House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, February 25, 2026 Video: https://vimeo.com/1168122808 (a timestamp t plays at https://vimeo.com/1168122808#t=s) Page: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-25/house-public-safety-and-homeland-security 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. [0:13:57] We're gonna, [0:14:01] we're gonna get started in just a couple of minutes, but for those of you that are here, there's gonna be a little bit of an adjustment to the agenda. Uh, House Bill 1412, House Bill 1412, if you are here, um, in concern of that, either in favor of or against that, that has been removed from the agenda for today. So we will not be hearing House Bill 1412. And, uh, as soon as I can get anybody else to sit up here with me, we will start our meeting. [0:21:24] All right, ladies and gentlemen, we have a quorum now, and we are gonna get ready to get started with these, uh, two very important pieces of legislation we have here. Uh, I am going to first ask Chairman Petrea if he will open us up, and I think is it you, 24? [0:21:43] It's 24, Mr. Chair. [0:21:44] All right, you are on. Thank you, sir. [0:21:53] Okay, let us pray. Uh, Father, we thank you for this day, for this opportunity to be together. We ask that you would guide us and give us wisdom to make wise decisions on your behalf and for your people. We ask all this in the name of our beloved savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. [0:22:09] Thank you, sir. All right, first bill we're gonna hear is House Bill 752. And, uh, Representative McQueen, if you would like to come to the table here and, uh, present. [0:22:27] Whenever you're ready, the floor is yours, ma'am. [0:22:29] Thank you. All right. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to present, uh, the committee substitute to HB 752. Uh, we are working from LC39-4989S. All right? The Georgia SAFE Act, SAFE is an acronym for Support and Awareness for Fair Encounters. This legislation is grounded in a simple public safety truth, predictability reduces escalation. [0:22:59] Traffic stops are among the most unpredictable environments officers face. In seconds, they must interpret behavior, assess risk, and determine intent. When behavior is unclear, risk increases. For individuals with physical, mental, or neurological conditions that impede communication, including PTSD, autism, traumatic brain injuries, and others, stress responses can look atypical under pressure. This bill is designed to reduce that fear and reduce that risk by increasing predictability at the moment of contact. [0:23:35] The Peach Envelope Project program, established here in the SAFE Act, creates a standardized envelope that holds essential driver documents and includes communication guidance on the outside. This envelope is not symbolic. Rather, it consolidates required documents into one identifiable item, reducing chaotic searching and unnecessary movement. The concern during a stop is not the reach, it's the uncertainty. The envelope reduces uncertainty by structuring the interaction. [0:24:08] Research shows this concern is not theoretical. Nearly 60% of families of individuals with autism report fear of future police contact because behaviors can be misunderstood. Studies also show high levels of driving anxiety among autistic adults. While we do not have a national data set measuring how many people avoid driving solely due to fear of police interaction, the research clearly indicates that fear of misunderstanding during traffic stops is a real, is real and widespread. [0:24:39] I live with a relatively new PTSD diagnosis, and while it does not f- define my ability to serve, it does affect how my nervous system responds under sudden stress: elevated heart rate, delayed verbal processing, heightened startle response. In a roadside setting, those reactions could easily be misinterpreted. When I think back to when my symptoms were at their apex before receiving my diagnosis, how I may have reacted during a traffic stop, most especially the delayed processing of commands and how that could have been read as non-compliance. [0:25:16] This bill is designed to reduce that fear and reduce that risk by increasing predictability at the moment of contact. HB 752, the SAFE Act, also establishes a specially designated license plate issued with practitioner verification that provides early awareness before an officer approaches the vehicle. Together, the plate and the envelope support awareness as close to the moment of contact as possible. Other states have begun implementing similar models. [0:25:47] Arkansas launched its blue envelope program statewide this year. Colorado jurisdictions have used similar envelope systems. And while long-term data is still developing, early implementation has shown administrative feasibility and positive reception from law enforcement and families alike. Lastly, beginning in 2027, the SAFE Act ensures first responders receive training on the program and best practices for these encounters, not as a burden, but as a standardized awareness framework, because that is what the SAFE Act does. [0:26:19] It standardizes best practices for support and training. Again, predictability reduces escalation. When officers understand what they are seeing, and when movement during a stop is structured rather than chaotic, encounters are calmer, safer, and more predictable. This legislation supports officers, supports families, and strengthens public safety across Georgia. I respectfully ask for your favorable consideration. [0:26:48] I also have a witness statement from my witness who was not able to stay, and that should be in front of everyone as well. That was passed out to everyone. Thank you. All right, are there any questions from members of the committee? All right, uh, Chairman Petrie. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, um, uh, representative, I did not have- I try to always review these bills in advance. It's been a little crazy, as you know- Understand ... lately, and, uh, so I'm just seeing this. [0:27:19] I have a few questions. I want you to... Uh, I was, I was just reading the measure. Sure. But help me just to understand how this works. Okay. So, um, so I've spent a lifetime taking care of the disabled. Yes. So, uh, I begin understanding, uh, how their behavior is different- Yes, yes ... and, uh, how we're trying to get people with disabilities back out- Yes ... into the workforce, and we want them to be in the community, right? Absolutely, yeah. All that's a good thing. Okay. And so, uh, I like, I like all of that. Mm-hmm. So the, the practical way this works is- Mm-hmm ... [0:27:51] um, I own a vehicle, or my parents own a vehicle, or- Your caretaker ... my spouse owns a vehicle. Mm-hmm. Uh, when they title this vehicle- Mm-hmm ... they're going to seek, they're going to bring an affidavit. Yes. Just want to make sure I understand how this works. Mm-hmm. They bring an affidavit- Yep ... from a, I guess any physician- Yes ... the way it's pretty broad here- Yes ... stating this individual has some kind of a disability. Correct. That would... And it doesn't really define- Impede, so any- It's pretty broad. [0:28:21] Well, any, um, the language says any physical, neu- uh, mental or neurological condition that impedes communication. Are you on line 38? Yes. Okay, gotcha. No problem. And so they're gonna, they're gonna, uh, have an affidavit of that, that effect, and so there's gonna be a special license plate. Yes. So, and you mentioned they're already doing this in other states. Tell me what that looks like. I mean, what do you envision it looking like? Mm-hmm. 'Cause we certainly don't want people to take advantage of people- Correct ... with disabilities- Correct ... because they recognize what that license plate is- Correct ... [0:28:52] and they say, "Oh, this is someone who might be vulnerable." Correct. 'Cause we have a huge problem in this country with people taking advantage- Correct ... of not only the elderly, but the disabled. Disabled, yes. They prey on them. Mm-hmm. Um, the majority of the time it's family members, but it's not always family members. Correct. And so to, to that question, so help me understand just how that works and how you would avoid that question I just asked. Sure. Thank you for the question. Mm-hmm. So you're absolutely right. That's exactly what would happen, very similar to if someone wanted a, just the regular, what we call the regular disabled, uh, license plate, and they would have to give that same documentation and affidavit to receive that. [0:29:29] It's the same, uh, process, and just like that, it's opt-in. So you can opt in. It doesn't automatically opt you in, so it's not an automatic opt-in and you can opt out. You opt in. Um, so it's not seeking to label, um, anyone. That was one of my concerns, to make sure it doesn't label. So it's a op- totally opt-in. [0:29:51] Can I follow up, Mr. Chairman? Just to make sure I'm clear. So, so to the, to the question of how it might be perceived, so i- what does that symbol look like on that? 'Cause we have a lot of specialty license plates. Mm-hmm. This isn't just a handicap license plate. No. No, so the, the- 'Cause we have those. Yeah. So how do we know this is someone who may respond- Mm-hmm ... inappropriately, to your point, in a situation like this? How do, how do, how do we recognize that? What's on that tag that we recognize, and how might people recognize that and abuse it? [0:30:24] Mm. Does that make sense? It does. If you could address that, that's really the question I have. It does. So right now there is no specific design, so DDS and DBHH would work together to f- to create that design, um, for the tag. I didn't, you know, give creative license to what that would look like. Um, but they would come together and decide on what that design or, or decal would be. And then in terms of, um, protecting, uh, the misuse, I, I'd imagine it would be in the same way that we protect the misuse of our normal disabled tag. [0:31:01] Chairman, I need to do this. No, I love it. Just I'm gonna ask you one last question, I promise. No problem. Um, in other states that are doing this- Mm-hmm, yeah ... 