--- title: Georgia House and Senate meetings on March 20, 2026 collection: meetings id: meetings:day:2026-03-20 canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-20 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-20.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/2026-03-19.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-23.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md date: 2026-03-20 count: 6 --- # Georgia House and Senate meetings on March 20, 2026 ## Senate Rules Committee, March 20, 2026 55 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175315260. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-20/senate-rules.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved a substitute for HB 328 by a 7 to 5 vote after discussing removal of the scholarship tax credit program’s expiration date. Members then heard requests to schedule bills on education, taxes, courts, veterans, public safety and other subjects. The committee unanimously approved a 14-measure floor calendar, including HB 154, which a presenter said now seeks year-round Atlantic Standard Time, and HB 1009, concerning cellphone-free high school classrooms. After initially selecting HB 1077, members removed it from the calendar and unanimously returned it to the Rules Standing Committee for an unspecified correction. Members also unanimously returned HB 1129 to that committee. ## House Ways & Means Committee, March 20, 2026 20 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175244076. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-20/house-ways-and-means.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The House Ways & Means Committee approved SB 382, which the chair described as making the statewide floating homestead exemption mandatory and incorporating additional property-tax and local sales-tax provisions. The sponsor said negotiations were continuing, including over protecting local governments if an existing local sales tax is eliminated. No committee members asked questions. The bill passed by voice vote, with two members recorded as opposed. ## House Insurance Committee, March 20, 2026 1 h 12 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175251652. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-20/house-insurance.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved three bills with added House provisions. SB 462 addressed surprise billing for emergency ground ambulances and included four House insurance measures. After initially approving it, the committee reconsidered it, changed local-government premium-tax reporting language and approved it again. SB 230 addressed condominium insurance deductibles and included provisions described as protecting judges’ home addresses. SB 503 addressed insurance backing for rental-home marketplace damage guarantees and included the same four House insurance measures. The committee added the same local-government reporting amendment before approving it. Members questioned the added provisions, costs, consumer protections and enforcement. No numerical vote totals were stated. ## House Rules Committee, March 20, 2026 1 h 05 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175161728. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-20/house-rules.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard presentations on bills and resolutions covering public safety, health care, education, development, transportation and other topics. Members questioned proposals on road obstruction penalties, firearm suppressors, interference with first responders, permitting deadlines and development impact fees. The committee approved a substitute for SB 384 that added removal of vehicle registration decals to the optional five-year registration proposal. It then placed SB 23, SB 284, SB 384 and SB 395 on a supplemental calendar for that day, with no opposition voiced. No calendar decisions were recorded for the other proposals presented. ## Senate floor session, March 20, 2026 (legislative day 35) 5 h 11 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175257905. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-20/senate-floor.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed measures on extended-stay hotel removals, nursing grants, high school completion programs, portable benefits for independent contractors, firefighter safety, mental health facility background checks, utility inventory tax exemptions and other topics. The longest debate concerned HB 61, which passed 32-18 after senators adopted a compromise on notice before removal and eviction records, but rejected proposals to give long-term hotel residents tenant rights. The Senate also adopted two state-property resolutions, approved reconsideration of two previously rejected constitutional amendments, and received committee reports and bill readings. A proposed amendment protecting patients from midyear insurance network changes was ruled unrelated to the bill under consideration. Senators honored a retiring committee chair and heard remarks from the U.S. Treasurer. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Monday, March 23. ## House floor session, March 20, 2026 (legislative day 35) 2 h 58 min. Video: https://vimeo.com/1175225451. Twin: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-20/house-floor.md Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed an uncontested local calendar, 153 to 0, and passed SB 284, concerning recovery of investors' money and school roofing purchases, 155 to 0. The House also passed SB 384, providing five-year vehicle registration, 151 to 7, after questions about emissions testing. Members agreed to a Senate amendment to SB 170, 158 to 0, following a presentation about hospital generators. The House returned SB 23, SB 395 and SR 23 to the Rules Committee and reassigned HR 1793 to another committee. The session also included first and second readings, committee reports, recognition of community organizations and guests, farewell remarks from a departing member, and adoption of honorary resolutions. The House adjourned until March 23 at 10 a.m.