House Rules Committee, March 16, 2026
Video: https://vimeo.com/1172584452 (a timestamp t plays at https://vimeo.com/1172584452#t=<seconds>s)
Page: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-rules

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.
[0:22:37] Morning, everybody.

[0:22:41] Come on in and have a seat. Glad all of you are here this morning. Weather's kind of iffy out there. I hope your day started off better than mine. I went down to get in my car and it wouldn't crank.

[0:22:51] Mm.

[0:22:52] So we found out the little key fob had a bad battery in it. Finally, we got it going and, and we're here. But I, I hope y'all are all doing okay and, uh, having a better morning start than I am.

[0:23:04] Better than yours.

[0:23:05] Bet some people would've came to pick you up. We, we might could've got a ride. Okay. Let's, uh, let's go ahead and call the meeting to order, and we're going to ask Dean Greene, if you would, to open us up with a word of prayer this morning.

[0:23:17] Let us pray. Father, as we approach the day of celebration for St. Patrick's, there was a s- story that is told in a song that was sung by people as they moved forward into battle, and it goes like this: I rise today through the strength of heaven, the light of the sun, the radiance of the moon, the splendor of fire, the speed of lightning, the swiftness of wind, the depth of the sea, the stability of the earth, the firmness of the rock.

[0:23:54] I rise today because of you. Father, let us remember those words. Let us go forth, oh Father, into the weeks that we have left to do the things that are good for this state. And Father, we thank you for the opportunity to come and to represent the people of this state. May God be with us each and every day, may God continue to bless this great state, and may God bless each and every one of us. In thy holy name we pray, amen.

[0:24:26] Thank you, Dean Greene. Appreciate that. Before we get started, I want to introduce some special guests that are visiting with us today in the back of the room back there, down in my area. Katie and Billy Blitchington and their son Andrew. They're from Scriven County. We're glad to have y'all here. And their daughter Mary Ann is gonna be paging with us in the s- in the House today. Thank y'all for being here this morning.

[0:24:51] Okay, let's go ahead and get started, and we'll hear from our guest over here on the... Senator, go ahead.

[0:24:58] Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm here today for Senate Bill 535, which is near the bottom of the back of your blue sheet. This is an agency bill for DBHDD, and it matches a House bill that y'all have already passed that's in one of our committees. And it's meant to strengthen and provide greater accountability for our community service boards around the state. There's broad agreement. The Association of Community Service Boards has also agreed to the bill, and I'd be happy to answer any questions.

[0:25:30] Okay. Don't see any questions on that.

[0:25:32] Thank you.

[0:25:32] Thank you, ma'am. Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman.

[0:25:40] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of committee. Uh, second page, very top of the page, SB293.

[0:25:49] And you, everybody will probably recognize 293 as the bill. We had a House bill, HB1267. Didn't, did not make it to the floor on crossover. Uh, SB293, the language from it last year got passed on a another bill when it combined some tag bills. Uh, so I was using this as a vehicle to put 1267 on with some changes. Uh, and the changes that we made, we, uh, leaving the, uh, used car board intact, uh, under the Secretary of State. We're not moving that.

[0:26:20] We're not creating an advisory council. So that stays intact. And with those changes, uh, I think the whip last time had a question about, uh, Giacada, the e-dealers, and they, uh, asked me if they would write a letter of support. And, uh, he told me that on the way out the other day. So that's what we're doing with the bill. So if we have any questions, I'll, I'll stand to answer them or ask for your favorable support.

[0:26:41] All right, sir. Don't, don't see any questions. Thank you.

[0:26:43] Thank you.

[0:26:44] Yes, sir, Senator.

[0:26:49] Good mor- morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Uh, page two, uh, five from the bottom is a license plate tag, um, bill that's dealing with, um ... Uh, number is 524, SB524. And what it deals with is two different tags that we're dealing with. One is for celebrating 250 years of, of, uh, history, which we are really the only nation to even come close to being under one document for 250 years. And I believe that we need to celebrate that because I believe that liberty and freedom is phenomenally important.

