience as you work through that tedious process, and thank you for bringing this to us.
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Thank you so much. That's very true.
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Okay. Chair Lady Cooper.
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Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a question. Is the department in favor of this bill?
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Yeah. The department helped me work through the language of the bill to clarify it, so-
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Okay
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... I, I don't ever wanna speak for a department, uh, but they, uh, they did not, they were not against the bill.
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Okay. Thank you.
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Mm-hmm.
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Okay. Don't see any other questions. Thank you.
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Thank you so much.
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Okay. Chairman Jes- Chastain.
- 0:32:01
Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I have HB 1086 this morning, third page, three down. Um, this legislation will help protect Georgia firefighters from injury or death by requiring simple, low-cost signage on buildings that use the light frame wood or light frame steel trusses. And we, we've seen this across the country where many cities or, or counties or even states will pass building codes, or codes, fire codes, um, after something's happened. And we wanna try to be proactive in Georgia and pass a law that'll help first responders and firefighters know that when they're entering a building that's on fire, uh, that has these type trusses, these, these lighter gauge trusses, uh, they will fail quicker under, under fire than a normal solid truss or, or a higher grade steel.
- 0:32:47
And this would require like a, in Florida, this just passed in Florida, uh, a few years ago. They've got an eight-inch, like a Maltese cross on, on, in a visible portion of the, of the building to let a first responder know that that building, uh, could fail quicker, and they would be aware of those, those circumstances. We have, uh, the Georgia Fire Chiefs Association, the Georgia Firefighters Association, Fire Engineering Service, Georgia Safety and Fire Division, the Insurance Commissioner have all endorsed this bill. And that's pretty much it. That's pretty much the bill, Mr.
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Chairman.
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Okay, we have a question. Ch- Chair Lady Cooper.
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What did you say they were made of?
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Light gauge. It would be the light gauge steel or light gauge wood. So some of these I trusses, they have one, they have a middle section that goes through that. It's pretty thin with the two I beams above it, and they're great trusses. They're, they're built, they're engineered, they're, they're solid, they're sound. They don't warp, they don't bend, but under fire they'll, they'll fail quicker for danger of firefighters.
- 0:33:48
Okay, 'cause I was just wondering why-
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Yes
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... we, a- with all our building codes, we're allowing them.
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Yeah.
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They're more dangerous.
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They're, they're good trusses. There, there's nothing wrong with the trusses at all other than they, they're a danger when they're under fire.
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Stress of fire. Thank, thank you.
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Yes.
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Okay, don't see any other questions. Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Representative Reeves.
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Good morning, Chairman Parish and members of the Rules Committee. I'm here to request House Bill 1042, the bottom of page two. This is the Real Estate Security and Title Act. Uh, Vice Chair Trey Kelley brought the, uh, Judicial Security Cleanup Bill last year. Th- this is a follow-up because there was a shooting in Indiana of a judge since we adjourned sine die last year. There was a criminal defendant who tried to postpone his trial. The judge denied the postponement. He enlisted four accomplices to track down where the judge lived, and the judge and his wife got shot in Indiana.
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So the Judicial Council, uh, looked at, uh, protecting the tax parcel ID, phone number, spouse's name, and things like that that could be used by the, uh, people like those accomplices in Indiana to find where a judge lives. Uh, this protects our judges. There was a second real estate title matter. Um, quiet title in many parts of the code has a special master that must be from a county or the, or a judicial circuit. Yesterday I was with a district attorney who has eight counties. Some, uh, circuits don't have that many counties, and there aren't eligible special masters to help clear title.
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What this bill does is it allows the special masters to come from a federal judicial circuit, which is about a third of the state. Uh, this was requested by the real property section of the state bar. Uh, third and finally, uh, foreclosure funds. Uh, we cleaned up this language to add credit union funds in addition to banks and savings and loans, uh, in addition to cash and cashier's checks. And then credit bids, we codified the law from several reported cases about credit bids. Um, thank you, Mr.
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Chairman.
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Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you, sir.
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Thank you.
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Representative Townsend.
