---
title: Georgia House and Senate meetings on March 19, 2026
collection: meetings
id: meetings:day:2026-03-19
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19.md
date: 2026-10-23
status: active
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.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-18.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-20.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md
date: 2026-03-19
count: 17
---

# Georgia House and Senate meetings on March 19, 2026

## Senate Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

1 h 11 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174982597. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/senate-rules.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard brief requests to schedule bills on education, taxes, health care, veterans, licensing and other subjects. Members unanimously approved a 16-measure floor calendar. In separate committee business, members unanimously approved a prison education study committee resolution, a resolution honoring Bangladeshi peacekeepers, and a substitute for HB 445 that added public water and sewer systems to a public utility definition. Members questioned trout-stream buffer changes in HB 485. The chair postponed action on that bill until the next day so legislative counsel and the original sponsor could help explain the changes.

## House Natural Resources & Environment Committee, March 19, 2026

37 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174908113. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-natural-resources-and-environment.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved SB 478 after discussing a change that would lower the share of money going into the outdoor stewardship fund from 80% to 60%. Members also reviewed a revised version of SB 447, covering local reviews of land-disturbance permits. Questions focused on review deadlines, application-fee refunds, website requirements and which projects would be covered. The committee approved that bill with two members opposed. Neither vote included a full numerical tally.

## House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 19, 2026

25 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174915915. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-judiciary-non-civil.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved all five bills it took up. Discussion of SB 268 focused on protections for first responders, First Amendment concerns and adding step-grandparents to incest laws. The committee amended SB 499 to create a felony offense for certain silencer possession, then approved it despite a member's objections about public safety and the difficulty of proving the offense. The committee also approved SB 27, SB 443 and SB 587 without further substantive discussion. The chair noted one opposing vote on SB 443.

## House Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

1 h 08 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174877335. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-rules.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard presentations on education, health care, retirement, elections, taxes, business regulation and other subjects. It placed nine bills on the calendar for Legislative Day 34: SB 216, SB 439, SB 444, SB 452, SB 470, SB 489, SB 553, SB 570 and SB 285. It also placed SR 23, concerning a convention to propose congressional term limits, on the calendar for Legislative Day 35 after a voice vote with opposition. The committee sent SB 552, concerning student access to political and religious extracurricular organizations, back to the Judiciary Committee. No calendar decisions were announced for the other measures presented.

## House floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34)

2 h 48 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174850514. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-floor.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed nine Senate bills covering trade licensing, retirement benefits, senior-living referrals, signal jammers, human review of insurance denials, and human-trafficking training. It also passed HB 1339 on the local calendar, 130 to 30, and moved SB 21 to a different committee without objection. Members heard first and second readings and committee reports on other measures, adopted a group of honorary resolutions, recognized visiting organizations and students, and heard farewell remarks from a retiring member. Members also observed moments of silence for victims of a shooting at a veterans clinic and for a firefighter who died after an on-duty medical emergency. The House adjourned until March 20 at 10 a.m.

## Senate floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34)

4 h 46 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174918571. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/senate-floor.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed measures on education, public safety license plates, manufactured-home taxes, delivery robots, veterinary care and funeral insurance payments. Senators also agreed 51-0 to changes to HB 1199, including a 60-day motor-fuel tax suspension, and ordered immediate transmission to the House. Two proposed constitutional amendments, HR 251 on nonpartisan probate judge elections and HR 1243 on a dedicated 911 fund, failed to reach the required two-thirds majority. Supporters gave notice they would seek reconsideration. Debate on both centered partly on minority-party requests for negotiation and compromise. The Senate moved HB 960 to Ethics and HB 1193 to Appropriations, heard bill readings and committee reports, and approved an unnamed local consent calendar 49-0. The session also included community recognitions before adjournment until the next morning.

## House Education Committee, March 19, 2026

53 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174883290. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-education.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved a substitute version of SB 369, a charter-school package that included changes concerning completion schools and extracurricular participation. The chair removed SB 431 from the agenda for further work. The committee also heard SB 513, which would address chronic absenteeism through attendance review teams and restrictions on activities and access to new driver's licenses or permits. Members questioned whether those restrictions could discourage attendance or create administrative problems. A Department of Driver Services witness raised concerns about delays and documentation requirements. The chair made that bill hearing-only, with no vote, and asked members to work with the sponsor on revisions for Monday's meeting.

## House Judiciary Committee, March 19, 2026

2 h 31 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175140125. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-judiciary.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved SB 406 with changes to owners’ association rules, including notice requirements drawn from HB 1221, longer foreclosure notice and clearer financial-record requirements. The committee also approved SB 542, which the sponsor said would address sexual exploitation by clergy. After hearing from survivors, advocates and other witnesses, members revised the clergy definition and extended the time allowed to bring charges. Both measures passed by voice vote with no opposition heard. The committee discussed a revised SB 403 concerning unclaimed property, cryptocurrency and returning money to owners. Members questioned its implementation and provisions ending some owners’ claims. No member moved to advance it, and the chair declared that it failed.

