Senate Rules Committee, February 24, 2026 Video: https://vimeo.com/1167483007 (a timestamp t plays at https://vimeo.com/1167483007#t=s) Page: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-24/senate-rules This is a machine transcript of the General Assembly's video, made by a speech-recognition model. It is not an official record and can mishear words, names, and numbers. Speakers are not identified. The video is the record: every timestamp links to the moment it plays. [0:04:49] As you know, I cannot start this meeting without my vice-chairman here. Now that he's here- [0:04:54] Good [0:04:54] ... we shall- [0:04:56] Thank you [0:04:56] ... commence. Senator Dolezal, would you lead us in a word of prayer? [0:05:03] I will. Dear Father, thank you for the blessings of today. We thank you for the opportunity that we have to serve you and your people, and pray that we would do so in a way that would make you proud. In your name we pray, amen. [0:05:11] Amen. All right. Senator Dolezal, did you... You needed something else- [0:05:17] I did [0:05:18] ... I believe. Go ahead. [0:05:21] Mr. Chairman, I would like to, um, move that we move SR 668, uh, from Rules to Standing Rules. Uh, for those that have been following this bill, uh, this is a bill that originally was going to allow separate tax digest for manufacturing, uh, property types as well as data centers, um, to allow, essentially, get rid of the uniformity clause so that we could have a separate tax digest, um, for those. It would compel the local municipalities to use that revenue to lower the rate of existing, uh, taxpayers. [0:05:57] Uh, we're gonna change that, uh, bill, hopefully, in Standing Rules to only, uh, be a bill that would be focused on data centers exclusively and not other manufacturing properties or industrial properties. [0:06:07] Okay. And then Senator Dixon, you had one as well. [0:06:10] Yes, Mr. Chairman. [0:06:12] Go ahead. [0:06:13] Um, I move that we move, uh, SB 447 from Rules to Standing Rules. Uh, it's a bill that passed out of my committee dealing with permitting, um, housing permitting. Uh, it puts a shot clock on there for when the w- uh, issuing municipality has to, to turn that around, and it also has to do with virtual inspections. [0:06:34] Okay. [0:06:35] It's just not- [0:06:35] Would you mind amending your motion and just- ... move both of those together? [0:06:39] What's the number? [0:06:40] Yeah, uh, 447. [0:06:43] Mr. Chairman, I would move that we move both, uh, SB 447 and SR 668 to Standing Rules. [0:06:49] Okay. We have a motion to move. [0:06:53] Second. [0:06:53] And a second. Any further discussion? Moving SB 447 and SR 668 to Standing Rules Committee. No further discussion? All in favor say, "Aye." [0:07:06] Aye. [0:07:07] All opposed say, "Nay." Okay. Motion carries unanimous. On to the consideration calendar, and we're gonna go through our gentlemen that are not on the committee. We'll start with Senator Bearden. [0:07:29] SB 116. [0:07:31] Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members. Senate Bill 1- 116, this one the Senate Rules heard a few weeks ago, dealing with DNA sampling for those in the country illegally if there's a detainer and if ICE does not pick them up within the 48 hours that they're r- required to. That's the bill. [0:07:48] Okay. Any questions? You're lucky there's no questions. [0:07:53] Okay. [0:07:53] You're just walking off. That's disrespectful. [0:07:56] No disrespect. [0:07:56] Don't disrespect my committee. [0:08:00] All right. Uh, Senator Harbin. [0:08:06] SB 261. [0:08:10] SB 261, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Rules Chairman, that's the magistrate bill. It's, it expands their board and allows them to put more money in and does not require any state funds on s- uh, SB 261. [0:08:26] Okay, and we've done enough with- [0:08:27] You've got enough with that one [0:08:28] ... that one, so go ahead and do SB 399 as well. [0:08:31] 399 is, uh, 911 and AEDs Coordination Act. Uh, and basically what it does, it takes our 911 services and ties where they know where the AEDs are on our college campuses, and it is named after Mason Sells, who is a young man who lost his life in, uh, doing that. [0:08:48] All right. [0:08:48] Okay. [0:08:48] Any questions on that one? All right, we got SB 441. [0:08:52] That is Local Government Investment Pool, what it is. The current, uh, investment pools are handled by the state and the committee, which the governor chairs. And what this does, it allow- i- if, if a c- municipality or county wants to invest separately, it'll requires the approval of that board as a safety mechanism for, to use the resources that manage that $82 billion. [0:09:14] Are they allowed to buy gold? Or silver? [0:09:17] I'm working on, I'm working on that one, sir. Working on that one. [0:09:20] Just