Senate Rules Committee, March 18, 2026 Video: https://vimeo.com/1174769879 (a timestamp t plays at https://vimeo.com/1174769879#t=s) Page: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-18/senate-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. [0:04:12] First order of business. [0:04:18] My vice chairman would like to- [0:04:21] Make a motion to send HB 445 and HB 485 to standing rules. [0:04:28] All right. We're gonna refer- [0:04:30] Refer [0:04:31] ... for... He... The motion is to refer HB 445 and HB 485 to standing rules committee. [0:04:40] Second. [0:04:41] Got a second from Senator Jackson. Is there any further discussion? [0:04:48] THC one. [0:04:48] Doesn't have anything to do with THC. [0:04:52] Yeah. [0:04:52] Yet. That's funny. All right. All in favor say, "I." [0:04:57] I. [0:04:57] All opposed say, "Nay." Motion carries unanimous. All right. On to [0:05:05] the rules consideration calendar. All right. Representative Donatuchi, Goochie, Tucci. How do you say it? [0:05:19] Donatuchi. [0:05:19] Donatuchi. [0:05:20] Donna. [0:05:21] Donna. Yeah. Can I just call you Donna? [0:05:23] Y- well, Sandy. [0:05:26] I like Donna. All right. I'm kidding. Let's go. What you got? [0:05:30] Okay. So this is HB 1030. Three parts. Guaranteed access for- [0:05:34] Okay [0:05:34] ... sixth through 10th grade, automatic enrollment if they're distinguished, 60 minutes for, of math for fourth and fifth graders, and improving training for future teachers in math. [0:05:43] All right. Any questions? [0:05:45] Bill number is that? [0:05:46] 1030. [0:05:47] 1030. [0:05:48] 1030. [0:05:49] Thank you, Sandy. [0:05:50] At least you had an excuse for asking this time. All right. No questions. Representative Donatuchi, you're good. Unless you just wanna say something else. All right. Madam Speaker Pro Tem. [0:06:05] Well, thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. I've got HB 1293, which takes an existing program offered by technical colleges. It's a specialized program to help 18 to 22-year-olds, primarily, uh, to complete their high school degree and receive two certifications or a technical college diploma. This makes it permanent. It's only in five locations, and it allows it to become statewide. [0:06:35] Okay. Any questions? [0:06:36] Mr. Chairman. [0:06:37] We do have a question. Senator Rhett. [0:06:38] Is that like a dual enrollment? [0:06:40] Yes, and it's- [0:06:41] Into your microphone, please [0:06:41] ... I, actually, the name's a little confusing. It's dual enrollment for, um... But at a technical college, and it's not, it's not really directed at high school students as much as it is 18 to 22-year-olds who dropped out. [0:06:59] Thank you. [0:07:00] Yes. [0:07:00] Thank you. [0:07:02] Would you like to cover your other one as well? [0:07:06] 1123. [0:07:08] 1123 is... Where is that? [0:07:10] It's right. [0:07:10] Top of... [0:07:11] Uh, 1123. [0:07:14] Huh? [0:07:14] Uh, yes, sir. I, um, I thought I'd done this one before- [0:07:17] Oh, first one on the back of pins [0:07:17] ... but I might not have. This one, um, requires public schools to offer after school services that are paid for by parents to pre-K students, if they offer pre-K- [0:07:31] Ah [0:07:31] ... on the same basis that they make it available to K through five students. [0:07:35] I used to have my kids in the after school program. [0:07:38] Yes. It helps working parents. [0:07:39] 'Cause we couldn't pick them up on time. [0:07:40] That's right. [0:07:40] So that's a good, good program. I, I like that. Good bill. [0:07:46] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [0:07:47] Thank you. [0:07:48] Any questions? [0:07:50] No questions. [0:07:51] Thank you. [0:07:52] Mr. Chairman. [0:07:52] Yes. [0:07:53] That's after school, right? [0:07:55] It's after school. [0:07:56] Okay. [0:07:56] And so not all schools offer pre-K, not all schools offer after school services, but if they offer both, then they would have to make the after school services available to the pre-K. [0:08:06] Is this program for senators or the children? [0:08:11] It might be more fun than spending all day in session like y'all did. Might be more rewarding. [0:08:17] Passing y'all's bills. [0:08:19] Thank you, sir. [0:08:19] And mine. [0:08:21] That's right. [0:08:21] All right. Thank you. Representative Rice, how are you today? [0:08:24] Doing great. Thank you. Thank you, committee. This is House Bill 1107, strengthens education preparation provider programs in Georgia. This, uh, bill was worked in collaboration with USG, the Professional Standards