Georgia CommonsGeorgia General Assembly
Meetings on February 17, 2026
Machine-readable: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-17.md
Senate Rules Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee reviewed bills for possible floor consideration and unanimously approved a calendar containing SB 432, SB 446 and SB 462. Those bills concern college-system carryover funds, participation in a federal scholarship tax-credit program and insurance coverage for emergency ambulance transportation. The committee also unanimously referred HB 521 to a standing committee after a member described a proposed change allowing one city to expand its council. Other listed bills received brief presentations but were not selected for the calendar. The chair said the calendar was being kept short to leave more time for committee work and urged committee chairs to move department bills forward.
House Motor Vehicles Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved HB 1191, which would expand eligibility for special veteran license plates. The committee also held a hearing on a substitute for HB 1267, addressing temporary tag fraud, dealer oversight, license plate offenses and odometer tampering. Members questioned penalties and possible effects on drivers and legitimate dealers. The sponsor agreed to consider changes. No vote was taken on that bill. With time running short, the committee asked people waiting to testify to return Friday.
Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard and passed SB 463, which the sponsor described as limiting large investors’ purchases of single-family homes and barring foreign investment vehicles from owning such homes as rentals. Members questioned enforcement, tax penalties, the 500-home threshold and exemptions for new construction. Building-industry and real estate witnesses opposed the proposal, raising concerns about property rights, housing supply and effects on smaller landlords. A member suggested allowing time to sell a foreign-owned home before restrictions apply, but no amendment was adopted in the transcript. The chair announced passage after a show-of-hands vote; the full vote count was not stated.
House Small Business Development Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard small-business owners and National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) representatives discuss health insurance costs, vehicle-dealer oversight, state purchasing, licensing and construction permits. An NFIB representative described HB 863 as encouraging agencies to direct purchasing toward small businesses. Witnesses supported HB 1110, describing a tax credit intended to help small employers contribute toward employees’ health coverage. Members also heard about Henry County Chamber of Commerce mentoring and business-support programs. A contractor requested simpler permitting procedures, while a committee member warned that weakening requirements could reduce protections for property owners. The chair said further conversations would take place after the meeting. No bill votes or amendments were recorded.
House Rules Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard requests to bring forward bills on taxes, education, health, public safety and other topics. Members questioned the proposed income tax cut, including its effects on different incomes, revenue safeguards and funding for other tax relief. The committee placed eight measures on the day's calendar without stated opposition: HB 256, HB 662, HB 818, HB 956, HB 987, HB 1022, HB 1063 and HB 1121. It also returned HB 880 to the Ways and Means Committee and HB 1266 to the Game, Fish, and Parks Committee without stated opposition. The other presentations did not result in calendar placement or another decision during this meeting.
House floor session, February 17, 2026 (legislative day 19)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed eight bills on its main calendar, including measures on data center electricity costs, foster caregivers, rural hospital tax-credit eligibility, electronic vehicle tinting, solid waste funding, judicial retirement and portable benefits for independent contractors. Members questioned whether the data center bill would prevent rate increases and whether the portable benefits bill could weaken worker protections. Both passed. The House also approved a local calendar, 165 to 1, received committee reports, read new legislation and adopted recognition and memorial resolutions. Members welcomed community groups and offered condolences. The House adjourned until February 18 at 10 a.m.
Senate floor session, February 17, 2026 (legislative day 19)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed SB 452 to increase state law enforcement retirement contributions, 49 to 0; SB 143 to change firefighter pension benefits and investment options, 47 to 3; and SB 369 to create different accountability standards for dropout recovery charter schools, 47 to 0. The latter two passed with committee substitutes. Senators questioned investment risks in the firefighter bill and how the charter school bill could affect Promise Scholarship eligibility. The Senate also passed an unnamed group of local bills, 48 to 1, and adopted recognition resolutions. Other business included first and second readings, committee reports, guest remarks and memorial tributes. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. February 18.
Senate Retirement Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved SB 11, which would let eligible veterans buy retirement credit for military service, and SB 198, which would allow adjustments to legislative retirement benefits while maintaining a funding cushion. Both passed by voice vote, with no opposition heard. The committee held a hearing only on SB 209, which would offer certain school employees a one-time choice to join the Teachers Retirement System. Members discussed staffing needs, employee contributions, costs to school systems and the state, and retirement coverage. The chair said the committee could consider action at a later meeting after further work on the language.
