Georgia CommonsGeorgia General Assembly
Meetings on February 25, 2026
Machine-readable: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-25.md
Senate Rules Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee unanimously approved a substitute for SB 447, concerning deadlines for land-disturbance permits, and approved a substitute for SR 668, concerning separate property-tax treatment for data centers, with 16 in favor and two opposed. Members then heard brief presentations on bills awaiting floor consideration. The committee unanimously placed SR 480 and SR 567 on a consent calendar. It also unanimously approved a floor calendar containing SB 34, SB 399, SB 441, SB 470, SB 472, SB 500, SB 513, SB 535 and HB 377. The other measures presented were not selected for that floor calendar.
House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved HB 1408, allowing licensed veterinary technicians to give rabies vaccinations under a veterinarian’s direct supervision, and HR 1416, creating a joint study committee on family farm sustainability. No opposition was heard in either voice vote. Members also discussed HB 1400, intended to protect performers from unfair promoter practices. Questions centered on licensing requirements and which businesses would be covered. The chair held that bill for revisions and another hearing, with no vote taken.
Senate Transportation Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered a substitute for HB 638 that would consolidate three transportation-related state bodies into the State Road and Tollway Authority. Members discussed administrative costs, local control, effects on transit service and the proposed transition schedule. The committee voted 5–2 to table the bill for more review, and the chair said it would return at a future meeting. The committee also unanimously approved a substitute for SR 624 containing three memorial intersection designations in Cobb, Fayette and Lumpkin counties and sent it to the Rules Committee.
House Creative Arts & Entertainment Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard HB 566, which the sponsor described as protecting people against unauthorized digital copies of their voices and likenesses. Members discussed existing content, artist compensation, video game characters, parody protections and online platforms’ responsibilities. Technology and video game industry witnesses raised concerns about conflicting state requirements and potential liability, while a Recording Academy witness supported the protections. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote. No vote count was stated.
House Rules Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard requests to advance bills on public safety, healthcare, education, taxes, licensing, property and other topics. It set floor calendars for the current day and Thursday. The current day's calendar included HB 1024, HB 1329, HB 519 and HB 1001, among others. Members objected to adding HB 1001, but the chair declared that the voice vote favored adding it. Thursday's calendar included HB 1262, HB 1263, HB 1274 and HB 1344. The committee returned HB 1275 to the Health Committee after questions about restrictions on stem cell materials. It also returned HB 1073, HB 1028 and HB 1224 to their respective committees. Most other presentations ended without questions or a scheduling decision shown in the transcript.
House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered a substitute for HB 1354 to create a shared credentialing process for Medicaid and private health plans. The sponsor said the proposal would reduce delays before health care providers can receive payment and encourage more providers to serve Medicaid patients without requiring participation. Members discussed which providers would qualify and delays in getting providers into practice. The committee approved the bill by voice vote. No vote count was stated.
Senate floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed SB 433, creating optional autism-related license plates and officer training, and HB 571, licensing radiologist assistants. After debate over privacy, immigration enforcement and collecting DNA before conviction, senators passed SB 116 by 33 to 20 and rejected an amendment requiring a conviction. The Senate also agreed to House changes to SB 162 on medical licensing and SB 218 on oversight of prosecutors. Senators adopted the amended state budget conference report, HB 973, by 49 to 0 and voted to send it immediately to the governor. The budget presenter described funding for tax relief, a state mental hospital, scholarships and homelessness services. The chamber also read new legislation and committee reports, adopted honorary resolutions and adjourned until the following morning.
House floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House approved an amended state budget, adopted the House-Senate agreement on HB 973 by 169 to 2, and voted to send it immediately to the governor. Members also passed HB 1001, lowering the income tax rate to 4.99%, after debate over who would benefit and whether the state could afford the revenue loss. Other approved measures addressed homelessness prevention, special-needs scholarships, math instruction, bankruptcy protections for homeowners, solar-panel recycling, transportation project reviews, railroad and forestry tax credits, and business-court cases. The House heard first and second readings and committee reports on numerous other measures, adopted recognition resolutions, and postponed six measures until the next legislative day. The House adjourned until February 26 at 9 a.m.