## House Ways & Means Committee, March 19, 2026

31 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174905235. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-ways-and-means.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved a substitute for SB 306 concerning notices and refunds tied to expiring conservation-use property tax agreements. It also approved SB 446, which the presenter said would automatically enroll Georgia each year in a federal education tax credit program. Opposition was heard on that voice vote, but no count was announced. The chair held SB 382, concerning a statewide homestead exemption requirement, because intended exemption language was missing from the substitute. The chair said the committee would meet again after the language was updated.

## House Transportation Committee, March 19, 2026

1 h 46 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175224011. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-transportation.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard a Georgia Department of Transportation freight-planning report tied to HB 617 and an update on federally supported electric-vehicle charging stations. The planning director discussed freight projects, road maintenance, congestion, truck parking and rising construction costs. Members requested more information about crash responsibility, local project schedules and Georgia-specific construction costs. The deputy chief engineer said five charging sites were underway, with two expected to open within 30 days, and another 26 sites had been authorized after a federal pause. Members asked about charger locations, reliability, costs and future use of remaining funds. No bill amendments or votes occurred. The chair announced a future road-naming meeting and adjourned after the presentations.

## House Public and Community Health Committee, March 19, 2026

50 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174137824. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-public-and-community-health.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee revisited SB 440 to consider revised language allowing adults to obtain human-use ivermectin without a prescription through a pharmacist. Discussion focused on whether pharmacist counseling would reduce use of veterinary products, safety concerns, and the lack of data supporting the change. Members rejected an effort to remove the provision and a motion to table, then approved adding the revised provision. The chair said the bill had already passed out of committee and adjourned without another vote on the full bill. No vote counts were announced.

## House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee, March 19, 2026

1 h 32 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174511609. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/house-technology-and-infrastructure-innovation.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard three measures: HR 1670, encouraging voluntary community food-sharing programs; SB 418, addressing unauthorized sexualized images of individuals; and SB 540, setting safety requirements for conversational AI services. Members questioned how the image measure would interact with criminal laws and whether individuals should be allowed to sue. Discussion of the AI measure focused on disclosures, age checks, covered services, enforcement standards and penalties. Witnesses supported both protection measures, while OpenAI requested stronger AI safeguards. The chair said members would work with the sponsors on possible changes. No amendments or votes were recorded before adjournment.

## Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 19, 2026

1 h 14 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174948653. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/senate-education-and-youth.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved four bills: HB 1220 on scholarship eligibility, HB 1114 on digital and financial literacy instruction, HB 451 on religious instruction during school release time, and HB 634 on administration of the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. The vote on HB 1220 was 5 to 4. Members raised concerns about private-school access, younger students’ instructional time, teacher workloads, and rules for religious classes on school property. The Senate sponsor of HB 451 committed to reviewing the school-property language with legislative counsel before floor consideration. No exact vote totals were stated for the other three bills.

## Senate Judiciary Committee, March 19, 2026

1 h 05 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1174964161. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/senate-judiciary.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee took up eight bills and recommended all eight for passage. It unanimously approved HB 304 on municipal courts, HB 447 on gift card fraud, HB 1185 on business court cases, and HB 460 on private attorney-client communications in custody. It approved HB 676, concerning penalties for improper property liens, by 8 to 1. It amended HB 1247, concerning courts’ treatment of state agency interpretations and reviews of agency activities, then approved it by 7 to 3. The committee also unanimously approved amended versions of HB 1290, concerning sexual abuse of vulnerable adults, and HB 267, whose replacement text addressed DUI courses and financial support for children whose parent is killed by a drunk driver.

## Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, March 19, 2026

1 h 14 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175280199. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/senate-regulated-industries-and-utilities.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee unanimously approved HB 641 after adding a medical-documentation requirement to its provisions on utility disconnection policies for customers with life-threatening conditions. The committee also held a hearing on HB 1027, which would allow certain local-government electricity sales contracts to last up to 20 years. Members questioned how proposed power projects would protect existing customers from construction costs, customer bankruptcies and higher rates. No vote was taken on that bill. The chair planned to revise proposed language on generation costs and bring the bill back Tuesday morning at 10:00.

## Senate Insurance and Labor Committee, March 19, 2026

46 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175303660. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/senate-insurance-and-labor.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee unanimously approved three bills: a substitute for HB 323 concerning providers’ access to insurance payment information, HB 1015 raising funding limits for the Georgia Self-Insurers Guaranty Trust Fund, and a substitute for HB 87 concerning disclosure of insurance premium taxes and deductibles. During discussion of HB 87, a county government representative described differences in county and city reporting requirements for premium-tax revenue, prompting a member to suggest further review. The chair also announced that HB 250 would be the first bill considered at the next meeting.

## Senate Ethics Committee, March 19, 2026

1 h 31 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175284225. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-19/senate-ethics.md

Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved the Life Sciences Caucus and advanced three bills: HB 369, concerning nonpartisan county elections in five metro Atlanta counties; HB 583, concerning transit tax referendums and spending; and HB 963, concerning foreign involvement in ballot-question campaigns. Each bill was considered in a version different from its original subject or scope. Members questioned the county-election proposal’s coverage, the transit proposal’s effects on local transportation funding, and the foreign-influence proposal’s enforcement and effects on civic participation. The committee rejected an amendment to lower a foreign-funding threshold in HB 963 from $100,000 to $15,000 before advancing the bill.