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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, committee. This is, uh, HB970LC650051S. This is a, a health, health bill. This is for Georgia- regarding Georgia high school sports, Georgia High School Association sports physicals. This basically codifies and strengthens the current, um, policies for Georgia high school. It requires either a doctor, doctor osteopath med- medicine, physician assistant, nurse pra- nurse practitioner to conduct the physicals.
- 0:36:34
It also requires a cardiovascular screening, uh, for the, um, for the participant as well. Uh, it has been endorsed by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, and this is, um, a bill that came through fruition because there are unfortunately some deaths that happen, especially during fall practice, uh, cardiac, cardiac related, and so we're trying to cut down on those. You can never eliminate anything, but if we can do the screenings and have the qualified professional conduct it, then it's, uh, that's what's best for the kid, the student athlete.
- 0:37:11
And the physicals last up to a year, 12 months, or if it's done after April 1st, for the entire school year following.
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Okay, you have a question. Uh, Leader Hugley.
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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, to the gentleman.
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Yes, ma'am.
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Will there be any difficulty in any parts of the state for students to obtain this additional requirement for the heart?
- 0:37:38
Yeah. No, ma'am. It's, uh, currently in place now. What this does, we worked with Georgia High School to solidify what they're doing and tighten it up a little. So most of your schools that are doing the school physicals will still be doing it on site, but the parent does have the right to go to a private practitioner and have their own physical done by their own doctor or someone like that.
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Thank you.
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Okay, have another question. Uh, Chairman Martin.
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Representative, Representative Townsend.
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Yes, sir.
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Uh, thank, thank you for the bill. Isn't it true that the, the heart screening is only required if it's indicated, and many schools are doing that now. We're just putting this in statute. It's, it's a, it's not a requirement for everybody, but if, if it's indicated by Amer- uh, a medical professional-
- 0:38:20
No, you get a heart screening on site of the physical. This bill will, will require that.
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Well, I understand. I, I understand that.
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Okay.
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I just had some people to come to talk to me, but I, I ask about the, the further process.
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Oh.
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If, if, if the-
- 0:38:32
Correct
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... if that screening on site, which many people do today, is it not true? If, if that indicates something further, what you're doing is they then have to go and, and get that physical.
- 0:38:41
It is true.
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We're taking care of the athletes.
- 0:38:43
Yes, sir. It is true.
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Okay. Don't see any other questions. Thank you.
- 0:38:49
Thank you.
- 0:38:51
Okay. Any members of the committee?
- 0:38:58
Chairman Jaspers.
- 0:39:00
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That works. All right. Thank you, Chairman Paris. I've got House Bill 810 that came from the health committee the other day. It's a great bill that works with Georgia pharmacies because they face a crisis driven by the pharmacy benefit managers underpaying local pharmacies. They're often reimbursing less than actual cost of the drugs. House Bill 810 addresses this by establishing a re- reimbursement floor, ensuring that pharmacies stay open and pharmacy deserts are avoided.
- 0:39:35
There have been 200 pharmacies in Georgia closed since 2015, including two in my community. Essentially what the bill does is creates a floor price where the PBM must pay the pharmacy at least the actual cost of the drug using data, which is the national average price. On top of that drug, the PBMs must pay a professional dispen- dispensing fee to the pharmacy. There'll be no hidden de- deductions like administrative fees or what's called DIR fees, which are used to claw back money from the pharmacy, pharmacies, and no averaging out using the effective rate guarantee.
- 0:40:15
Doesn't apply to the Georgia State Employee Plan or Medicaid, as those are covered by different regulations. It's really targeted toward commercial and private insurance plans.
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Okay. Don't, don't see any questions. Thank you. Pro Tem Jones.
- 0:40:33
Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Oh, this one. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to ask, um, for House Bill 585. This bill closes a current loophole in which law enforcement is not provided with information in specific and narrow situations in which a vehicle is not insured. So currently, law enforcement checks, uh, information provided to the revenue department by insurance companies on proof of insurance.
- 0:41:09
The information, though, does not include or show when specific persons are excluded on a policy from driving a vehicle. This legislation will facilitate the transfer of that information from insurance companies to the revenue department, which would then make it available to law enforcement. When they make a stop or if there's an accident, they'll know if the vehicle is insured, uh, or not insured because an excluded driver is driving the vehicle.