House Rules Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee set a supplemental calendar for that afternoon, placing HB 421, HB 1164, HB 1185, HB 1259, HB 1277, HB 942 and HB 1076 under modified structure, and HB 1070 under structured rules. Members objected to adding HB 1164, HB 1185 and HB 942, but the chair declared each approved after voice votes. The other listed bills were added without stated opposition. No bill provisions were presented or debated. The committee then adjourned.
Senate State Institutions and Property Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee delayed action on both property resolutions while seeking more information. Members voted by voice vote to table HR 1050 pending details on automatic rent increases in state leases, particularly for Division of Family and Children Services buildings. State property staff said the information could be provided within a week. Staff also presented HR 1051, covering easements for utilities, roads, drainage and access across state property. Members requested more information about two proposed easements benefiting private companies, including one tied to a drainage dispute at a wildlife management area. The committee took no action on that resolution and planned to revisit both measures together.
Senate Public Safety Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee advanced all three bills. It unanimously approved a substitute for SB 524 covering specialty license plates honoring Girl Scouts and the nation’s 250th anniversary, and unanimously approved SB 565 concerning protections for private-university police officers. After further testimony and debate, the committee approved SB 473 by a 5-4 vote. Members adopted changes to its DUI-school fee provisions and removed a requirement to complete a course before accepting a reduced plea. They rejected a proposal to limit remote instruction to active-duty military personnel. The chair announced another committee meeting for Monday, with the time still to be determined.
House Governmental Affairs Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved HB 812 with changes to construction-permit review procedures, HB 1166 allowing certain small secondary homes, HB 400 offering funding incentives for local housing-policy changes, and HB 863 encouraging state contracts with Georgia small businesses. Members amended the first three before approving them. The committee tabled HB 1315, concerning limits on development moratoriums and compensation for affected property owners, and agreed to send it back to subcommittee. After discussing emergency contacts for apartment properties, response deadlines and penalties under HB 779, the chair designated that discussion a hearing only and said it would return to subcommittee. The meeting ended after the committee lost the attendance needed to conduct business, with remaining business deferred to a future meeting.
Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered two bills and voted unanimously to recommend both for passage. SB 551 would remove the egg-candling license requirement discussed by the sponsor for small egg sellers. SB 278 would require folic acid fortification of corn masa products, with exemptions. Members discussed the proposed health benefits, manufacturing and distribution concerns, and how the requirements compare with other states. The committee amended the snack-food definition to remove references to package size and consumption between meals, then approved the committee substitute as amended.
House Ways & Means Committee, February 25, 2026 (part 1)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The subcommittees advanced four measures: HB 1035, concerning foreclosure for unpaid service charges; HB 1336, directing some aircraft property-tax revenue to airports; HR 400, expanding property-tax relief for disabled veterans; and HB 1240, applying a tax-base limit to renewed redevelopment districts. ACCG opposed restrictions on counties’ use of aircraft tax revenue. An Invest Atlanta witness described redevelopment districts’ benefits during discussion of the renewal limit. Members suspended the rules to advance HR 400 at its first hearing. HR 250 was called up, but no presentation or vote followed before that subcommittee adjourned.
House Transportation Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee held a follow-up hearing on HB 1342, focusing on utility relocation delays in road construction. Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) engineers explained the current scheduling process and said some utilities submit timelines so long that existing remedies for delays become ineffective. Members discussed earlier schedule submissions, replacement contractors, incentives, penalties and better alignment between utility and road construction deadlines. Members also requested information about utilities responsible for delays on specific projects. The bill's sponsor cited upcoming transportation investment as a reason to act now. The chair encouraged further discussions with the sponsor and committee members. No amendment or vote was recorded.