'cause I, I like everything you're saying, what, what is on those tags in cur- you say they're doing this in Oklahoma, they're doing it in Colorado. In Arkansas and Colorado. What do they look like there? So in Arkansas and Colorado, it's more of the envelope piece. They don't have the specialty tag. Okay. They just have the envelope piece. Not the specialty tag. Right. Gotcha. Okay. Thank you, Representative. [0:31:31] You're welcome. All right. Uh, Vice Chair New. Thank you for bringing this bill. Thank you. I do have, uh, some questions though. So our friends in the Sheriffs' Association and the Police Association, how do y'all feel about this? Have you, have you talked to them about it? Not the, uh, not to the exact- Because it has training ... exhort. Training. Mm-hmm. GMSIC will be involved. Um, I was just curious, um... Uh, I think he just took a call. Vice director just left. I think, uh, I think I might have eyeballed him and he left. So I haven't, to answer your question, thank you, I haven't spoken to this particular organization. [0:32:05] But I have a source, the sheriffs in my, you know, in my counties, and they have all been, and the police chiefs, and they've all been very, um, welcoming to the idea. And now, may I follow? Sure. Thank you. And, uh, for the plates- Mm-hmm ... since they will be s- uh, specialty plates, is that something that they would fall under the specialty plate, um, rules and regulations where they would have to have a certain amount, uh, pre-sold or... It, it's, it shouldn't be, right? It would be like handicapped, but it would be different. It would have a different... [0:32:36] 'Cause if you have a specialty, if you have a specialty plate- Mm ... there's certain regulations that it must- So I want to make sure that my- ... be met first. Yeah, so I want to make sure that my language is clear. It's not a specialty, specialty plate as if we were, like, paying for, like, our school- Right, right ... or organization. It would be... So there's no revenue generat- It's not a revenue-generating plate. It's just a, um- [0:33:01] And identify, an identifier plate? I don't have the language, but it's not a revenue generating plate. So if that's what is meant by specialty, it's not that kind of plate, it's just the, the symbol. Okay. And I think, I think our, our guys just came back in to ask the question. Just curious how you felt about this, because there is a training of peace officers in this. Yeah, so, so I applaud the effort. Um, I, I think it's a very noble endeavor. [0:33:32] Uh, one thing that Terry and I were just talking about, I think here in the State of Georgia, you can currently get a PTSD indicator on your driver's license now. Uh, so I don't know if we might be duplicating efforts, uh, but there would be s- a training component to this. Correct. Okay. So, so thank you for that. Um, and yes, a part of the substitute was pulling out the, um, decal on the license plate because as, as he just stated, there is a, um, you can have your diagnosis listed on the back of your license, and so that would be duplicating, um, measures. [0:34:08] But having the tag, um, allows for that encounter for the officer to know what they're, you know, walking into as soon as possible, because we, the whole point is to put that first encounter on the best footing possible. So as, as early as the officer can know, then that's the better. So we, um, I would like for it to be as soon as possible. Thank you. Mm-hmm. All right, we got a couple more questions, and I'm gonna ask if we can that they be kinda quick, 'cause we have one more bill to get to, and then Chairman Hawkins is gonna be here, uh, and he will pull my teeth out if I'm not done by 4:30. [0:34:45] So, uh, Representative Richardson. Real quick, and you, you, you and I had conversation offline on this. Mm-hmm. And, and what it was is something to identify so the officer would know immediately, and then the person there would hopefully know that they would have the- Correct ... their envelope- Correct ... just as soon as it is in hand. Correct. So everybody's on the same page. Correct. Correct. Thank you. Thank you. All right, thank you. And Representative Neal. Thank you to the chair, thank you to the author. [0:35:16] Uh, to Chair New's point, um, and I think to the sheriff as well, they might, I'm not sure how much training is necessary, but this should be included in the yearly legislative update- Mm-hmm ... that law enforcement gets anyway. They get it every year. So anything that we send down, it comes to them automatically and it's required for them to, uh, review that, um, and be updated on that. Um, but also too, um, I agree with the author, you know, being able to let people see, um, the indicator before engaging with the person in the car will make it easier, um, so they can go ahead and get in the, the proper mindset of who they're gonna be dealing with. [0:35:53] Um, so at the appropriate time, Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion. Okay. I'll, uh, I'll let you know when the appropriate time is in just a minute. Um, uh, a couple of questions or, or comments that I had on this, 'cause you and I have talked about this extensively, and I really appreciate your work on it and, um, the things that we've talked about doing. Um, one concern that I had though, um, and, and I, I, I know what you're wanting to do, and I'm a big fan of it. [0:36:23] I think that it would be, you know, when I was patrolling, it would've been nice to know- Yeah ... um, you know, who I was encountering. Yeah. The plate issue, I know when we talked about getting it with the driver or, uh, DOR. Mm-hmm. And have you talked to them about this? Because, uh, I was of the understanding we were talking about getting it listed in the registration record, so when they ran it, not doing another plate. Correct. Uh, and I had mentioned that Senator Strickland- Mm-hmm ... uh, was doing one very similar- Correct ... uh, for autism and other developmental disabilities. [0:36:56] That bill's already passed the Senate, crossed over- Mm-hmm ... and'll be in this committee in the next week or so. Okay. Um, and so I wanna make sure that what we're doing is not duplicative of that. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Uh, that we have a bunch of different, um, special issue plates- Right ... is what they refer to them as- Right ... not a specialty plate. Uh- Thank you ... that we don't have several of those. So, um, I don't know if you've talked to him. I'd encourage you to talk to Nicole- Yeah ... who he's working with- Did ... and to Senator Strickland. Mm-hmm. Uh, what was the feedback on that that you got from them? So they're working with a particular advocacy group. [0:37:28] And so that, that plate, that specialty plate or specialty issue plate will have a specific design. And so, and that's the only part of the bill. Uh, 752 and the SAFE Data Act is more of a, more expansive of more of a framework, um, to make sure that... And it ha- it doesn't have any training, it's just the plate. And this is more expansive and a little more, um, more of a framework, right? And so it attaches, it attacks it at different entry points to make sure that everyone is, is covered. And so it's just to make sure that, um, like I said, the driver and the law enforcement officer, everybody's on the best footing. [0:38:04] Right. So, but this would be a separate and different plate than that one. So now we would have the, the general handicap plate, the plate with a B on it, I think that- Yeah ... he's talking about. The B. And what would be on this plate as an in, as an indicator of the plate you're talking about? Yes. Do you, do you have an idea yet what... Because I know the one that they're doing, even though they have been working with the autism- Mm-hmm ... uh, group, it, it, the language I believe- Mm-hmm ... does include all developmental disabilities. Right. And so that's something. [0:38:35] So- Mm-hmm ... um, just a couple of questions on that and as far as the plate. I didn't know until, I didn't even get a chance to look at this substitute till you- The substitute, yeah ... till I got in here today. So- Uh, I didn't know we'd, we were doing a plate. I thought we were going with the highway. Well, we were, and then when I talked to leg council, they let us know that that's already an option. So people can already elect when they, um, elect to have those diagnoses listed on their license, they can also elect already to have them, uh, have it attached to their registration to do exactly what we were talking about. Okay. And so that's already in the code. [0:39:05] And so I said, "Okay, well, let's take that out and just put in to make sure that..." I wanted something to happen before the officer approaches the, the vehicle. Right. And then also what makes 70, 752 different is not only the training, but also that peach envelope, uh, portion- Yeah ... which allows that communication tool, which is also very important. Yeah. And I do like the peach envelope portion. I do. I want to, I would like to continue our conversation about another plate, though- Okay ... uh, if you don't mind. I know. And so, um- [0:39:33] With that in mind, I'm gonna just do a hearing for now. [0:39:36] Okay. [0:39:36] And Representative Neal, um, if you don't mind, if, I'd like for you to be involved in the conversation with us as well, 'cause I wanna make sure we're not doing things that are duplicative and, and issuing a bunch of special issue plates that are gonna- [0:39:47] Okay [0:39:47] ... you know, confuse more officers than, than- [0:39:50] Than help [0:39:50] ... than not. Right. [0:39:51] Yeah. [0:39:51] Yeah. So- [0:39:52] Mm-hmm [0:39:52] ... thank you. We'll, uh, we'll chat tomorrow on the floor- [0:39:54] Okay [0:39:54] ... if you don't mind. So thank you. [0:39:55] Thank you, Chair. And thank you also for being so helpful- [0:39:57] Yeah [0:39:58] ... in this whole journey for this little freshman over here. [0:40:00] Yeah, you're welcome. It's my pleasure. [0:40:01] Thank you, Committee. I appreciate your time. [0:40:03] All right. Uh, Representative Sainz, House Bill 990. You wanna stay up here, go down there? What you wanna do? [0:40:08] I'll, I'll stay here. [0:40:09] Stay here. [0:40:10] I'm available to the chair. [0:40:10] What, what number you got? 19? [0:40:12] 19. [0:40:13] All right. The floor is yours. [0:40:15] Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of committee. Um, I come w- before you with House Bill 990, LC630113S, and that's a substitute, um, uh, through input from the governor's office, uh, and the first lady's policy team, uh, gave us some great revisions. Uh, and I'll just walk through the bill very quickly. Um, this creates a pathway modeled under the Florida s- uh, program that they passed in 2022 to create a way that we can support law enforcement, uh, some of the finest and furriest law