Georgia CommonsGeorgia General Assembly
Meetings on March 16, 2026
Machine-readable: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16.md
Senate Rules Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard requests to move bills to the Senate floor on education, taxes, public safety, transportation, health care and other subjects. Members unanimously approved a six-bill calendar for the next day: HB 376, HB 998, HB 999, HB 1159, HB 1302 and HB 1379. The committee then switched to a standing committee meeting to consider a substitute for HB 1020 combining district attorney retirement changes with salary changes. Members questioned the proposed limit on local salary supplements and whether some district attorneys could lose pay by opting in. The committee approved the substitute, with the chair announcing a final tally of 11 yes votes and three no votes, and sent it to Rules.
House Rules Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard bill presentations and set a six-bill floor calendar: SB 160, SB 177, SB 432, SB 435, SB 524 and SB 535. Members approved a substitute for SB 177 and placed it on the calendar by voice vote over opposition. The other calendar additions drew no stated opposition. Questions about SB 116 focused on constitutional protections, citizenship determinations, local costs and indefinite DNA retention. The committee also returned SB 411 to the Health Committee without objection. No calendar action was shown for the other bills presented.
House floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed six Senate bills, including SB 177 on disclosure of foreign-funded political activity, which drew extended debate over transparency, constitutional rights and effects on Georgia organizations. Members also passed SB 160 on speed-limiting devices for certain drivers and SB 535 on state oversight of community service boards. The House agreed to the Senate substitute for HB 244 and reassigned SB 89 to another committee. Other business included bill readings, committee reports, adoption of honorary resolutions and recognition of the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee through HR 1681. The House adjourned until March 18, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Senate floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed HB 535 after changing its fentanyl provisions following debate over drug possession, addiction and trafficking. It also passed HB 1000, providing a one-time income tax credit, HB 983, clarifying prescribed-burning rules, and HB 1196, addressing trespass and harm involving enclosed wild animals. Members moved three bills to different committees and sent HB 521 back to committee. The Senate adopted recognition resolutions, received committee reports and read bills for the first or second time. A local consent calendar passed 48 to 1, but the transcript did not identify its bill. Members also gave notice of future consideration of House action on SB 220. The Senate adjourned until March 18 at 10 a.m.
House Ways & Means Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered SB 566, which the sponsor described as a way to make property assessment notices clearer for taxpayers. Discussion focused on keeping the notice format consistent while identifying the correct local official for homestead exemption applications. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote, with no opposition heard. HB 275 and HB 1116 were mentioned for comparison but were not separately considered.
House Judiciary Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee advanced SB 552, concerning students’ political expression and access to school facilities, after rejecting an amendment allowing excused absences for civic or political events. It held a hearing on SB 403, which would simplify unclaimed-property payments and allow the state to permanently take ownership of some unclaimed funds. Members questioned cryptocurrency provisions, protections for creditors and property owners, and the proposed deadlines for claims. The chair held that bill for further consideration and said it would return Thursday. The committee also approved a substitute for SB 570, requiring human-trafficking awareness training for frontline workers in hotels, motels and short-term rentals. Both approved bills were sent to Rules.
Senate State Institutions and Property Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee reviewed and approved two measures concerning state property. HR 1050 authorizes property transfers and leases. Members approved an amendment increasing the acreage of a proposed Floyd County school-system lease, then held separate votes on the amendment and the resolution after procedural clarification. HR 1051 authorizes nonexclusive easements. Discussion focused on a drainage-dispute settlement, access to land left landlocked after state purchases, and a Georgia Power easement at the Atlanta Farmers Market. Both measures received voice-vote approval, with no opposition heard. The State Property Commission representative agreed to send the acreage amendment for legal drafting and return it to the chair’s office.
House Regulated Industries Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved SB 485, which would let students take the social work licensing exam during their final semester and included added photo-identification requirements for nail technicians and salon owners. The committee also approved SB 458, covering home inspector licensing, written disclosures for certain real estate transactions, and a faster way to stop unlicensed real estate work by agreement. Members questioned how the real estate provisions would affect legitimate property purchases, contract assignments and resales. Both bills passed by voice vote, with no vote counts stated. The chair announced another full committee meeting for the following day.
House Special Rules Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved HR 1655 on diabetes-related amputations, HR 1583 on small-business technology, HR 1474 encouraging a life sciences caucus, and HR 1608 on electric franchise fees. It held a hearing without a vote on HR 1657, concerning Medicaid waiver programs and their long-term sustainability. The longest discussion concerned HR 1662, recognizing presidential leadership and honoring military personnel involved in action against Iran. Members debated congressional involvement, the mission’s goals, troop safety and whether recognition of the president should remain. The chair announced that an amendment removing presidential recognition failed 8 to 5, then declared the original resolution approved by voice vote.
Senate Public Safety Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee unanimously approved amended versions of HB 1191, concerning military specialty license plates, and HB 668, concerning service dogs, and sent both to the Senate Rules Committee. Members heard testimony on HB 1409, which would expand mandatory child-abuse reporting and update the reporting system, but held it for further changes and planned consideration Wednesday. The chair also referred HB 1465, HB 1201 and HB 967 to the First Responders Subcommittee for hearings.
House Health Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved two bills. SB 91 would restrict state health-plan contracts with pharmacy benefit managers that own retail pharmacies. Members amended two dates from 2025 to 2026 before approving it by voice vote. The committee also unanimously approved SB 439 as passed by the Senate after discussing disclosures, referral fees, competing referrals and enforcement for agencies helping families find senior living communities.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee recommended passage of six bills. It unanimously approved HB 1374, covering health provider payment methods and state contract renewals, HB 1278, concerning dental sedation permits, and HB 1329, updating drug laws. After debate over reporting requirements for privately funded homeless services, the committee approved HB 1396 by a 6-4 vote and rejected an amendment to apply it statewide. The committee unanimously approved HB 1238 after adding language about providing services in the least restrictive, most family-like setting possible. It also unanimously approved an amended substitute for HB 1097, concerning national background checks for people serving vulnerable populations.
Senate Finance Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate Finance Committee approved all five bills it considered. Members unanimously approved HB 874, concerning taxpayer phone-number privacy, HB 1261, allowing local inventory-tax exemptions for electric utilities, and HB 964, concerning tax exemptions for independently contracted fire departments. The committee approved HB 1077, extending an arts-admission sales-tax exemption, by an announced 8–2 vote. Members also approved a substitute for HB 328 expanding scholarship tax credits and eligibility, 8–3. Much of that discussion concerned whether the scholarship program should expire automatically in 2032. An amendment to remove that expiration failed, 5–6.
Senate Judiciary Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered seven bills and unanimously recommended all seven for passage. Members approved measures on certified court reporters for depositions, probate-court filing procedures, interstate travel for child exploitation, flood-history disclosures for home sales, benefits for injured law enforcement officers, notice of warrant application hearings and family cash bonds, and corrections to state law. The probate-filing, flood-disclosure and warrant-notice measures passed as committee substitutes. Discussion focused most heavily on whether requiring personal service of warrant hearing notices would burden local law enforcement. After the sponsor and legislative counsel said judges would retain flexibility to approve other delivery methods, the committee advanced that bill without another amendment.