--- title: House Economic Development & Tourism Committee, March 2, 2026 collection: meetings id: 2026-03-02/house-economic-development-and-tourism cite_as: House Economic Development & Tourism Committee, March 2, 2026, video https://vimeo.com/1168479490 (machine transcript by Georgia Commons) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-economic-development-and-tourism md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-economic-development-and-tourism.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-economic-development-and-tourism/text source_url: https://vimeo.com/1168479490 date: 2026-03-02 status: machine transcript 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/2026-03-02.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/senate-veterans-military-and-homeland-security.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-02/house-judiciary.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md chamber: House body: House Economic Development & Tourism Committee body_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/house-economic-development-and-tourism.md meeting_kind: committee session: 2025-2026 Regular Session start_time: 2026-03-02T10:00:00-05:00 location: 403 CAP duration_seconds: 1891.0 video_id: 1168479490 video_title: 3.2.26 Economic Development & Tourism agenda_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/house/Economic Development%2F3.02.2026 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.pdf bills_discussed: - HB 490 summaries_model: gpt-6.1-sol transcript_turns: 66 --- # House Economic Development & Tourism Committee, March 2, 2026 House Economic Development & Tourism Committee; March 2, 2026; 2025-2026 Regular Session. Video, on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/1168479490. Agenda: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/house/Economic Development%2F3.02.2026 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.pdf. > 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. ## Summary written by Georgia Commons Written by gpt-6.1-sol from the transcript below. It is not part of the record. Quote the transcript or the video, not the summary. The committee revisited a substitute to [HB 490](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb490), 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. ## Bills discussed (1) Each account was written by gpt-6.1-sol from the stretch of the transcript it names. The bill's number is said in that stretch, unless it was the only bill on a committee's agenda. ### HB 490. Crimes and offenses; required human trafficking training program for hotels; provide [HB 490](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb490) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:24:50](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1490s), turns 10 to 62. The sponsor presented a revised substitute to [HB 490](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb490), saying industry participants had opportunities to suggest changes. The sponsor said the substitute identifies the Office of the Attorney General as the responsible department and adjusts training exclusions to avoid burdening small operators. The sponsor described an exclusion for agencies or entities used for fewer than 15 days, with responsibility applying beyond 15 days. A witness for the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association supported the legislation but cautioned that the exclusion could appear to exempt the Masters tournament. The witness said they believed the language came from a federal income-tax exemption associated with that event and urged further refinement. A committee member described an incident in which three hotel guests were accosted and expressed concern that no one came to their aid. The witness said the industry wanted employees trained in trafficking prevention, safety and security, including ahead of the FIFA World Cup. A member moved to approve the substitute, and another member seconded. The committee approved it by voice vote and advanced it to the Rules Committee; no vote count was stated. ## Transcript (66 turns) [0:23:55](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1435s) What number are you, Dean? [0:23:57](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1437s) You'll be witness. Thank you. I love you. [0:23:59](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1439s) Two, okay. [0:24:00](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1440s) Max. [0:24:01](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1441s) Ladies and gentlemen, we're gonna get started here today- [0:24:03](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1443s) Oh, I know. I know who is right [0:24:04](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1444s) ... for the Economic Development Tourism Committee. [0:24:07](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1447s) Oh, we started yet. [0:24:07](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1447s) And I will ask, um, Dean Greene to, uh, open us with prayer, please. [0:24:12](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1452s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let us pray. Our Heavenly Fathers, we begin the deliberations once again. Let us be thankful for the blessings that we have. Thank you, oh Lord, that we are able to sit here and make decisions for the people of the State of Georgia, and we pray, oh Father, that they are the right decisions. Be with us and guide us and direct us, oh Father, during this time, and be with each and every one of us daily, and forgive us of our sins and shortcomings. In thy holy name we pray, amen. [0:24:42](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1482s) Amen. Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to hear again, um, the substitute to House Bill 490, and, um, can you tell us of the changes? And you're number six, I guess. [0:25:02](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1502s) Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I believe we all know and understand what this bill is and what it does, HB 490. And we are today looking at LC481787S, as in Sam. And so every person that I know of that's in the industry has, um, had a opportunity to make any changes, anything that was needed in this bill. [0:25:38](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1538s) And at this point, I believe we have a good bill to move forward and come out of committee and get passed out of the House this week. And if you look at, I believe it's on, uh, page two, um, there were a few changes made, and, um, one minor change throughout is, um, the definition of department, and it, it says it on, uh, num- line 18. [0:26:08](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1568s) So department means the Office of the Attorney General. We've talked about that prior, but throughout that has changed. And then if you look down, if you look down on line 30, it talks about, it talks about how, um... I'm sorry, 20- start at 27, um, talking about the individuals in the industry that are excluded from taking the training. [0:26:41](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1601s) And so we just wanted to be fair to mom and pops and make sure that they did not have to be required to take, um, the training. But a- any agencies or entities that they use, um, for less than 15 days is fine, but more than 15 days, they are responsible. So that's the major change that has been placed in the bill to satisfy everybody in the industry. [0:27:12](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1632s) Members. [0:27:15](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1635s) Let's go back to the audience again. Um, and let's point out maybe some places that could be improved. Um, would you like to address us, Chris? [0:27:30](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1650s) I think you're number one. [0:27:32](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1652s) Number one. [0:27:33](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1653s) Yes. [0:27:33](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1653s) Awesome. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, once again, I think this is the, uh, what? Maybe fifth, seventh time you've heard this bill in committee, so- [0:27:41](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1661s) 10, 12, something like that [0:27:41](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1661s) ... I, it's, it's been, uh, several times. But, uh, I wanna thank, uh, you Ch- and Chairman Stevens for working tirelessly to perfect this legislation. I know, um, uh, one of the concerns that we had, and, uh, we were just talking about it, this might be able to be improved throughout the process, but, uh, the piece in there that states that, uh, the exclusion for less than 15 days. [0:28:00](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1680s) Mm-hmm. [0:28:00](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1680s) Um, something we don't wanna do is, is go after the, uh, mom and pops, as we were speaking of before. But I, I believe that, uh, that language comes directly from a federal income tax exemption specifically for the Masters. It's actually considered the Masters exemption. Um, so I, I, I worry, I hesitate that this might send a message that we're trying to exempt one of the crown jewel events for the State of Georgia, that is the Masters. One of my favorite things to go to. So, uh, that would be my biggest fear, and I would just be cautious as we move throughout the, uh, uh, process, throughout the legislative process. [0:28:32](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1712s) But with that, I, I support the intent and I support this legislation fully. Um, I'm Chris Hartman, President and CEO of the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association. I know you've heard me, uh, what? 10 times in this committee. So, um, I, uh, thank you, thank you all for your consideration, and ask for your fav- favorable consideration of Senate, uh, House Bill 4- 490. [0:28:51](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1731s) It's- [0:28:51](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1731s) It's still 490. [0:28:52](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1732s) It's still 490. [0:28:52](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1732s) It's still 490. [0:28:53](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1733s) And as we move through the process, we certainly hope that we, um, um, make sure that we don't have any unintended consequences. Chairman Hitchens. [0:29:04](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1744s) My, my supposed good friend here hit my, uh, hit my button. But while we're at it, that, that was my concern is what the, what the hotel industry thought about it. And, uh, I haven't been to any of the prior meetings, because I've got meetings elsewhere. But, you know, I had a good friend the other day, uh, uh... In fact, there were three ladies up here for the real estate conference. Are you aware of that? [0:29:25](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1765s) I, I am fully aware of it. [0:29:26](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1766s) I mean, in a luxury hotel, and as they were leaving, they were accosted by three people and, uh- [0:29:32](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1772s) And that is, that is what we want to make sure does not happen, period. [0:29:36](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1776s) Right. [0:29:36](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1776s) We want all of our employees trained in human trafficking prevention, um, in safety and security, and we wanna be able to tell the world when FIFA World Cup comes, that there is no room for trafficking here in the State of Georgia. [0:29:46](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1786s) Well, that, that's, that's my concern. I, um, you know, video camera's in place. It's, it was inside and, uh, they've secured, they were able to identify them and they've secured warrants and, uh, they're gonna be arrested. But, uh, I mean, they were just perfectly innocent. And I've been in that hotel many times. I mean, it's a luxury hotel. Who would ever have thought that kind of thing would occur there? [0:30:05](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1805s) Beautiful property, and they invest millions and millions- [0:30:07](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1807s) Yep [0:30:07](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1807s) ... and millions of dollars- [0:30:08](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1808s) Oh, yeah [0:30:08](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1808s) ... in safety, safety precautions, so, um- [0:30:10](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1810s) But the other, the other side was they were screaming and nobody came to their aid. [0:30:14](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1814s) Exactly. [0:30:14](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1814s) I, I was kind of shocked at that. [0:30:16](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1816s) So. [0:30:16](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1816s) So. [0:30:18](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1818s) Representative Berry. [0:30:20](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1820s) I was just trying, I was trying to turn it off actually. [0:30:22](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1822s) Oh, okay. [0:30:22](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1822s) I, I, I was- [0:30:23](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1823s) Turned that on [0:30:24](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1824s) ... Representative Carter. [0:30:24](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1824s) I wave. [0:30:26](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1826s) Yes. Um, thank you, Chairman. Thank you, uh, Representative Bazemore, and thank you all who have, uh, testified, amended, and amended. And at the appropriate time, I'd like to move to a due pass on House Bill 490, LC481787S. [0:30:48](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1848s) Second. [0:30:49](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1849s) If this is the appropriate time- [0:30:51](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1851s) It's all moving [0:30:51](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1851s) ... we have a, um, a motion and a second. All those in favor of the fourth time moving to, uh, the rules committee will say, "Aye." [0:30:59](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1859s) Aye. [0:31:00](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1860s) Aye. [0:31:00](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1860s) All those opposed. Thank you. The bill moves on. Make sure that... Somebody, are you taking roll or? All right, good. Make sure that she knows you're here today. This is a committee day. [0:31:11](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1871s) We're here. [0:31:12](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1872s) Thank you. Thank you so much. We are adjourned. [0:31:14](https://vimeo.com/1168479490#t=1874s) Thank you.