Commission, and the Governor's Office of Student Achievement- [0:08:40] 1107 [0:08:40] ... collaborative work together to make sure our teachers are prepared- [0:08:43] Final numbers [0:08:43] ... on day one in the classroom. And with that, I'll take any questions. [0:08:47] Move for approval. [0:08:49] Any questions? No questions. All right. [0:08:51] Thank you. [0:08:52] Representative Stevens. [0:08:56] Thank you, Chairman Ray. [0:08:58] Thank you. [0:08:58] Thank you, Chairman, members of the committee. House Bill, uh, 519 on your first sheet, uh, is a welfare to work bill that, specifically for those folks that it's really hard to get them a job, whether it's disabled vet- veterans, uh, and others in that particular category. Uh, this one provides a $500 tax credit to the employers for taking a chance on these folks and getting them to work. Limit, 10 million per year. Expires December 31st of '30, and this will save about $17,700 net per job. [0:09:34] It must be a good bill to get a tax credit bill out of finance- [0:09:38] Good bill [0:09:38] ... and the Senate. [0:09:39] Yes, sir. [0:09:40] I'll second. [0:09:42] All right. [0:09:43] Thank you, Chairman. [0:09:43] No questions. Representative Martin, how are you today? [0:09:49] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm back to, uh, talk to you again about the Next Generation 911 bill your office emailed, said it was an emergency. So I was, uh- [0:09:57] Oh [0:09:57] ... bringing you an emergency, uh, Next Generation 911 bill. We went over- [0:10:01] And- [0:10:01] ... this the other day. This creates a, a dedicated fund if the voters- [0:10:04] HR 1243 [0:10:05] ... I'm sorry, HR 1243, bottom of the back page. [0:10:07] Last in page. Last on the second page. [0:10:09] Yes, sir. You'd think I would've gotten that after this long HR 1243. But it's the, the 911 constitutional amendment, uh, unanimous in the House, and I hope we can move that forward and keep this on track for the folks of Georgia. Any questions- [0:10:22] Feeling good about it. [0:10:23] I- [0:10:23] Feeling good about it. It's a hint. [0:10:25] Thank you, Mr. Chair- Chairman. [0:10:27] All right. Representative Newton. [0:10:32] Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, members. It's House Resolution 251. It's on the yellow sheet, last page, next to the last. This resolution is a constitutional amendment that would ensure all probate judges are elected in nonpartisan elections. It also includes p- a plan for this change to be approved or rejected by the citizens of Georgia by putting it on the ballot for them to decide in November. This resolution's brought to us by the Council of Probate Court Judges, the Council of Magistrate Court Judges, the Judicial Council of Georgia. We also have two amazing Georgia leaders who are also in support, which is former Georgia governors Nathan Deal and Roy Barnes, and that is the bill. [0:11:10] All right. Senator Rhett. [0:11:14] That's statewide? [0:11:16] Yes, sir. [0:11:17] Yes, all our laws are. [0:11:19] Sorry. Thank you. [0:11:19] Unless it's local. [0:11:23] I'll remind you, we had a DA bill that was not. [0:11:27] True that. Touche. All right. Well, this one is. [0:11:32] Yes. [0:11:33] All right. Thank you. [0:11:34] Thank you. [0:11:35] All right. Representative Chastain, how are you? [0:11:38] I'm good. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for having me back. I have HB 1086, the bottom of the first page. I think it's maybe one from the bottom. A firefighter safety bill passed through Chairman Albers', uh, committee last week. Uh, requires a, uh, s- 8-inch Maltese cross in a visible place, uh, located for a f- a first responder or fireman to be able to see that, uh, and make sure that they're going into a building that has, that's built out of the light gauge trusses, uh, metal or wood. And it'd just let the fireman or the first responder know that that building is built out of those trusses and that those trusses are known to fail quicker than a regular solid truss. [0:12:13] Okay. Would think that'd be good information to have. Okay, any questions? No questions. [0:12:19] Thank you. [0:12:20] Thank you. Representative Franklin, how are you? [0:12:24] I'm great, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. I've, again, I have two bills in your committee. The, they're both on the first page. Uh, the first one, um, if you look, um, five down, is Hou- House Bill 165. And, uh, that's a expanded tax, um, exemption for manufactured homes. Right now, currently, the state gives one of 50% of the