---
title: Georgia House and Senate meetings on March 2, 2026
collection: meetings
id: meetings:day:2026-03-02
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02.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.
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date: 2026-03-02
count: 27
---

# Georgia House and Senate meetings on March 2, 2026

## House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 39 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168489098. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-public-safety-and-homeland-security.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee advanced HB 1454, covering firearms records, shooting on private property and sales of unclaimed firearms, after reducing its acreage threshold from 10 acres to five. The committee also advanced HB 1436, which would deny state funding to local governments with standing policies allowing unsecured release for offenses that require bail. Members amended that bill’s reference to existing law. The committee held a hearing only on HB 1412, which would send 70% of certain State Patrol traffic-fine revenue to the state. Local-government and law-enforcement witnesses opposed that revenue shift, citing local costs. No vote was taken on that proposal.

## House Motor Vehicles Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 00 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168576197. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-motor-vehicles.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved HB 1380 with a January 1, 2027 effective date, approved a revised version of HB 1073, and approved HB 1465 with two members opposed. Discussion of HB 1465 focused on savings from ending annual registration decals and concerns about law enforcement's ability to identify expired registrations. The committee also heard HB 184, a proposal to change towing notices and create a public database for locating towed vehicles. No vote was taken on that proposal, and the chair scheduled further discussion for the next morning. The chair also announced that HB 1267 would be on the next morning's agenda.

## Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee, March 2, 2026

55 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168914036. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/senate-veterans-military-and-homeland-security.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved three bills. SB 299 would allow active-duty service members to use remote online notaries for certain documents. SB 555 would allow certain veterans’ spouses and Gold Star parents to enter a Georgia War Veterans’ Home as private-pay residents, while preserving veterans’ priority. Both were sent to Rules. The committee also heard testimony supporting SB 190 from veterans who described the benefits of outdoor recreation and removing financial barriers to park access. Members approved an amendment removing active-duty service members from that proposal, then approved the substitute as amended. No numerical vote counts were announced.

## House Economic Development & Tourism Committee, March 2, 2026

32 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168479490. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-economic-development-and-tourism.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee revisited a substitute to HB 490, concerning human trafficking training for hotel workers. The sponsor described changes identifying the Office of the Attorney General as the responsible department and adjusting training exclusions for small operators and short-term arrangements. A Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association witness supported the bill but raised concerns about the wording of a less-than-15-day exclusion. Members also discussed hotel guest safety. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote and sent it to the Rules Committee. No vote count was stated.

## House Judiciary Committee, March 2, 2026

4 h 27 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168483395. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-judiciary.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard seven bills. It tabled HB 899 after supporters and opponents disagreed over changes to transfer-on-death deeds. It approved HB 1403, concerning judges’ military legal service, and a substitute to HB 1223, restricting access to government recordings depicting a person’s death. It also approved HB 1028 after extending its compensation-system opt-in deadline to 2034, and HB 1397 after broadening protections against prosecution based on evidence from sexual assault examinations. The committee approved HB 1414, concerning related limited liability companies. It began discussing HB 1343, which would offer a streamlined process for establishing unmarried fathers’ legal status, but took no vote. The chair said that discussion would continue the next morning.

## House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, March 2, 2026

49 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168627631. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-judiciary-juvenile.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered HB 1429, which the sponsor said would expand reporting on juvenile court sentences, fines, fees and collections without changing judges’ sentencing authority. Members discussed collection costs, financial burdens on families, rehabilitation and when courts would report the information. An Administrative Office of the Courts representative explained changes intended to make reporting consistent with existing requirements, and a Deep Center witness supported the bill. The committee approved an amendment adding age and court jurisdiction to the information collected, then passed the substitute as amended by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

## House Industry and Labor Committee, March 2, 2026

39 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169573579. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-industry-and-labor.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered HB 1318, which would authorize a study of a possible statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program. The sponsor said the study would examine costs and feasibility without committing Georgia to create a program. Five organizations spoke in support, citing workforce retention, small-business competitiveness, child health and family caregiving needs. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote and sent the bill to the Rules Committee. No opposition was heard.

## Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 02 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169577192. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/senate-natural-resources-and-the-environment.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee discussed HB 946, which would loosen restrictions on killing feral hogs and allow drones to locate them on private property. The chair asked the sponsor to return with revised language addressing coyotes and possibly other invasive species. The committee also held hearings on two PFAS proposals: SB 577, which would put local governments’ contamination claims under state control, and SB 538, which would require certain industrial users to disclose PFAS use to public wastewater systems. Members questioned the loss of local control under the first proposal and disclosure requirements under the second. No votes on the bills were recorded. The chair said public input on the Senate proposals would come later.

## House Transportation Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 26 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169580925. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-transportation.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved amended versions of two bills. HB 1377 would require an eight-year wait after a failed transit sales tax referendum and restrict using transportation sales tax revenue for free or reduced fares. Members narrowed the waiting-period provision after discussing its statewide reach and effects on future local officials. HB 1434 would require local governments to protect federally defined airspace around airports. Members discussed property rights, local zoning and funding penalties, then adopted an amendment allowing transportation funds to be withheld temporarily rather than immediately lost. Both bills received approval by voice vote, with no numerical counts stated.

## Senate Ethics Committee, March 2, 2026

2 h 40 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168651518. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/senate-ethics.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four measures: SB 573 on nonpartisan elections for certain county offices, SB 423 on campaign contributions and disclosure, SR 838 on constitutional voting requirements, and SB 568 on voting equipment and election procedures. District attorneys opposed limiting the nonpartisan election changes to five counties and disputed the proposal’s constitutionality. The longest discussion concerned SB 568, with supporters seeking hand-marked paper ballots and stronger voter registration enforcement, while opponents warned about implementation time, costs and voter confusion. The committee amended that bill, rejected a proposed delay until 2027 and approved it 8-4. The committee also approved the Senate India Caucus.

## House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee, March 2, 2026

48 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169595620. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-agriculture-and-consumer-affairs.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard updates from the agriculture commissioner on farmland conservation, Hurricane Helene relief and avian flu. The commissioner said farmland conservation applications were open through May 20 and applications for roughly $531 million in hurricane relief would run from March 16 through April 27. Members asked about eligibility, insurance, audits and assistance outside designated counties. The committee also reconsidered HB 1224, which concerns automatic contract renewals. The sponsor requested raising the price-increase threshold requiring customer consent from 25% to 50%, citing business opposition to the lower threshold. Members favored keeping 25%. No motion to change the bill was made, and the committee voted by voice, with no opposition heard, to send it back to Rules unchanged.

## House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 25 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169598664. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-rules.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard requests to move forward a wide range of measures covering taxes, housing, health care, education, public safety, workforce development and state symbols. Members questioned proposals on self-defense cases, income tax cuts, Medicaid eligibility checks, development permits and airport funding. The chair announced that HR 114 and HB 1116 were returned to Ways and Means without opposition, although a subsequent exchange created uncertainty about the first measure's number. Most other measures received brief presentations without questions. No floor calendar selections or votes on those requests were recorded. The chair adjourned the meeting and announced another meeting for 5 p.m.

## Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 08 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169598723. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/senate-regulated-industries-and-utilities.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered a proposed substitute for SB 553, which the sponsor described as replacing subjective licensing standards for five construction trades with measurable requirements written into law. Members questioned how work experience would be verified, what authority local governments would retain, and how licensing balances public safety with access to work. Trade association witnesses supported the proposal. The committee approved the substitute 8-0 and sent it to the Rules Committee.

## House Education Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 21 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169589514. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-education.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved seven bills covering school technology purchases, financial literacy, digital literacy and online safety, teacher planning time, emergency access to school buildings, and excused absences for Capitol visits. Members amended HB 1244 to remove required hourly compensation for teachers who agree to supervise students during protected time. Members also amended HB 1232 to include Boy Scouts of America, despite the sponsor's objection to expanding the bill beyond Girl Scouts. The committee postponed consideration of HB 1281 when the sponsor was unavailable. The chair said another meeting was planned.

