Georgia CommonsSenate Rules Committee, February 18, 2026
2025-2026 Regular Session · 450 CAP · 11 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 unanimously approved substitutes for SB 437 and HB 521. Discussion of SB 437 focused on correcting language about virtual building inspections and whether the changes would affect small counties that use outside inspectors. The presenter of HB 521 described consistent annexation and deannexation reporting requirements and a provision expanding one Cherokee County city's council from four members to six. No members of the public spoke on either bill. The chair said there would be no Rules calendar for the following day and that the vice chair would lead the next committee meeting.
Bills discussed (2)
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.
SB 437. State Building, Plumbing, and Electrical Codes; acknowledgement of an applicant's use of a private professional provider to conduct a plan review or inspection; provide
From 0:04:07 · turns 0 to 73
The sponsor said the bill addresses building permits and deadlines for municipalities to process them. The sponsor explained that a committee amendment had unintentionally broadened access to virtual inspections through language covering reinspection lists of 10 items or fewer. The proposed substitute would replace that language with a provision for residential single construction trades, including structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work, consisting of 10 or fewer inspections. One committee member asked whether environmental inspections, septic tanks and concrete footings were included. The sponsor said environmental inspections were excluded and footings were not intended to be covered, but expressed openness to adding them. The member suggested considering that later in the House. Another member asked about small counties without code inspectors. The sponsor said the bill would preserve their use of outside inspectors, give builders a third-party option and not bypass the local process. No public testimony was offered. The committee unanimously approved the substitute.
HB 521. Local government; deannexation of certain properties; revise procedures
From 0:08:40 · turns 74 to 85
The presenter said the substitute leaves the original bill intact, describing its purpose as clarifying and making reporting requirements consistent for annexation and deannexation. The presenter said an added provision would expand one Cherokee County city's council from four members to six, providing more representation in response to growth and making the council consistent with those in surrounding cities. Committee members asked no questions, and no public testimony was offered. The committee approved the bill by substitute unanimously, with no opposition.
Transcript
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- 0:03:46
Order. Rules Standing Committee. What's today? I don't know. Whatever date it is. Um, let's get rolling. Senator Dixon is right on time. Are you ready to roll, or do you want me to go with... Senator Dixon, present your substitute to Senate Bill 437. Tell us why we're doing that in Rules.
- 0:04:15
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah, yeah.
- 0:04:17
What is that, one?
- 0:04:18
Uh, one.
- 0:04:19
Okay. Go ahead.
- 0:04:21
Yeah, had a couple of amendments added to this bill during the committee, and one of them had a, uh, eh, the wording, um, had unintended consequences dealing with virtual inspections, and so just cleaning that language up.
- 0:04:36
Okay.
- 0:04:39
All right. You wanna go through those changes?
- 0:04:42
Yes, sir.
- 0:04:43
Working off of LC620411S.
- 0:04:49
That's correct, Mr. Chairman.
- 0:04:50
All right. Walk us through the bill real quick, and then the, and then that change.
- 0:04:54
Okay.
- 0:05:01
This came through your committee, to be clear, right?
- 0:05:03
That's correct. Yes, sir.
- 0:05:05
Okay.
- 0:05:05
That's correct.
- 0:05:06
Just wanted to
- 0:05:10
make that clear.
- 0:05:11
Absolutely.
- 0:05:14
You know where, where you are?
- 0:05:16
Yeah, I just had a bunch of stacked papers-
- 0:05:18
Okay
- 0:05:18
... I'm having to make sure I got in the right spot.
- 0:05:19
You know your name is Senator Clint Dixon?
- 0:05:23
No, I didn't.
- 0:05:23
Okay.
- 0:05:24
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
- 0:05:24
I'm just trying to get you- Trying to get you caught up here.
- 0:05:27
Yeah, so this bill, uh, it has to do with, uh, building permits and, uh, the shot clock and the timeframe of when a municipality would turn those building permits around. Um, and in the committee process, um, we had a, uh, an amendment that, uh, changed it to, uh, like basically on inspections, which had to do with virtual in-person inspections that on any punch list, the, of a re-inspection consisting of 10 items or less, um, then that would trigger being able to use the, the virtual, the way it was worded.