Senate Children and Families Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee held a hearing on SB 467, which the sponsor described as requiring age checks and parental consent for minors downloading smartphone apps or making in-app purchases. Supporters said it would give parents more control and clearer information. Opponents raised concerns about privacy, access to lawful information, costs for small developers and whether the proposal would address harmful content inside apps. Members questioned how parental consent would affect platform responsibility and why technology companies opposed the requirements. The sponsor invited suggestions for addressing concerns. The committee adjourned without voting.
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee advanced HB 1226, HB 675, HB 35, HB 1131 and HB 1075 after presentations and voice votes. Those measures address self-defense procedures, support for foreign terrorist organizations, special-prosecutor pay, notice of warrant application hearings and penalties for pimping after a trafficking conviction. The committee also heard HB 984, which would help investigators locate possible abuse victims who have moved, and planned to bring it back the following week. Members raised concerns about the scope and privacy rules of a proposed domestic violence registry in HB 1142, and the chair requested a revised version without taking a vote. After testimony raised concerns about the substitute for HB 421, concerning child enticement, the chair adjourned and said it would return Thursday.
House Regulated Industries Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House Committee on Regulated Industries approved four bills: HB 1134, addressing repossession notices and when a vehicle repossession is complete; HB 1222, capping association closing-letter fees; HB 684, requiring training on hair loss and scalp conditions; and HB 1095, allowing temporary fireworks sales in tents. Members questioned notice deadlines and consumer protections under the repossession proposal, and training costs and limits under the hair-care proposal. The committee also adopted an amendment to the fireworks proposal intended to let more community groups participate in fundraising sales. All four bills advanced by voice vote, with no numerical vote totals stated.
House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee held hearings on HB 1068, concerning funding and tools for constituent services, and HB 1178, concerning the committee’s authority to oversee state spending. Discussion of HB 1068 focused on upfront funding, case-tracking software, accountability and constitutional concerns. Discussion of HB 1178 covered year-round oversight, audit authority, political balance, public reporting and coordination with existing auditors. Members suggested changes, but no amendments were adopted and neither bill received a vote. The chair said the bills could return for votes after members had an opportunity to review the hearings.
Senate Education and Youth Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved SB 487 by committee substitute after adding a Georgia Student Finance Commission representative and a July 1, 2036 expiration date. The sponsor said the bill would continue cooperation among state agencies on teacher workforce data, recruitment and retention. The committee also heard SB 472, which would expand financial monitoring of school districts and allow audit findings to trigger proceedings to suspend school board members. A committee member questioned targeting elected board members when superintendents and financial staff manage daily operations, and proposed allowing board members to seek a superintendent’s suspension. The committee tabled that bill without opposition so the sponsor and the member could work on the concerns.
House Public and Community Health Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard a presentation from Hemophilia of Georgia on bleeding disorders, treatment costs, financial assistance, access to care and telehealth. After a quorum was present, the committee approved a substitute for HB 1097 concerning background checks for behavioral health and developmental disability providers. The committee also discussed HB 334, which would require an annual Medicaid review of sickle cell medications, treatments and services. The chair held that bill until the following week to seek updated input from the Department of Community Health. No vote was taken on it.
Senate Insurance and Labor Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee held a hearing on SB 364, which would add penalties for insurers that knowingly provide false or misleading information affecting premiums. Members discussed refunds, existing enforcement powers, the size of penalties and insurers’ rights to challenge decisions. No vote was taken. The committee also discussed SB 230, concerning condominium insurance deductibles. After questions about costs to owners, the sponsor explained that a previously approved committee version retained a cap and required notice to owners, unlike the original version in members’ folders. The chair said the committee would return to that version at the next meeting. No vote was taken.
House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered a substitute for HB 641 requiring residential electric suppliers to have written policies addressing serious life-threatening conditions and provide them on request beginning January 1, 2027. The sponsor said the substitute would let utilities set their own policies rather than prescribe specific protections. A committee member and a witness for Electric Cities of Georgia supported the approach. The committee approved a motion on the bill by voice vote, although the motion's exact wording was not stated.
Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four measures. SB 485, allowing eligible social work students to take their licensing exam in their final semester, passed unanimously. SB 94, restoring an independent consumer utility counsel, passed 8-3 after debate about consumer representation, access to utility records and whether more Public Service Commission staff would be a better approach. SR 482, creating a Senate study committee on advanced nuclear power, passed unanimously after members added Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia representatives. The committee also approved a revised home inspector licensing proposal, SB 458, with one member opposed. That substitute removed education requirements, retained an exam and insurance requirements, and delayed the effective date.