House Higher Education Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard testimony on HB 1363, which the sponsor described as creating a statewide process for handling school discrimination complaints. Members and witnesses discussed staffing, training, equal protection for different faiths, free speech and investigation procedures. The committee held the bill for further work without voting. The committee approved HB 1328, HB 88 and HB 1345 by voice votes, with no opposition heard, and sent all three to the Rules Committee.
House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard two bills. It held HB 752, which would create tools and training for traffic stops involving people with conditions that affect communication, for further discussion without a vote. Members raised questions about the proposed license plate, privacy and vulnerability, and overlap with existing options and another proposal. The committee approved a substitute for HB 990, which would establish a program to help cover veterinary care for retired law enforcement dogs. The chair announced that HB 1412 had been removed from the agenda and would not be heard that day.
House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four measures: HB 527, to revise child abuse response procedures; HB 1409, to expand reporting options and add required reporters of suspected child abuse; HB 1445, concerning notification when a monitored youth removes a tracking device; and SR 622, to establish a study committee on rising foster care costs. Members amended HB 527 to include a school police representative on child abuse protocol committees where applicable. Witnesses supporting that measure described inconsistent agency responses, repeated interviews and delays affecting children and families. All four measures passed by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Ways & Means Committee, February 25, 2026 (part 2)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved a substitute version of HB 1116, which the sponsor described as gradually eliminating property taxes on owner-occupied homes while giving local governments replacement funding options. Members discussed local revenue shortfalls, school funding, bond payments and a provision that could remove a homeowner’s exemption for unpaid assessments. The chair declared the bill passed after voice and raised-hand votes. No vote count was announced.
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee advanced HB 1226 on self-defense immunity, HB 821 on bail decisions for assaults against public safety officers, HB 1398 on alternatives to incarceration for pregnant and postpartum women, and HB 1282 on prosecution deadlines for aggravated sexual battery against children. Members amended HB 821 to cover aggravated assault against public safety officers beyond cases involving gunfire. HB 1154, which would expand the death penalty to trafficking offenses, failed for lack of a motion after constitutional concerns were raised. The chair requested more work on HB 1142, concerning a domestic violence registry, and HB 894, concerning review of long prison sentences. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 496, which would limit reliance on cannabis odor for police action. No vote occurred on that proposal because the committee lost its quorum.
House Health Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House Health Committee approved three bills by voice vote: HB 1346, addressing maternal mental health screening and referrals; HB 1275, revising a stem cell therapy proposal to clarify that materials may come from outside Georgia; and HB 1276, addressing Medicaid eligibility verification. Members discussed funding for maternal mental health services and rejected consideration of a Medicaid expansion amendment to the stem cell bill. The Medicaid discussion focused on avoiding federal penalties while protecting eligible residents from paperwork barriers. Implementation costs and some federal requirements remained uncertain. A member requested postponement, but no separate vote on that request was recorded before the committee approved the bill.
Senate Finance Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee advanced four bills. It approved SB 306, requiring certified notices before conservation-use property agreements expire, by voice vote. It approved a substitute for SB 498 to create a charter-school facilities financing authority and revolving loan fund, with one member opposed. It unanimously approved a substitute for HB 1199, updating which federal tax changes Georgia adopts. It also unanimously approved SB 465, addressing large-project tax credits for workers without lawful immigration status, after adding amendments to end new eligibility for the credit on July 1, 2031, while protecting existing recipients, and prevent excess credits from offsetting employee tax withholding.
Senate Judiciary Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered and unanimously approved three bills. SB 552 would protect public school students’ political expression and access to student meeting spaces. SB 542 would add clergy to laws against improper sexual contact involving positions of authority. The committee approved that bill with a substitute after hearing supporting testimony from a survivor and the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. SB 406 would establish state oversight of homeowners and similar associations and change foreclosure rules. Members approved an amendment requiring immediate decisions after administrative hearings, but withdrew a proposed board-training requirement. The chair said SB 406 would move to Rules.