## Senate Public Safety Committee, March 2, 2026

43 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169639191. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/senate-public-safety.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee unanimously approved all five bills it considered: SB 570 on human trafficking prevention training for lodging workers, SB 587 on an animal cruelty database, SB 586 on honors for public safety animals, SB 442 on commercial driver's licenses for noncitizens, and SB 569 on red-light permits for certain towing companies. Members amended SB 570 to include representatives of short-term rental hosting platforms and approved a substitute version of SB 442. Discussion included license renewal and testing requirements, along with concerns about which tow trucks could use emergency lights. The chair said the committee would not meet Wednesday and that this was its last meeting before crossover day.

## House Special Rules Committee, March 2, 2026

38 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168271651. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-special-rules.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered four measures. It approved HB 1082 with a substitute removing school instruction provisions and retaining an annual Victims of Communism Day designation. It also approved HR 1445, urging continued preservation of the State Capitol, and HR 1475, creating a joint study committee on modified vehicle exhaust systems and noise enforcement. A motion to approve HR 1299, supporting dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education and returning educational authority to states, failed for lack of a second.

## House Rural Development Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 04 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168308775. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-rural-development.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee voted to advance HR 656, creating a study committee on homeownership and institutional investors; HB 1394, making Rosenwald Schools eligible for historic preservation grants; and HB 1451, creating a grant program to help communities attract households from outside Georgia. Rental housing companies opposed the housing study, while real estate and county government representatives supported it. Members also discussed forestry mill closures and their effects on landowners, workers, loggers and haulers. One member proposed a joint letter seeking federal support for using woody biomass as renewable fuel, and the chair suggested a resolution to Congress. No vote was taken on the forestry proposal.

## Senate Finance Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 18 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1168669462. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/senate-finance.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four bills: SB 566, addressing property assessment notices, homestead exemptions and newspaper publication errors; SB 515, revising teacher tax credits; SB 410, combining data center tax exemption changes with electric utility cost provisions; and SB 576, allowing higher property tax assessments for large single-family rental owners. The chair described the votes on SB 566 and SB 410 as unanimous. SB 515 advanced with one opposed. After extensive discussion about housing affordability, rents and institutional ownership, the committee amended SB 576 to lower its ownership threshold from 2,000 homes to 500, then approved it with one opposed.

## House Health Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 34 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169587909. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-health.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered five bills and gave each a favorable recommendation. Members approved HB 382, addressing drug classifications and pharmacy rules, and amended HB 1332 on preferences for American-made medicines, HB 1309 on dispensing medicines in medical offices, and HB 298 on hospital nurse staffing committees. The longest discussion concerned HB 1393, which would let certain rural hospitals collaborate while remaining independent. Members questioned its proposed protections from antitrust liability. The chair initially designated it for a hearing only, but later allowed a vote after consulting legislative counsel. The committee approved that bill with an amendment limiting part of its antitrust language to the powers granted in the legislation. All five bills passed by voice vote, with no numerical totals stated.

## House Higher Education Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 42 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169627186. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-higher-education.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered substitutes for three bills. It approved HB 1379, which would narrow foreign-funding reporting requirements to specified countries and amounts, by an 11-3 vote. It also approved HB 1363, which the sponsor said would establish state procedures for discrimination complaints in public education, after removing references to antisemitism. Members questioned appeal rights, implementation and the exclusion of private schools. The committee held its first hearing on HB 1413, a proposed needs-based Dream Scholarship of up to $3,000 annually. Discussion focused on eligibility, work requirements, financial literacy and whether private-college students should qualify. No vote was taken on that bill, and the committee planned to consider it again.