curious. All right, any other questions? Whoa, bless you. You, you okay? [0:09:28] Yes, sir. Thank you. [0:09:28] Do we need a medical attention? [0:09:30] AED on you. [0:09:31] I know a doctor. All right. [0:09:34] On the table. [0:09:35] Moving on. [0:09:36] Thank you, sir. [0:09:36] Senator Setzler, SB 405. Your great magistrate. [0:09:43] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Senate Bill 405 is, uh, protects our constituents by allowing them to bring cases in small claims court of a higher dollar, dollar threshold than they're limited to today. [0:09:54] All right, we've had that one. Uh, HB 377. [0:09:57] 377 is a bill that, uh, mirrors at the local government level what is law at the state and federal level, which requires that architects and engineers be hired based on qualifications, based selection. Glad to take questions. [0:10:08] Okay. Any questions? Hearing none, thank you. [0:10:11] Thanks. [0:10:13] Let's see, Senator Strickland, our great judiciary chairman. [0:10:20] Rio's Law. [0:10:21] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [0:10:21] Is that after a Disney movie? [0:10:23] Is it what? [0:10:24] Disney movie. [0:10:25] No, it's just a young child with autism. [0:10:27] Oh. [0:10:28] So first out- [0:10:29] Found Disney- [0:10:29] ... the first base, Senate Bill 433, have Rio's Law that creates a new specialty license plate for autism in our state. So a driver or someone who has a child in the car with autism would get that plate. It also mandates training for our law enforcement officers for dealing with autism. [0:10:45] Good bill. [0:10:46] Have a second one. [0:10:46] Got another one. Go ahead. [0:10:47] A little different topic, mugshots on the back, Senate Bill 482, and this bill deals with open records law when it comes to getting, um, arrest images and makes certain that someone requests them in person with a statement confirming they're not gonna put that online and charges might have their image taken down. Good law enforcement bill. [0:11:06] I agree. [0:11:07] Both of them are. [0:11:07] Long overdue. [0:11:08] Yes, sir. [0:11:09] All right, any questions? [0:11:13] I know some of y'all will be sad you won't be able to look at the paper at the gas station and see all the rest, but... Or I guess you could, it'd just have to be for free. All right. All right, moving on. Thank you. Senator Summers, SB443. [0:11:37] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senate Bill 443, just a really good common sense bill telling folks they can't block roads, streets, s- that kind of stuff. [0:11:47] Okay. Well, any questions? [0:11:55] Hearing none, thank you. [0:11:57] Later arriving question. [0:11:57] Whoa, wait. We got a question. [0:12:00] Later arriving question. [0:12:00] Later arriving question. Senator Ginn, you're recognized at this time. [0:12:04] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What's the penalty for, for blocking a highway in the, uh, under your bill? [0:12:10] Besides getting run over? [0:12:11] Hard spanking and run over. [0:12:13] But, but what, what's the criminal- [0:12:16] It can be, it can be considered a highly aggravated misdemeanor, $5,000 fine, and of course, the judge decides, it can be up to 24 month in jail with a highly aggravated. [0:12:25] Thank you. [0:12:26] We don't care about anybody protesting, just don't do it in the roads. [0:12:30] All right. Senator Hickman. [0:12:34] SB472, back of your sheet. [0:12:37] Hey, Mr. Chairman. [0:12:38] Second from the top. [0:12:38] Um, I think we all know this is a, a school bill that we're very unhappy about it all happening, but this protects students and families by holding school districts accountable for financial management and of course, mismanagement. It allows the governor to suspend local board members upon recommendations by the State Board of Education. [0:12:56] Okay. Any questions? Anybody know what he just said? [0:13:03] Um, try to be aware of your time, Mr. Chairman. [0:13:06] He needs to translate. Yeah, uh, you know, we used to have a transcriber for this committee, but- ... they quit when, when you came along. Um, yes sir, we got a... [0:13:22] Uh, right now, Senator, what, what is the penalty or can the, can not the governor remove a board member now and what is that action? The Georgia School Board Association can recommend it or that's an action from the governor. What, what is that exactly? [0:13:35] Well, the, the- [0:13:35] How is that different now or no? [0:13:37] Yes, well, this is a different situation. This, this deals with the financial side of it. [0:13:41] Financial side. [0:13:41] Financial side of it, yes. And we all know that, without naming the school system, what we're, what I'm referring to. [0:13:47] I got financial side. [0:13:49] Thank you, sir. [0:13:49] All right, any other questions? All