- 0:41:42
I'm happy to answer any questions.
- 0:41:44
Got a couple of questions. Uh-
- 0:41:46
Okay Chairman Williams, do you have a question? Yes, sir. Uh, to, to the pro tem, isn't it true that this is very important to make sure that in a at-fault traffic accident, that the, the law enforcement officer immediately knows that- Yes ... this is an excluded driver, and therefore, um, can put the, um, not at-fault party on notice that they've got a problem, uh- That's right ... uh, on their hands. Um, it, it, very, very much appreciate your leadership on this.
- 0:42:16
This is an important loophole that needs to be closed. Thank you. Thank you. You have another question, Representative Williams? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, to the lady representative, it, do you have any figures on what, how it would affect our current premiums if we were able to eliminate uninsured drivers? Well, yeah, I, it, it's a burden, so for example, you, you can purchase, uh, uninsured motorist coverage, which is relatively inexpensive, but not everyone chooses to purchase it.
- 0:42:54
If you do not purchase it and you have an accident with an uninsured vehicle, it's all on you. If you do purchase it, which many of us do, um, it is, um, it, it has a, a, an effect on our rates of raising our rates because more, uh, often this, this insurance is having to be utilized to cover the consequences of a vehicle that is uninsured. It, it's a valuable, uh, it, it is something that you would not want to interfere with the ability of people to purchase a policy that excludes a driver because it can keep their, their rates down.
- 0:43:36
If you have a, a very poor driver in your household, you might choose to exclude them from your policy to make your policy more affordable. What's happening, though, is there are some unscrupulous people throughout the state, and I heard numerous instances of this from traffic court judges and others, that, um, they'll exclude them to keep their rate down, and then they'll allow them to drive it. And so what the bill does is it treats, with regard to penalties and consequences, it treats it the same, no differently than we would if a person drove a, under normal circumstances, did not have coverage on their car.
- 0:44:20
I have another question. Uh, Leader Hugley? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, thank you to the gentlelady bringing the bill. I'm trying to understand, is the goal to shield the person who is allowing somebody to drive that has been excluded? No, ma'am, and I appreciate the question. So in, I think it's the last, very last part of the bill, uh, the, um ...
- 0:44:53
Actually, I got the wrong bill here. The, so the two last parts of the bill, the first one, um, would allow the officer to cite the driver for having lack of insurance. The second, the last part of the bill would hold the, um, policyholder who had excluded, uh, this particular driver or person from driving the vehicle. If they knowingly allowed them to, then the penalties would be the same for that owner of the policy as it would be if the owner of the policy had no policy and drove the car uninsured.
- 0:45:38
So the, the, the goal is to hold, um, one, number one, it's to, to let the, um, officer know, have the full picture of whether the car is insured or not, and then the natural con- consequences of that if the car is being util- is being driven uninsured. The secondary goal of the bill is, um, to protect the rest of us so that if you have an accident with a vehicle that is uninsured, that, well, it would have a, a depressive effect because there would be a penalty and law enforcement would know.
- 0:46:19
What, what's happening, we think, at least anecdotally from what I've learned, is that people are taking advantage of this to get a cheaper policy, and then, uh, some are knowingly allowing the car to be driven uninsured.
- 0:46:38
Chairman Powell. I want to thank the lady for bringing this bill, but is it not true, it is a very simplified matter that if you own a policy, whether it be business or personal, if you have employees or you have family members or somebody that might wish to borrow you or consistently asking you to borrow your car or to use your vehicle, that you can go to your insurance company and say you wish them to be excluded from that policy? That's right. And that gives a very perfect reason that you can then turn them down to say, "The insurance company won't insure you." And then when they start talking about, "Well, my insurance," no, that insurance won't cover it.
- 0:47:17
So this basically is a safety measure to keep people with, uh, questionable or checkered driving records from being able to harangue you to borrow your car or your vehicle, and I thank you for that. Okay, don't see any other questions. Thank you. Okay, a little housekeeping here. Recognize Secretary Kelley for a motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that House Bill 211 be recommitted to the Judiciary Committee. We have a motion and seconded to go back.
