--- title: Georgia House and Senate meetings on February 26, 2026 collection: meetings id: meetings:day:2026-02-26 canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26.md date: 2026-10-23 status: active corpus_version: meetings-2026-10-23-8c15ead0f18d license: Machine transcript and summaries by Georgia Commons from the General Assembly's public video; the video stays on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-25.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md date: 2026-02-26 count: 14 --- # Georgia House and Senate meetings on February 26, 2026 ## Senate Rules Committee, February 26, 2026 24 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168256832. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/senate-rules.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee briefly reviewed bills and selected 11 measures for the Senate floor calendar. The committee unanimously approved a calendar containing SB 240, SB 437, SB 443, SB 447, SB 463, SB 468, SB 471, SB 497, SB 527, SR 800 and HB 377. Other measures received brief descriptions or acknowledgments but were not included in the approved calendar. Most reviews were limited to a few words, with little substantive discussion and no amendments offered. ## House Banks & Banking Committee, February 26, 2026 28 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168269041. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/house-banks-and-banking.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved a change to HB 1112 allowing customers to pay the exact amount with pennies rather than have a cash purchase rounded. The committee also considered HB 1314, which would require certain lenders to tell borrowers whether a loan is reportable to a credit reporting agency. Members discussed consumer choice, possible costs and burdens on small-loan lenders. A motion to pass received audible support in a voice vote, with no opposition heard, and the chair ended the meeting without explicitly announcing the result. ## House Ways & Means Committee, February 26, 2026 1 h 00 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168277623. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/house-ways-and-means.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered income tax relief, property tax assessments and exemptions, homeowner protections, tax allocation districts, and airport funding. Members advanced HB 7 after updating its dates, along with HB 1035, HB 1000, HR 400, HR 250, HB 1240, and HB 1336. Discussion focused on whether purchase-price assessments would favor large rental investors, the uncertain local cost of a disabled-veteran exemption, and limits on local spending flexibility under the airport proposal. Members also voted on a revised version of HB 880 with larger deductions. After a voice vote, the chair requested a show of hands, but no result or count was announced before the committee moved on. ## Senate Government Oversight Committee, February 26, 2026 1 h 17 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168304041. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/senate-government-oversight.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee held a hearing, with no bills or votes, on a December 2024 audit of the Local Victim Assistance Program. Auditors said reporting gaps and errors prevented them from confirming whether court-fee funds were properly collected, distributed and spent. They said the State Victim Services Commission, authorized in 2004 but never fully assembled, could address some oversight gaps. Members questioned funding distribution, reserves, reporting compliance and spending on salaries. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s director said the agency lacked dedicated funding for this oversight and explained that victim advocates’ salaries can support direct services. Agency representatives also clarified that historical reporting data exists. The chair requested that the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council coordinate representatives of the commission’s member groups to recommend oversight, funding or legislative changes. Its director agreed to help, and the chair said another hearing would follow. ## House floor session, February 26, 2026 (legislative day 25, PM) 1 h 17 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168619528. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/house-floor-pm.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed six bills covering reforestation tax credits, dental sedation permits, notice of warrant application hearings, teacher preparation, background checks for mental health care providers, and penalties for certain repeat offenders. Members adopted committee substitutes for three of those bills. The House postponed five other measures until the next legislative day and adopted a group of honorary resolutions without objection. Members also delivered memorial remarks, recognized Black History Month, highlighted a child awaiting adoption, and announced committee meetings. The House adjourned until March 3, 2026, at 10 a.m. ## House floor session, February 26, 2026 (legislative day 25, AM) 2 h 44 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168641662. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/house-floor-am.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed four insurance measures: HB 1344 on enforcement, claims and affordability; HB 1274 on excess auto insurance profits; HB 1262 on penalties; and HB 1263 on premium tax refund deadlines. The House also passed a committee substitute for HB 1164, establishing financial oversight of school systems, after questions about local control, superintendent contracts and school board support. Four local bills passed together, 158 to 0. The chamber heard first and second readings and committee reports on other legislation, recognized Georgia 4-H and a former Atlanta Braves player, and heard community recognitions and condolences. The House recessed until 1:30 p.m.; the transcript ends during that recess. ## Senate floor session, February 26, 2026 (legislative day 25) 4 h 37 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168235006. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/senate-floor.