sales price for these homes, and this bill would just expand that to your local, um, sales tax. And that's what that bill does. [0:12:50] Another tax credit bill out of Finance. Chairman Hufstetler, were you out that week or something? [0:12:58] I think Albers has been out. [0:13:05] All right. Well, did you cover your other one? [0:13:08] Uh, the other one's House Bill 77, and, uh, that's the funeral, uh, procession bill. And, uh, that just requires, uh, on, on, uh, county roads for, uh, people to pull over on the side of the road while the procession passes them by. [0:13:20] Okay. [0:13:21] I think we're sure some low numbers. [0:13:24] Yeah, I think they've been here a little bit. [0:13:25] Yes, sir. [0:13:27] But that's okay. Work the committee. [0:13:29] Yes, sir. [0:13:29] Don't forget. [0:13:30] Yes, sir. [0:13:31] We do things the old-fashioned way around here. You gotta face to face, go explain your bill. [0:13:36] Gotcha. Thank you, sir. [0:13:37] That's how you get off this yellow sheet and onto the floor, and I mean that. Representative King, how are you? [0:13:45] Hi. Thank you. I'm well. And if I could just give a plug- [0:13:47] You're not well, nice [0:13:48] ... for House Bill 165 that Lehman Franklin just mentioned. Uh, the original language was in my House Bill 134, which passed out of the Senate Finance last year. [0:13:57] Mm. [0:13:57] And I mentioned to you in rules. [0:13:59] Mm. [0:13:59] So it's made a miraculous reappearance. [0:14:01] Oh. [0:14:02] Thank you. But I- [0:14:03] You're welcome. [0:14:03] Thank you. I appreciate it. Um, but I'm here for a House bill today, House Bill 1408. Um, and I was here just the other day talking about veterinarian techs would be allowed to administer anti-rabies vaccines. Right now in the State of Georgia, only veterinarians are allowed legally to give anti-rabies vaccines. [0:14:25] I got some heads popping up. We got questions? [0:14:27] We do. [0:14:32] Mr. Chairman, I'm sure you'll come up with a way where everybody will be able to give them. [0:14:38] So funny. [0:14:39] Which might not be a bad idea. [0:14:41] So funny. I'm just glad you finally said that with a smile. [0:14:49] But your face was still red. [0:14:51] It is. [0:14:53] Senator Kirkpatrick, I think- Repre- ... has a real question. Yeah. Representative, isn't it true that this is under supervision? [0:14:59] Yes. The, the veterinarian has to be on site when the veterinarian techs are administering the anti-rabies vaccines. Thank you for that question. [0:15:07] Great question, for once out of this committee. All right. No more questions. Thank you. [0:15:14] Thank you so much. [0:15:15] All right. Representative Ballard, how are you? [0:15:19] I'm doing fine, Mr. Chairman. It's good to see y'all again. I have, um, House Bill 1181 that will cut red tape, uh, for Georgia citizens, and it will allow a decedent's car title to come directly from the state where the estate is domiciled to the relative living in Georgia without the extra step of getting it titled in the executor's state. [0:15:43] Good bill. [0:15:43] It passed- [0:15:44] Senator Albers says- [0:15:45] ... unanimously- [0:15:45] ... good bill [0:15:45] ... out of both House and Senate committees. [0:15:48] And you know what that means. [0:15:50] Nothing. [0:15:51] Nothing. [0:15:53] But we're cheering for you. [0:15:55] Well, thank you. [0:15:56] Any- You got another one? [0:15:59] I do not have another one. [0:16:00] Okay. I'm just kidding. Well, I go back and look at all the reports. So, um, all right. Well, thank you. [0:16:06] Thank you. [0:16:07] Uh, do you read the journal first or do you- [0:16:09] Uh, I usually go journal, then I look at vote counts right after that, so. Representative Lambert, how are you, sir? [0:16:16] Fine, Mr. Chairman. Good to be with you this afternoon. I was asked to come back and represent House Bill 1195, which is the bill, it's fourth from the top of the second page. [0:16:24] Well, in fairness, hold on, you're given the option to come back. [0:16:27] I was. Okay. [0:16:27] You don't have to. Yeah. [0:16:28] Well, I'll- [0:16:29] So- [0:16:29] I'm delighted to if the, if the committee has any questions [0:16:31] I might ask you two hours of questions on this, too. [0:16:34] Um, I understand, Mr. Chairman. That is a risk, but I just... in case someone had questions, I wanted to be here to answer them. [0:16:39] No. [0:16:39] It's a bill that will allow the [0:16:40] I'm glad you came back [0:16:41] ... engineering and boards of control. Um- [0:16:43] The more you come back, the harder