[0:27:22] The second is a, a tag honoring the Girl Scouts, which were founded here in Georgia, and to honor, honor them. And if you will, my assistant over here, I'll call him Vanna White. Uh, I'm kidding as far as that portion, but this is the tag we're, we're looking at for, uh, 250 years. And the other is for the Girl Scouts, and I'm proud of them that they kept Girl Scouts, G- Girl Scouts. I think that's a good thing. And that's the bill, sir.

[0:27:51] All right, sir. Don't see any questions. Thank you.

[0:27:53] Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

[0:27:56] Senator Byrd.

[0:28:00] Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members. I'm bringing forward Senate Bill 116, page one near the bottom. I think it's three or four from the bottom. What this bill does, if a individual is arrested for a misdemeanor or felony and is illegal, illegally in the state, that when ICE has a detainer placed on them, ICE has 48 hours to pick them up when they're, um, being released. If ICE does not pick them up, then we will take a DNA sample from that individual.

[0:28:32] Public safety bill, makes sure, um-

[0:28:34] Any past crimes that may be unfounded or any future crimes can be solved and help our citizens.

[0:28:40] Okay, got a question. Whip Park.

[0:28:43] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, Senator Bearden, um, if a United States citizen is charged with the exact same misdemeanor as someone subject to an immigration detainer, why does this bill require us to collect DNA from one and not the other? And, and specifically, what's, what's the constitutional basis for that distinction?

[0:29:01] Well, number one, DNA will be taken, will be taken from, by ICE if a individual's picked up, and since if they don't pick them up within that 48 hours, then we're just gonna make sure that we take the, the DNA. I believe it's, um, I remember the court case. I believe it was... I'll have to find that court case for you, but it was, uh, held constitutional and it also said DNA was, uh, minimal invasive. It was nothing more than an identifier, just like fingerprints or a mugshot.

[0:29:31] So I'm, I'm familiar with the case. This bill does go a little bit further. Um, have you obtained constitutional analysis from legislative counsel or the attorney's general's office regarding the equal protection question that I asked? And if not, you know, why, why should we be sending this unfounded, unfunded mandate to local folks, um, especially if they can, if they're unable to legally enforce it?

[0:29:52] I think the DNA swab's about $2 per shot, so we don't think it's a major issue. Talked to the legislative counsel in depth on this bill. We don't see any constitutionality problems with this bill.

[0:30:03] Thank you.

[0:30:04] Okay, have another question. Representative Evans.

[0:30:07] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Mr. Senator, all of this testing would take place in the detention center, is that right?

[0:30:15] Correct.

[0:30:16] So this would be before anybody goes before a judge?

[0:30:19] This would be once they're released. ICE has 48 hours to pick them up upon release, and we hold them for that 48 hours. And if ICE doesn't pick them up, then at that point we would get the DNA. So once we're done with the individual, that's when that 48 hours ki- kicks in.

[0:30:35] Before, before anybody sees a judge, though?

[0:30:37] Possibly.

[0:30:38] Um, w- what's the due process to ensure that you, that whoever is o- originally detaining this person, what's the due process for the person detained for them to potentially prove their citizenship? So ha- basically, how are we gonna ensure that we are not testing people that are actually citizens?

[0:30:58] At the same time, this relies heavily on, uh, ICE and the federal government saying that they're putting a detainer on that individual because they are illegal and they're going to start the process of deportation.

[0:31:08] But we're relying on the, on detention and not a judge to make the determination of citizenship, true?

[0:31:14] We're on the determination of ICE and their decision on putting a detainer on this individual for deportation.

[0:31:20] Thank you.

[0:31:21] Have another question. Leader Hugley.

[0:31:24] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Senator, what happens, uh, or how long will we maintain the DNA samples, and what happens if, if, uh, someone's DNA is taken and it should not have been? What happens with it?

[0:31:42] Well, it depends on, uh, what we're talking about. On individuals where they may be found guilty, there's a process for expungement of that DNA. But again, we're talking about someone here illegally in this country and, uh, that would be in our, in our database.