right. [0:13:52] Thank you, sir. [0:13:52] You're a good sport, Mr. Chairman. All right, back to the front of the page. I actually accidentally skipped SB458 for distinguished Ag Chairman. [0:14:04] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, SB458 creates a home inspector, home inspector's license. Uh, 42 states currently have it. Georgia does not. Just so that folks have to prove some core competency and it also requires that the home inspectors have liability insurance. And we worked with the Regulated Industries Committee to make changes and we, uh, feel pretty good about it. [0:14:26] We know it was well vetted if it came out of Regulated Industries. [0:14:29] Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [0:14:31] Oh, we do have a question. [0:14:33] Yeah, thank you for this, Mr. Chairman. I was just curious, is this the most important piece of legislation to ever pass through the Georgia General Assembly? [0:14:39] No s- uh, well, Mr. Webb, uh, if it was the most important piece of legislation to ever pass out, it would have something to do with agriculture. [0:14:48] I'm sure it does. [0:14:53] All right. No more questions. He has yielded the will. Um, all right, let's go back towards the top. Oh wait, did I get everybody that's not on the committee? Senator Dickerson. [0:15:09] What number? Ah. SB513, and if my memory serves me correctly, this would be your first bill to make it to rules. Is that correct? [0:15:22] You are correct, Mr. Chairman. Thank you so much. I appreciate that. [0:15:25] Hint, hint. [0:15:27] Yeah, so this is Senate Bill 513. Uh, this is the Every Day Counts Act. It has to do with, um, chronic unexcused absence in our school system. Uh, this is a priority from the, uh, president pro tem, and kind of goes in conjunction with the, uh, with SB123, uh, that was, uh, that came through the Senate last year. And so, we're, um, looking to work through this. And, um, again, this is a, a great piece. We had a great study committee on this. This was, uh, we pulled out three or four of the recommendations from that, and just, uh, like to have your, uh, your thoughts on it. [0:15:56] So this being a president pro tem priority, are you a president pro tem floor leader? [0:16:01] Uh, no, sir. [0:16:02] No. Why are you carrying his water? [0:16:05] Well, we came up with a, uh, we thought it was a good piece of legislation for everybody in the state of Georgia. [0:16:09] All right. Did you come up with that name? [0:16:12] Um, I had a, uh, helping hand in that, but I did not come up with the originality of it. [0:16:17] Okay. We, we use a lot of acronyms around here, so will it be known as the Ed Cobb Bill? [0:16:23] Uh, if that's what you wish, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate it. [0:16:26] All right. Senator Albers, you are recognized at this time. [0:16:30] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, um, it's an honor to hear the first bill from our freshman senator. [0:16:34] It is. [0:16:35] Um, I was just curious, uh, Senator, uh, if every day counted, uh, were you in school every day, uh, when you were a youngster? [0:16:42] I was not, Mr. Chairman. [0:16:43] Mm-hmm. [0:16:43] That's why this is a piece of important legislation, to make sure that we keep all of our students in, uh, in school as much as we can. [0:16:48] Senator, wouldn't that be a little hypocritical to be telling these kids to do something you didn't lead by example? [0:16:53] It would be, yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. [0:16:55] I don't know. I, I'd have to consider this one. [0:16:56] Would be or is? [0:17:01] All right. [0:17:02] Great minds think alike. Great evil minds. [0:17:07] Evil minds think alike. [0:17:07] All right, I know we got a, another question for- The gentleman on his first bill. Senator Dolezal, you're recognized. [0:17:17] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator, uh, can you give us a little bit of background as to the state's requirements and the state constitution as it relates to K through 12 education? [0:17:28] No, Mr. Chairman, I cannot. [0:17:30] Oof, oof. That's an easy one. That's an easy one. I mean, that was a softball. [0:17:38] Everybody knows that. You learn that in week one at orientation. [0:17:43] Well, Mr. Chairman- [0:17:43] Well, you missed- [0:17:43] ... coming by special election, there was no orientation. [0:17:46] You missed. [0:17:47] Follow the senator. [0:17:47] You missed orientation. [0:17:49] I did, yes, sir. [0:17:50] Follow the senator. [0:17:50] Bad attendance. What's your penalties for missing a day? [0:17:56] In rela- in relation to the bill? [0:17:57] Yeah. [0:18:00] So this particular piece of legislation- [0:18:01] What else are we talking about? [0:18:03] Well, I'm just asking, Mr. Chairman. Uh, so this bill, it, it looks at