- 0:06:05
Um, but the changing, what we're wanting to change it to, would be striking what I just read and then changing it where, uh, residential single construction trades, such as structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, consisting of 10 or less inspections, and that would be the only change.
- 0:06:26
Okay.
- 0:06:31
Does the committee have any questions?
- 0:06:37
Hold on.
- 0:06:37
I got, I got a question.
- 0:06:39
Senator Gooch.
- 0:06:39
I got a serious question. It doesn't include environmental inspections? Is it only, it's only limited-
- 0:06:45
No, that's correct.
- 0:06:45
Does it not-
- 0:06:46
No environmental
- 0:06:46
... does it include footings and inspections for-
- 0:06:49
No, sir
- 0:06:49
... concrete?
- 0:06:50
No, that's not intended for footings.
- 0:06:51
Would, would that not be a good option as well?
- 0:06:54
For footings and-
- 0:06:56
Uh, environmental inspections for septic tanks.
- 0:06:59
Uh, for virtual inspections?
- 0:07:00
Mm-hmm. I'm just asking.
- 0:07:03
Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to that. No.
- 0:07:05
Maybe we can do it later-
- 0:07:06
Yeah
- 0:07:06
... in the House. Thank you.
- 0:07:09
Thank you.
- 0:07:10
Any more signups? Okay. Are there any other questions for the author? Okay. Did anyone... We had a sign-up sheet. I don't think anybody signed up. Did anybody want to speak for or against the bill from the public?
- 0:07:29
Speak now or forever hold your peace. Okay. Heavily debated bill here.
- 0:07:39
Motion to pass.
- 0:07:39
All right, I got a motion to pass from Senator Gooch.
- 0:07:43
Second.
- 0:07:43
Got a second from senator Ginn. Any further discussion, proposed amendments?
- 0:07:52
Yeah.
- 0:07:52
Uh, go ahead, Senator Anderson.
- 0:07:54
Senator Dixon, what, how does this affect the counties that does not have no code inspectors, uh,
- 0:08:05
your small counties?
- 0:08:06
Right. Uh, w- where they use like a third party?
- 0:08:10
Right.
- 0:08:10
Like an outside-
- 0:08:11
Right.
- 0:08:11
Yeah, it wouldn't, I mean, they could, it would still, it doesn't change that. It just gives, um, it gives the builder an option to use a third party.
- 0:08:21
Okay.
- 0:08:21
But it doesn't circumvent the local process.
- 0:08:25
Good.
- 0:08:27
All right. No more discussion. All in favor, raise your hand.
- 0:08:34
Motion carries unanimous.
- 0:08:39
Moving on. HB 521 by Representative Anderson and Senator Albers. Would you like to discuss your substitute? And we're working off of LC474051S.
- 0:09:01
One, two, three.
- 0:09:02
Go for it.
- 0:09:02
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, the original bill, uh, stays intact as is. It's just clarifying and making sure the reporting requirements are consistent for both annexation as well as de-annexation. The difference in the substitute before you begins on line 115, subsection C. This pertains to, uh, one city, uh, up in Cherokee County they represent that currently has four city council members. It will now make them six. Uh, to be consistent with the cities around them and their growth, they just have some more representation.
- 0:09:32
Pretty simple.
- 0:09:36
Okay. Are there any questions?
- 0:09:44
No questions. Okay. Does anyone from the audience wish to speak for or against this bill? I don't think we had anyone sign up. Hearing none. All right. What is the will of the committee?
- 0:09:59
Move to pass.
- 0:10:00
I got a motion to pass from Senator Anderson.
- 0:10:04
Second.
- 0:10:04
By substitute. Second by Senator Kirkpatrick. Any further questions or proposed amendments? Hearing none. All in favor, raise your hand.
- 0:10:21
All opposed. None opposed. Unani- motion carries unanimous. All right. On to Rules you go. Work the committee. Work the committee. Okay. Um, we are not going to do a Rules calendar for tomorrow. Um, I will be out for a funeral. Several others will be out, so we have the day off. And you will meet tomorrow.
- 0:10:51
My vice chairman will be chairing the committee.
- 0:10:54
All right.
- 0:10:58
Ding, ding.
- 0:10:59
You never giving me one. Oh, that's why. Um, okay, so that's that. Meeting adjourned.