[0:31:58] So it will be main- it will be maintained indefinitely, is that what you're saying?

[0:32:03] Correct.

[0:32:04] It's just gonna stay in our database? Okay.

[0:32:08] Okay. Don't see any other questions. Thank you, sir.

[0:32:10] Thank you very much.

[0:32:14] President. Chairman, Representative Cheokas, go ahead.

[0:32:20] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I bring to you this morning, um, Senate Bill 523. It's on the second page, a little below the halfway mark. And this bill is similar to my House Bill 1363 that's gonna create a K through 12, um, coordinator for discrimination claims in our schools. Um, and I was very excited. Senator Goodman was more than happy to accept the language that our Higher Ed Committee perfected. So it did, um, pass the Higher Ed Committee unanimously twice.

[0:32:52] Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you.

[0:32:54] Thank you so much.

[0:32:56] Mr. Pro Tem Walker, glad to have you with us today.

[0:33:00] Good morning, Chairman. Good morning, friends. Hope y'all are well today. Um, I want to present Senate Bill 432. It'll, it's, allows the university system of Georgia and the technical college system of Georgia to carry forward some of their funds. It's considered strategic reserves. This was first, uh, established in 2003. Uh, it's, and it's been renewed, I think, six times. Uh, this bill simply extends the sunset on that practice for another five years, and I'm happy to answer any questions if there are any, Mr.

[0:33:38] Chairman.

[0:33:40] Thank you, Senator. I don't see any questions. Thank you.

[0:33:42] Thank you.

[0:33:45] Senator Watson.

[0:33:49] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, members of the committee, I bring to you Senate Bill 551. It's on your back page, uh, third from the bottom. Uh, this is, uh, repealing our state's egg handling law. It's a age-old art, uh, that our Department of Agriculture oversees. Uh, it is not a food safety issue. It's more of a grading thing that, that people do back home, and it does not affect any of our commercial production. This is only for our backyard, uh, small operators, and that's what the bill does. Be glad to take any questions if there are any.

[0:34:20] Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you, sir.

[0:34:22] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee.

[0:34:24] Yes, sir, Senator Meeks.

[0:34:28] Thank you, sir. I have a couple on your list this morning, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. If you look on the back page, the second one up, Senate Bill 555, this allows spouses of veterans to be admitted to the Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville. It does not displace any veteran. This is, uh, the spouse would be admitted to the same room as the veteran. Be glad to answer any questions. Okay, don't see any questions.

[0:34:58] You have another one too, you say? Uh, yes, so seven, uh, seven up from the bottom is, um, Senate Bill 454. This is a something to go into schools, even into kindergarten daycare centers. When we carry our children to school, we expect and want them to come home safe. This is a little safety, uh, issue, a little door blocking mechanism that can be utilized. It is approved by the fire marshal, it is ADA compliant, and also there's a lock box on the outside of the school that, uh, i- was added to this bill that lets first responders know how to get into the school, and it's a key so they can open up and get in if there's a school lockdown, if there's a shooting.

[0:35:51] Okay. Pro Tem. Thank you. I, I had a question, Senator. On the first part of the bill, are there multiple providers, or is this for one provider? It's multiple providers. Yes, ma'am, it's not restricted to just one provider. And what happens is any of this equipment that is utilized, first responders, your police, ambulance, fire, they're all briefed. And so they actually have drills, and they know what equipment's in that school.

[0:36:26] Thank you. Okay. Don't see any other questions. Thank you, sir. Okay, on the first page, second one up, Senate Bill 146. This is a cemetery preservation law. This, uh, kind of puts some more guardrails up for people destroying cemeteries, um, and it also gives a statewide basis on how to, uh, develop a private cemetery on your own property.

[0:36:59] This is something that a lot of counties have not dealt with, and us funeral homes wind up getting called trying to walk the county officials through allowing people to set up a cemetery.

[0:37:15] Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you, sir. Okay, the sixth one up on the first sheet is Senate Bill 29. You've been busy. Yes, sir.