the chronic absenteeism rate, and any, uh, the state currently defines it, anything over 10% is chronic absenteeism. Um, and so this piece of legislation has four different parts to it. Number one, it creates a, um, um, a special, uh, attendance intervention- [0:18:23] All right. My vice chairman just gave me the look. So, you're good. [0:18:30] He's no fun. All right, go ahead, Senator Rhett. [0:18:34] Yes, sir. [0:18:34] I'm sure it's- [0:18:36] If you can count- [0:18:37] For the greater good [0:18:37] ... and if this bill counts, what is eight plus two minus nine? Does that equal your first bill? [0:18:44] It is. Yes, sir. [0:18:45] Okay. He's good. [0:18:49] All right. Um, moving on. Be gone with you. [0:18:54] Thank you, sir. [0:18:56] All right, Senator Watson. Sam Watson. Took it easy on you. Is he here? He's not here. I do not see him. He's not here. All right. Um, [0:19:05] Representative Cannon, were you still... I saw him pop in. All right, moving on. Going back to the top. SB 157, Senator Williams. [0:19:16] Yes, sir. This is, uh, the bill that allows, uh, members of the legislature that didn't sign up for retirement, uh, and they serve four years, and then if they come back into the legislature, then- [0:19:31] Gotcha [0:19:32] ... they're able to buy back into that state retirement with- [0:19:36] Oh, Senator Payne. [0:19:37] With post retirement. [0:19:37] Okay. Any questions? All right, Senator Payne's back there. I'm sorry. Senator Payne, SB 485. I can't see you when you're sitting down. I can definitely see you when you're standing up. [0:19:49] Do what? [0:19:50] Go ahead. SB 485, back of the page. [0:19:53] SB 485 allows students in their final semester of a accredited master's of social work program to sit for their licensure exam before they gra- in their final semester before they graduate. [0:20:03] Get them in the workforce quicker, huh? [0:20:05] Yes, sir. [0:20:05] I like it. Any questions? Move, Senator Setzler. [0:20:13] Where did you, you got HB 377. Did you care- you covered that, didn't you? I covered that. All right, we're good. All right, moving back to the front of the page. I got SB 468, Senator Cowsert. My good secretary takes good notes. [0:20:30] Thank you. We talked about the other day. It's a way to require sexual offenders, when they are homeless, to report their location and employment to the appropriate, uh, authorities. [0:20:41] All right, no questions. All right, moving on. Senator Dolezal, SB 471. [0:20:47] This bill just gets re- uh, removes the sunset for the Unmasked Georgia's Children's Act. [0:20:52] Yep. All right. And then the SB 478, Senator Watson's, that's his outdoor stewardship, giving it a sunset. Any questions? All right, HB 244, it was Representative Cannon, obviously doesn't care about it. And S- HB 571, Senator Albers, you want to cover that? [0:21:15] SB 23. [0:21:17] Gotcha. [0:21:17] This is allowing us to create, uh, and certify radiological assistants, uh, in order to allow them to work in our hospitals and have a career path. Desperately needed. [0:21:27] All righty. Any questions? Let's pick a few. Let's see. Senator Jones, you weren't here the other day. I'm gonna give you a pick. Any ding-dings, Mr.- [0:21:41] Um, SB 433. [0:21:43] I do have two ding-dings, just by the way. What'd you say? [0:21:47] SB 433. [0:21:48] Whoa. [0:21:52] Got him a ding-ding. [0:21:55] Uh-oh. [0:21:55] 433, Rio's Law. Good pick. All right, you want to use it now? [0:22:00] I'll use it now. [0:22:01] All right, go for it. [0:22:02] How about HB 571? [0:22:04] HB 571. [0:22:07] Mm-hmm. [0:22:08] Senator Albers, look at that. You didn't have to pick your own bill. [0:22:15] Bipartisan support. [0:22:17] Mm-hmm. [0:22:17] All right. Let's see. Let me write this down. 433 and HB 571. All right, Senator Dolezal. [0:22:31] SB 116. [0:22:33] Ooh. Got him a ding-ding. All right, I think that's good. We're gonna have, we got notice for a couple special actions tomorrow, so, um, that leaves us with three bills on the floor, plus two special actions, and I believe the budget may be coming back as well. So, um, we'll have a full day. Just a note to our chairman out there, most of you are on this committee, um, you know, we're, our days are gonna get a little bit longer on the floor. [0:23:05] We're gonna be doing a little bit more bills than we've been doing, so that's gonna force you to prioritize your bills and your committees. So just giving you a heads-up on that. And with that, we've got SB 116, SB 433, and HB 571. I got a motion from Senator Ginn. I got a second from Senator Anderson. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your right hand. [0:23:35] All right. All opposed. Senator Robertson, are you voting? [0:23:42] I did. [0:23:42] Okay. All right. Carries unanimous. Go to your committees. Meeting adjourned.