it gets to say no, so [0:16:47] That's fine. Thank you so much, I appreciate it. [0:16:49] For some, anyway. All right. Representative Reeves, how are you, sir? [0:16:54] Good, Chairman Brass. If I'm not on the yellow sheet, can I request or do I need to wait? [0:16:57] You can... where, where's the bill now? [0:16:59] House Bill 1254 that's passed out of Regulated Industries yesterday. It's professional licensing reform. [0:17:04] So just, just so you understand the, um, system in the Senate, so it would've been reported out of committee today. It'll be second read tomorrow, so that would be the earliest you would... it could be available. [0:17:16] Thank you. [0:17:17] But- [0:17:17] I'll be back tomorrow. [0:17:18] All right. [0:17:18] Thank you. [0:17:19] What I didn't say is it's gonna make it on the yellow sheet. I just said that it's earliest- [0:17:22] All right. If it's on the yellow sheet, I'll just be here Friday [0:17:22] We will notify you when it's ready. [0:17:25] Thank you. [0:17:26] How about that? [0:17:26] All right. [0:17:27] Thank you. [0:17:29] Okay. [0:17:29] All right. Representative Taylor, how are you today? [0:17:33] I am wonderful. I'm happy to be here. Um- [0:17:35] We're happy to have you. [0:17:36] This is a bill I have presented once already. It's House Bill 1234. [0:17:41] I like it. [0:17:41] Halfway down the back page. Do you wanna hear it again? It's a wonderful bill. [0:17:45] Let's say committee. I think we're good. It's up to you. If you're here, if you'd like to- [0:17:52] I'm, I'm here. It... this has to do with funeral- [0:17:53] Chance to sell it [0:17:54] It's, um, a great bill. It has to do with our retirees' life insurance programs. For some reason they were not allowed to assign it to the funeral homes, and this bill will allow them to assign it like most insurance products are, so that our retirees can have their funerals paid for. It's a great bill and, um, Senator Williams is gonna carry it. [0:18:13] Okay. [0:18:14] As soon as you guys let it out. [0:18:15] I'm shocked. [0:18:17] I, I do have a couple other- [0:18:18] For 40 years I've been working on the other end of this. [0:18:24] I mean, will this be the first funeral home bill you've, you've been carrying, Senator Williams? Today or tomorrow or whenever? Okay. Any questions? All right, thank you. [0:18:37] Thank you. I'll be back. I have a couple more, but I'll wait. Thank you. [0:18:40] Okay. Sounds good. Representative Sea Bill. [0:18:46] Hello, my friends. [0:18:47] You're gonna get frequent flyer miles, too. [0:18:49] I know. Thank you very much. Um- [0:18:51] You don't have to come, but it's always- [0:18:54] But I- [0:18:54] Like I said, it's- [0:18:55] I like to see y'all and I appreciate the opportunity [0:18:57] We, we like seeing you, too [0:18:58] ... um, ask for your favorable consideration to House Bill 61. This bill, uh, closes loopholes in the current squatter laws, and it punishes criminals that are taking advantage of the property owners while protecting vulnerable families that re- rely on temporary housing in hotels, and I hope you'll give that full consideration. I also have House Bill- [0:19:21] That's 61 [0:19:21] ... 549 that amends the current law for reimbursing law enforcement agencies for training costs when officers transfer employment within 36 months, or three years. [0:19:33] Mm-hmm. [0:19:34] Ask for your favorable consideration. [0:19:37] Any questions? Hearing none. Thank you. [0:19:41] Thank you much. [0:19:43] That sure is the squatter bill. [0:19:44] I believe so. Senator Dickerson, did you have anything? [0:19:48] I can speak on behalf of, uh, Representative Jordan Ridley, HB 163. [0:19:52] By all means. [0:19:56] He should give a invest impression. [0:20:00] He's good. [0:20:00] Yeah. [0:20:01] What's the bill number? [0:20:02] Uh, it should be HB 163. [0:20:05] All right. If you're going... yeah, we're gonna need you to do this in, um, Representative Ridley's voice. [0:20:11] I'm not sure, but, well, I would assume since I am from Cherokee County, our voice is probably fairly country. It's probably fairly similar. [0:20:17] All you gotta do is yell real loud and country. [0:20:19] Oh, okay. [0:20:20] Go ahead. [0:20:21] Uh, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, just wanted to, uh, bring forth, uh, HB 163. Uh, as a reminder, this just deals with food, uh, establishments or restaurants, just, uh, if they're selling, uh, lab-created meat or, uh, more specifically, uh, cell-cultured meat, that they have to notate that on their menu, both paper menu and