[0:37:25] Uh, this is a DNA sampling bill. This bill calls for DNA swabbing of people arrested on one of the seven deadly sins, and this has be- vetted and passed through the Senate, gone through, um, uh, a lot of vetting over in public safety here in the House, and been some changes to the bill. But this, um, not only can prove innocence, it can prove guilt, and there's been, um, like the Tara, uh, Tara Baker, uh, cold case that was solved out of Athens, uh, from DNA, and, um, this goes to the CODIS, the national database.

[0:38:07] The kits are $1.44 each. They'd be furnished by the state, postage paid, um, and be glad to answer any questions. Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you, sir. Good. Thank you, sir.

[0:38:22] Chairman Meeks.

[0:38:26] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I bring to you Senate Bill 435. It's on the, uh, back page about middle ways down. It's a, it's a, uh, department bill just clarifying that the Georgia Development Authority is actually the Georgia Agriculture Development Authority. I believe there was some confusion, uh, from among the constituency across the state in calling the Department of Ag Ge- Georgia Development Authority when they actually intended to call, uh, Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority. So this is a department bill that changes the name, Mr. Chairman. Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee.

[0:38:57] Okay. Any members of the committee?

[0:39:02] Okay. We'll do a little housekeeping here, recognize Chairman Hawkins m- from- Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, make a motion to remit, recommit Senate Bill 411 back to the Health Committee. Okay, we have a motion to recommit Senate Bill 411 back to Rules. Is there any objection? Back to Health. Back to Health. I'm sorry. Back to Health. Excuse me. Any objections? It's, it's back in Health. Thank you.

[0:39:34] Okay. Wanna call on Representative Kelley to speak to the sub to Senate Bill 177. Thank you.

[0:39:46] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I have a Rules Committee substitute to Senate Bill 177, LC474227S. Two simple changes. One, on line 50, we have inserted the words contribution or donation, uh, to make clear we're talking about, uh, campaign contributions or donations that could be made by foreign adversaries. And then second, on line 60, we changed, uh, how we, uh, instead of defining, uh, the hostile foreign countries by naming them, we're actually, uh, taking an approach we've done previously, which is referencing, uh, a CFR tied to the United States Secretary of Commerce so that, uh, as the geopolitical dynamics change across the world and in our country, uh, then it'll allow the legislation to be fluid as well.

[0:40:39] Those are the two changes. Okay. We've got a question. Whip Park has a question. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, Representative Kelley, um, can you speak to the concerns regarding the constitutionality of this bill, particularly First Amendment rights? I think we've seen this legislation vetted in, uh, previous ways before, and I know we've debated as we've presented this previously. Uh, but I do feel confident in the constitutional, uh, the constitutional grounds of which this stands. I think we all should, uh, want to keep our foreign interference out of our elections, especially our hostile governments.

[0:41:11] Thank you.

[0:41:12] Okay. You've heard the explanation. Is there a motion to approve the substitute? So moved. Second. I have a motion and second. Is there any objection? Okay, it's approved. Okay, now, let's set us a calendar for today. Be day 32 under modified structure. Senate Bill 160. Moved. Second. A move and second. Is there any opposition? It's on. Senate Bill 177 by Substitute LC 47 4227S.

[0:41:48] Moved. Second. Have a move and a second. Any opposition? Objection. Have an objection. All those in favor say aye.

[0:41:56] Aye.

[0:41:56] Those opposed, no.

[0:41:58] No.

[0:41:58] It carries. Senate Bill 432. Moved. Second. Moved and second. Any opposition? It's on. Senate Bill 435. Moved. Second. Moved and second. Any opposition? It's on. Senate Bill 524. Moved. Second. Moved and second. Any opposition? It's on. Senate Bill 535.

[0:42:29] Moved. Second. Move and second. It's on. Okay, that's our calendar for today. Just in the way of announcements, uh, we'll have a Rules Standing Committee meeting tomorrow at 11:00, and then the Committee on Rules will meet tomorrow at 11:30. You'll be getting an email on that. Just watch your emails. And tomorrow's a committee day, so we'll start at 11:00, and then meet again at 11:30. Thank you, all. We're dismissed.