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed seven measures addressing emergency defibrillator locations, local government investments, signal jammers, school financial oversight, healthcare workforce data, student attendance and community mental health services. Debate focused on state authority over elected school boards and whether new attendance requirements would burden schools without funding. Senators also heard bill readings and committee reports, adopted recognition resolutions, and approved unnamed local bills and resolutions on consent calendars. The transcript does not identify the measures on those calendars. The Senate voted 26 to 20 to adjourn until March 3 at 1 p.m., over an objection that legislation addressing energy affordability remained on the day's calendar. ## House Education Committee, February 26, 2026 1 h 23 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168489643. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/house-education.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four bills: HB 1402 on school vision and hearing screenings and reading notices, HB 1302 on coordinating education and workforce planning, HB 1284 on diplomas for students nearing the end of life, and HB 1045 on student access to the 988 crisis line. The longest discussion concerned HB 1302, with members questioning agency responsibilities, literacy work and apprenticeship oversight. A motion to delay that bill failed 7 to 9 before the committee approved it. Members also approved corrections to the honorary name in HB 1284. The chair said additional meetings were planned to address bills still awaiting consideration. ## House Rules Committee, February 26, 2026 32 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168263747. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/house-rules.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard presentations on HB 1178, concerning budget oversight and audits, HB 1415, concerning Stone Mountain Memorial Association property, and HB 664, concerning property owners’ association rules. No further action on those three bills was shown. After a contested voice vote, the committee returned HB 490 to Economic Development and Tourism. The committee also placed HB 1075, HB 1097, HB 1107, HB 1131 and HB 1278 on the day’s supplemental calendar under modified structured rules, and SB 59 under structured rules. ## House Higher Education Committee, February 26, 2026 1 h 08 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168278814. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/house-higher-education.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The House Higher Education Committee held first hearings on three bills: HB 693, concerning tuition equalization grants for Herzing University students; HB 1379, concerning disclosure of foreign funding in public education; and HB 1382, concerning college credit for military service. Members questioned the sponsors and heard supporting testimony. No votes were taken. The chair planned further hearings the following week, with possible revisions to the foreign-funding bill and a substitute for the military-credit bill. ## Senate Urban Affairs Committee, February 26, 2026 1 h 39 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168244247. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/senate-urban-affairs.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard testimony on homeowners’ and condominium associations, including foreclosure practices, unpaid dues, access to financial records, elections and board oversight. The sponsor presented SB 580, which would raise the foreclosure threshold from $2,000 to $20,000, and said the amount could be adjusted. Witnesses supported homeowner protections but raised concerns about associations’ ability to collect dues and meet expenses. Discussion of SB 406 focused on the proposed oversight commission’s independence and how homeowner payments are applied. The chair also reviewed the status of several association-related bills and discussed seeking hearings and possible changes before the deadline for bills to pass their first chamber. No committee votes or formal amendments were recorded. ## Senate Judiciary Committee, February 26, 2026 1 h 19 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168495160. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/senate-judiciary.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four bills: SB 488, addressing product liability for AI systems that harm minors, passed 7-1; SB 418, addressing unauthorized nude or sexually explicit images, passed unanimously after an amendment expanding who could enforce it; SB 499, addressing firearm suppressors, passed 7-2 by substitute; and SB 572, changing the process for self-defense immunity claims, passed 7-2 without amendments. The longest discussion concerned SB 572. Supporters argued it would protect people acting in lawful self-defense, while prosecutors, defense lawyers and a gun-safety organization raised concerns about its wording and effects. The sponsor committed to further discussions as the bill moves forward. ## Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, February 26, 2026 39 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168612397. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/senate-regulated-industries-and-utilities.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard additional testimony on SB 367 and voted to recommend passage, with two members opposed and the rest in favor. A cancer survivor spoke about the importance of timely treatment, and a former hospital administrator supported easing certificate-of-need requirements, citing experience in Florida. Discussion included whether increased competition could harm rural hospitals. The committee announced another meeting for Monday at noon and adjourned. ## Senate Insurance and Labor Committee, February 26, 2026 32 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168281987. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-26/senate-insurance-and-labor.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered SB 324, which the sponsor described as helping people locate life insurance benefits and obtain information about their policies. Members discussed required searches of a policy locator system, access to policy records, annual reports and the time insurers would have to respond to a locator match. The committee unanimously adopted an amendment extending that deadline from 10 to 30 days, then unanimously approved the bill as amended as a committee substitute.