## House Regulated Industries Committee, March 2, 2026

48 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169650669. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-regulated-industries.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved revised versions of HB 1254, concerning professional licensing regulation, and HB 1446, which would move emergency medical services oversight to a new council. It also approved HB 1428, allowing the professional engineers and land surveyors board to retain incidental revenue. All three passed by voice vote, with no vote counts stated. The committee suspended action on HB 1385, concerning the Safety Fire Commissioner's authority and procedures, after members questioned court appeals, deadlines, undefined complaint standards and changes to administrative rulemaking requirements. The chair asked several members to work with the sponsor and the commissioner's office before another meeting.

## House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 2, 2026

2 h 49 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169661890. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-judiciary-non-civil.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved HB 237, HB 1432 as amended, and HB 997 by substitute with amendments. Members heard presentations and testimony on HB 984 and HB 1395, but the transcript shows no votes on either. Discussion of HB 968, concerning a kratom ban, ended with the chair postponing action until Thursday over concerns about incorporating federal drug classifications into Georgia law. The committee also began reviewing a substitute for HB 1255, concerning the exchange of evidence in criminal cases, and continued that discussion until Thursday without a vote. The chair announced that HB 1142 had been removed from the day's agenda at the sponsor's request and would return Thursday.

## House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 2, 2026

2 h 01 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169661964. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-governmental-affairs.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved HB 1177, HB 1260 and HB 1299, covering development-authority housing financing, training requirements for local elected officials and hospital partnerships with physicians. It also approved HB 1447 after adding a requirement to review utility bond structures. The committee heard competing arguments on HB 1384, which would redirect part of municipal utility franchise revenue to counties, but held no vote. After testimony supporting and opposing expanded city control over development-authority activity in Fulton County, the committee approved HB 1386.

## Senate Judiciary Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 48 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169649695. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/senate-judiciary.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee advanced six measures: SR 262, calling for a convention to consider a federal balanced-budget amendment; SB 594, addressing digital identity fraud; SB 547, increasing pimping and pandering penalties; SB 591, prohibiting disruption of religious services; SB 592, increasing sentences and limiting parole for certain crimes; and SB 532, requiring notices in certain default court proceedings. The committee tabled SB 413, concerning lease termination after firearm injuries, following questions about eligibility and documentation. Discussion included concerns about the scope of a constitutional convention, protest rights, mandatory life sentences, and who must provide notice of court hearings.

## House Ways & Means Committee, March 2, 2026

1 h 07 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169672651. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-ways-and-means.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four measures: HB 1110, offering tax credits to small businesses that help employees obtain health insurance and meet other requirements; HB 1148, extending and revising conservation tax credits; and a revised property-tax package consisting of HR 1114 and HB 1116. The property-tax measures would phase down the taxable share of home values and provide sales-tax options and grants to replace property-tax revenue, according to the sponsor. Representatives of county and city governments said they were still reviewing the revised language. Members questioned local revenue effects, data-center funding and the time available to review the changes. Both property-tax measures passed 14 to 5. The other two measures passed by voice vote, with no vote counts stated.

## Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, March 2, 2026

2 h 45 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169678148. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/senate-state-and-local-governmental-operations.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved SB 593 after adding requirements for written requests describing a development project. It also approved SB 510, which would make Cobb County school board elections nonpartisan beginning in 2028, after rejecting a delay to 2030. Most of the meeting concerned SB 584, which would prohibit taxpayers from bringing certain refund claims as class actions. After hearing support from local government representatives and concerns about taxpayers’ ability to challenge unlawful charges, the committee tabled the bill, then brought it back for further discussion. The meeting ended without final passage or adoption of a proposed alternative remedy. The committee also held a hearing only on SB 496, concerning county approval of city annexations. No vote was taken on that bill.

## House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026

21 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1169685655. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-rules-2.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee returned HB 810 to the Health Committee and set the House calendar for Tuesday, legislative day 26. It placed 16 bills on the calendar under modified rules and HB 1209 under structured rules. A member objected to placing HB 574 on the calendar, but the motion carried by voice vote. No opposition was heard to the other calendar motions. There were no presentations or discussions of the bills’ contents. The chair announced another Rules Committee meeting for 9 a.m. the next morning.