- 0:47:48
Any opposition?
- 0:47:50
It's back in judiciary. Have another one? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that House Bill 1024 be, uh, returned to judiciary. We have a motion and a second. Any opposition? 1024. 1024. 1024. 211 and 1024 is back. Okay. Thank you. Recognize, uh, Vice Chairman Leverett.
- 0:48:16
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I have a rule substitute I would like to propose for the committee's consideration today. It's a substitute to House Bill 998. That was the, uh, Universal Access Fund bill that I presented last week. Um, I believe the substitute is in your books. It's LC56-0570S. 56-0570S. So just very briefly, you'll recall this, uh, bill proposed to make some changes to the Universal Access Fund program, which helps ensure the availability and affordability of just basic telephone service in rural areas of our state, the areas where it may not always be economical for companies to provide that service.
- 0:49:02
Under the program, if they agree to provide service in the areas where it doesn't always make economic sense, um, and to also, uh, have their rates subject to regulation, they're allowed to seek reimbursement for some of the costs of providing service in those areas. The, the fund is about to, uh, well, it's gonna expire in 2030, and that's starting to, to limit the ability of some of these companies to get financing and to continue to provide service. Um, so we, the initial bill proposed to, um, remove what is effectively a sunset and also allow companies to opt into the program if they desire to do so.
- 0:49:38
A number of concerns, uh, and the bill did, uh, pass by overwhelming majority out of Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications, but there were some concerns expressed, uh, that we finally were able to, to sort of get specific, uh, input on, and so we're doing five things in this substitute. First, we, we had originally removed the sunset altogether. Now we're just backing it up another effectively 10 years to December 31, 2040. Second, we're limiting the tier two providers, and it, it already was limited to smaller phone companies, but we're further limiting it to, um, in the, in the, uh, substitute, uh, limiting those providers that can opt in by August 1 of this year based on certain criteria.
- 0:50:18
We're also apo- imposing a $50 million annual cap on the disbursements. We're requiring that audits be submitted. The PSC already requires it, but we're making it part of the statute. And we're requiring PSC to submit a biannual report on the fund because there have been a number of questions about how much money is in the fund, how many people pay in, how many people get dispersed. So we're, we're trying to provide that information in a report that we provided to the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker. Uh, and that, Mr. Chairman, is the, uh, is the substitute, and I would ask the committee's favorable consideration of approving that substitute.
- 0:50:49
Okay. You've heard the explanation. Any questions? Okay, I don't see any. Do I hear a motion, uh, do pass from the Rules Committee? Moved. Have a motion and a second. Any opposition? Okay, it, it moves forward with a do pass recommendation. Okay. All right, now, let's set the calendar for Thursday. It'll be day 18.
- 0:51:16
Under modified open, the House Resolution 999. Move. Second. Have a move and second. Is there any opposition? It's on. Okay, under modified structure, House Bill 998 by Rules Substitute, that's LC56-0570S. Move. Second. Have move and second.
- 0:51:46
Is there any opposition? It's on. House Bill 810. Move. Moved and seconded.
- 0:52:00
Mr. Chairman. I will not be here tomorrow during session. I've got a doctor's appointment. Can we do it on Monday, possibly? Tuesday. We won't be here Monday. Oh, that's right. Well, Tuesday then. Okay. Please. Thank you. All right. That's 810, right? Yes, sir. Okay. Hold up on that.
- 0:52:20
House Bill 948. Move. Second. Have a move and second. Any opposition? It's on. Okay. House Bill 983. Move. Moved and second. Any opposition? It's on. Senate Bill, Senate Bill 195. Move. Moved and seconded. Any opposition? It's on. Okay, that sets our calendar for Thursday.
- 0:52:51
We will not meet in the morning at 9:00. We will not have a Rules meeting in the morning. We will meet Tuesday morning, so watch for your emails on that. Thank you. We're adjourned.
- 0:53:15
Members, one thing I forgot to remind you, check your emails. You should have received an email from Ms.