digital. [0:20:43] Any questions? Senator Rhett, did you have a question? Like, a legit question? No. I did, but I- But you forgot it? Yes. Okay. All right. No more questions? [0:20:54] All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [0:20:57] Senator McNeel, did you have anything? I have nothing. You're just here? I'm just- You didn't have anything else to do? That's right. Okay. We can change that. All right. Let's, uh... SR 610, we've heard Senate Study Committee on Recycling. Good bill. HB 986 would be a really fun bill, raising the speed limit for those little delivery things. I think I'd like to do a little floor amendment and let's take it up to, like, 70. [0:21:36] Um- [0:21:37] That'd be done [0:21:38] ... that'd be a great bill for more. Just... Oh, Senator Walker. Our present pro tem. [0:21:45] I do think House Bill 986 is probably good, but I'm worried that it's gonna birth a, a new industry for, um, speed zone cameras for these things. [0:21:56] Ooh, ooh. Let's not talk about that. TTSD. All right, uh, HB 1164. That's Representative Wade's bill. We've heard from... Well... [0:22:19] Order HB1202. Yes, Senator Albers, you're carrying that for Representative Corbett. That's literally like two-digit scrivener error that there was a mistake last year. No change. I've never seen scrivener's error in the title, so- I know ... that's kind of cool. We'll adjust it. [0:22:37] Great scrivener. [0:22:38] Thank you. All right, HB1284, that's Representative Silcox's education bill about high school diplomas to, um, children in, with end of life. And HB1295, Representative Cooper's physician assistance compact, licensure compact. And HB1391, that's our public safety officer's license plates. [0:23:12] A- and that's all of them. Covering them all. All right, let's pick a few. I've got, [0:23:24] I've got some ding-dings today. So did she pick last time? [0:23:36] Senator Jackson, did you pick last time? [0:23:38] I did. [0:23:38] I thought so. That's right. You get a ding-ding for being honest. Pick again. [0:23:50] Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I didn't come prepared, though, but, um, so let's do, uh, let's do something good for the animals. HB1195. [0:24:00] 1195 for our vet techs. Okay. [0:24:09] All right. Senator Dolezal. [0:24:12] Let's go, uh, HB986. [0:24:18] 986. I love it. I love it. Late arriving amendment. Senator Rhett. [0:24:30] Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh- [0:24:34] Ooh, that reminds me, I left my belt on the, on the floor by my desk. [0:24:39] Since it's coming near the end of her tenure- [0:24:42] Uh-huh. I know where you're going [0:24:44] ... Pro Tem, I would like to choose... Let me see. [0:24:50] Something. [0:24:52] That's not- [0:24:54] Top of the page on the back, 1123. [0:24:58] 1123. Okay. [0:25:05] Senator Kirkpatrick. [0:25:07] Thank you, Mr. Chair. House Resolution 251. [0:25:11] House Resolution 251. You get another one. Take it now if you want or you can save it. [0:25:20] I'll take it right now. House Bill 1408. [0:25:24] 1408. [0:25:27] Yeah, right. [0:25:29] Well, we got all kinds of vet bills. Be a good day for vets. All right, so we got 1408. What was the first one? [0:25:37] Uh, 251. [0:25:38] Yeah, 251. [0:25:44] All right. Senator Anderson. [0:25:47] Let's go with, uh, [0:25:51] House Bill 165. [0:25:55] 165. [0:25:57] I'll make a phone note of that. [0:26:01] Sure. [0:26:02] I appreciate you picking that, and I appreciate, uh, Representative Franklin asking for that bill and then bragging about getting out of finance, but he didn't mention that we completely gutted his bill and put a whole new bill in, and that's what passed out. [0:26:23] Details, details. [0:26:25] I wouldn't have touched it. [0:26:26] All right. We're at six. All right, I'm gonna put on some... and we're gonna call it a day. Let's do HB1293, HB1391, and HR124123... or wait, no, no, that's 1243. I thought I had 1234, but I don't. [0:26:51] 11. [0:26:51] Tell you what, since I said it, 1234, put it on there as well. [0:26:55] All right. HB1234. Thank you. [0:26:57] You got it. All right, so that gives... Oh, that's more than I was supposed to do. Oops. All right, HB165, HB986, HB1123, HB1195, HB1234, HB1293, HB1391, HB1408, HR251, and HR1243. [0:27:25] Senator. [0:27:26] Got a motion from Senator Albers. [0:27:28] Second. [0:27:29] Got a second from Senator Williams. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. [0:27:36] Aye. [0:27:37] All opposed say nay. Motion carries unanimous. Y'all take some naps and get to committee. Meeting adjourned.