enforcement officers in this state, which is our, uh, law enforcement canines. [0:40:54] Um, uh, when I dropped this bill, I didn't, uh, remember this, but my, uh, stepfather texted me. He was a canine officer in Kansas, um, and, uh, his dog, King, a- uh, experienced a lot of veterinary care when, uh, he was shot. And in Kansas back in the '90s, they had a pathway to do this, but in Georgia, because of the gratuities, uh, restrictions, we have to create a system that partners, uh, with a, a private nonprofit in some way. So this bill would go and create through the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, um, a, a law enforcement veterinary care program that would, uh, work with charitable organizations to establish grants just like they do in, in Flo- in the Florida program. [0:41:37] Um, this would go to qualified veterinary care of a qualified law enforcement officer that is defined in the bill. Um, you know, just to highlight, the majority of canine, uh, officers when they retire generally go to, uh, get adopted by their, um, uh, former handler. Um, you know, th- though these individuals do a great service, it's not among the highest paid in, in the, in the state, so we wanna ensure that when needed, when expenses are, uh, rising, that they're, the burden on, on the public service that their, uh, dogs have done, um, aren't completely on their weight. [0:42:14] Um, so that is the premise of the bill, Mr. Chairman. I know the hour's, uh, late and we're limited in time. I'm happy to take questions if there are any. I'm, I'm also appreciative of the Sheriff's Association who highlight this, and then g- uh, Sheriff Kevin Chaney and Captain Rusty Prescott, who brought this from Camden, uh, to us. [0:42:31] Okay. Thank you. Any questions from the committee? Mm. [0:42:37] Motion to pass. [0:42:39] Mm. Hang on. All right. We got one blinking over here. [0:42:42] Real quick. [0:42:42] Yeah. [0:42:42] Do we know how many- [0:42:43] Go ahead [0:42:43] ... are, of these retired, uh, dogs are out in... I mean, 'cause it was up to $5,000 per year per animal. Is that correct? And do we kn- have any idea? [0:42:57] So I appreciate the question that, and, and I don't know if the mic was on, but just in terms of the, uh, the limitations, there are some structural limitations on how much, but of course, this bill has no fiscal impact because it's subjected to appropriations. And also, there's a, if you go through specifically on, uh, starting on line 59 where the grant program gets established, um, really there's a pathway for a lot of private funding. Like, and if it aligns with Florida, there will be a lot of private dollars. So there is a way to cap, you know, uh, the, uh, 'cause of course, it could be endless amount of medical care, um, there. [0:43:33] I don't know if there's any way we can track, 'cause of course it'd be, they're no longer of state service or county service as most canines are truly at the county and city levels. Um, but they're, they're, we're not opening a way that we have unlimited liability here. Um, just by the nature of any, uh, state or federal grant, it's as much as we can competitively appropriate if we do, but I do foresee that a lot of, uh, funding and support will mostly come from, uh, private programs like it does in Florida. [0:44:03] Okay. Very good. Thank you. And I know, uh, the sheriffs, they have indicated a thumbs up, so we don't need to call on them to speak. Um, all right, I believe I had a motion. Mr. Representative Ridley, did you have a, wanna- [0:44:16] Motion to pass [0:44:17] ... you make a motion to pass. Is there a second? Second. All right. Motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye. [0:44:24] Aye. [0:44:25] Any opposed say no. All right. Your bill passes. [0:44:28] Thank you very much. [0:44:29] Thank you. Uh, and for those who weren't in here, uh, right before the meeting started, before we had a quorum, House Bill 1412, uh, is going to be pulled from the calendar for today. We will have it, uh, possibly on another day. And, uh, that we will be adjourned at 4:27. Chairman Hawkins, I saw you I thought come in. So I'm done. Thank y'all. [0:44:50] Um, announce, announce to the committee about tomorrow that if they could just stop by at 10:00. [0:44:55] I apologize. Uh, Vice Chair New reminded me that I had said I would remind y'all in the committee tomorrow between 9:00 and 9:30 in CLOB 510, there'll be members from the emergency management community, uh, and they'll be here for Emergency Management Day. Also, between 8:00 and 9:00 in the morning in the South Steps, it's, uh, Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, so there will be FOP officers, uh, state FOP officers, uh, from all around the state here. So lot of folks to come see. If you could see those, I would appreciate it. And lastly, for those of you who had signed up or scheduled to do the tour of the Public Safety Training Center tomorrow, I talked to the folks from the City of Atlanta today, and we're gonna postpone that because we are not gonna be done at any hour tomorrow that would allow us to make that. [0:45:39] What the heck? [0:45:40] Thanks, and we'll reschedule that. So all right. Thank y'all. We're adjourned. [0:45:44] I thought we were coming in here earlier, early to-