Georgia CommonsGeorgia General Assembly
Meetings on March 4, 2026
Machine-readable: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-04.md
House Judiciary Committee, March 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four bills: HB 1475, concerning representatives continuing public-benefit matters after an applicant dies; HB 1433, increasing penalties for unauthorized practice of law; HB 1470, addressing allegedly abusive website-accessibility lawsuits; and HB 899, revising transfer-on-death deed procedures. Members amended HB 1475 before approval and approved substitutes for HB 1470 and HB 899. The committee also discussed HB 1360, which would prohibit class-action tax-refund lawsuits against counties and cities. Supporters described costs to taxpayers, while members raised concerns about affordable access to legal relief. The committee tabled that bill, with the chair indicating it could return the next day.
House Motor Vehicles Committee, March 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered a revised substitute for HB 1267 following reconsideration at an earlier meeting. Discussion focused on transferring oversight to the Department of Revenue, the transition period, advisory council appointments and licensing for online used-car sellers. The committee adopted two amendments, one placing the existing board under the Georgia Administrative Procedures Act and another correcting a legal reference. The committee then approved the substitute as amended by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard requests to bring bills to the House floor on education, healthcare, taxes, public safety, local government and other subjects. Members questioned proposals on firearm rules, access to death recordings, district attorney pay, foreign funding disclosures and transit tax votes. The committee approved a substitute for HB 1138 restoring earlier language. It sent HB 947 back to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and HB 490 back to Economic Development and Tourism. A motion to send HB 1386 back to committee failed. The committee then placed 14 bills on the day's floor calendar, including HB 1138 with the approved substitute. Members also questioned differences in how requests for changes were handled. The chair said the approaching legislative deadline limited time to return every proposed change to committee.
Senate floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed measures on outdoor conservation funding, retirement benefits, rental-home guarantees, condominium insurance, student political expression, school discrimination complaints, campus police protections, specialty license plates and cursive instruction. It also passed SB 406, establishing oversight of property owners associations, after adopting two amendments. Senators rejected amendments addressing broader religious-discrimination language, excused absences for civic events and local rent regulation. A road-naming resolution was adopted, while SR 668, concerning property taxation of data-center equipment, was set aside. The Senate confirmed a group of governor’s appointments 44-7 and tabled one nomination. Numerous bills received first or second readings. The chamber adjourned until 9 a.m. Friday, March 6.
House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, AM)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed nine bills on its main calendar, covering veterinary vaccinations, maternal leave, sexual-abuse settlement agreements, diplomas for terminally ill students, school health screenings, workforce coordination, stem-cell products, retired police dogs and ambulance billing. It also passed five uncontested local bills together, 166 to 1. Members voted to reconsider earlier defeats of HB 717 and HR 1114, then sent HB 717 back to the Rules Committee. The clerk read new legislation, second readings and committee reports. After visitor recognitions and announcements, the House recessed until 2 p.m.
House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, PM, part 1)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed 18 bills and adopted a group of recognition and memorial resolutions. The longest debate concerned HB 295, which would let property owners seek compensation when local governments decline to enforce specified laws. It passed 98-75 after supporters emphasized property rights and opponents raised concerns about homelessness, local decisions and legal costs. Other measures passed included pharmacist access to contraception, a one-time income tax refund, tax relief for farm assistance payments, changes to scholarship eligibility, rural hospital contracting, conservation and historic rehabilitation tax credits, stablecoin regulation, home modification fee relief for disabled veterans, and a treatment research program for veterans and retired first responders. The House then recessed until 7 p.m.
House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, PM, part 2)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed measures on vehicle repossessions, police safety grants and benefits, juvenile cases on military bases, foreign involvement in ballot campaigns, solar projects on closed landfills, cancer screening, healthcare payments, mental health services and other topics. Members adopted resolutions to study family farm sustainability and propose a dedicated statewide 911 fund. The longest debate concerned HB 1247, which would bar courts from giving special weight to state agencies’ legal interpretations. It passed 98–63 after supporters argued it protects independent courts and opponents warned of added lawsuits, costs and inconsistent rulings. The House also passed HB 1379 after discussion of foreign funding disclosures and concerns about effects on academic partnerships. Members returned HB 1276 to the Rules Committee, postponed several measures until the next legislative day and adjourned until March 6 at 10 a.m.
House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, March 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee reconsidered HB 1445 after the sponsor requested changes to language in a version previously approved. The discussion focused on notifying schools and law enforcement when a young person’s electronic monitoring stops working, improving communication between agencies, and clarifying the role of monitoring companies. The committee approved the new substitute by voice vote, with no opposition heard, and adjourned.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee returned HB 1224 to Agriculture, HB 1254 to Regulated Industries and HB 1232 to Education without objection. It then added 17 bills to a supplemental calendar for the day. Members voiced opposition to adding HB 963, but the chair declared that motion carried after a voice vote. The other calendar additions drew no stated opposition. No bill provisions were presented or debated before the committee adjourned.
House Creative Arts & Entertainment Committee, March 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered HB 1476, which the sponsor described as correcting eligibility language for Georgia postproduction tax credits and setting a flat 30% credit. The chair noted that the existing credit included a 20% base plus a possible additional 10%, and the sponsor agreed that the change would not increase the maximum credit. The committee approved a do-pass recommendation by voice vote and sent the bill to Rules.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee sent HB 1095 back to the Regulated Industries Committee without objection. It approved a substitute for HB 1178 adding the House Appropriations Committee chair to the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee, then placed that version on a supplemental calendar. The committee also placed 14 other listed measures on the calendar. Members objected to placing HB 1247, HB 1276 and HB 1379 on the calendar, but each motion carried by voice vote. No vote counts were stated, and the calendar decisions included no discussion of the measures' substance. The chair announced another Rules Committee meeting for 11 a.m. the next day.