Georgia CommonsGeorgia General Assembly
Meetings on March 23, 2026
Machine-readable: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-23.md
Senate Rules Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard brief presentations on a wide range of tax, education, public safety, health, court and other measures, then unanimously approved a package for the Senate floor calendar. In its standing committee session, it approved a substitute for HB 1077, extending an arts-related sales tax exemption and adding Georgia National Fair admissions, by an 11-4 vote. It approved a substitute for HB 1129, removing a proposed five-year expiration provision for enterprise zones, by a 9-5 vote. Members questioned how a restored House budget oversight committee under HB 1178 would involve the Senate. The chair made that discussion hearing-only and asked the sponsor to work with the committee.
Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee took up four measures and voted to advance each, with no vote counts announced. A substitute for HB 718 would let Georgia breweries open up to two satellite taprooms selling their own beer through wholesalers. Members raised concerns about the review process, and a proposed increase in take-home beer sales was withdrawn. The committee amended HB 466 to add a heritage designation for Piney Woods cattle alongside the Marsh Tacky horse designation. Members also advanced HB 1310, designating cotton as Georgia’s official fabric, and SR 882, urging the Department of Community Affairs not to adopt the 2024 energy conservation code for single-family homes.
House Rules Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee heard requests to bring legislation to the House floor and set a nine-bill calendar for legislative day 36. Presentations covered health care workforce data, property-owner protections, criminal laws, scholarships and other topics. Members questioned a proposed constitutional convention for congressional term limits and the geographic reach of a federal scholarship tax credit. The committee approved a substitute for SB 395 adding language to designate emergency medical services as an essential service, then placed it on the calendar. Eight other bills also received calendar approval. One, SB 443, drew an objection and was approved by voice vote, with no count announced. The other calendar motions passed without stated opposition. The chair announced the next Rules meeting for Wednesday at 9 a.m.
House floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36, AM)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed 13 uncontested local bills together by a vote of 158 to 0. It also agreed to the Senate substitute to HB 376, concerning historic rehabilitation tax credits, by 152 to 10, and to the Senate amendment to SB 179, concerning education, by 99 to 66. Discussion of the education measure included concerns about school access for patriotic organizations and the process for declining requests. The House heard first and second readings, adopted a group of honorary and memorial resolutions without objection, recognized guests, and heard two farewell addresses. Members also welcomed an Olympic bobsled gold medalist under HR 1732. The House recessed until 1:30 p.m.
Senate floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate passed HB 1009, extending school-day phone restrictions to high school students, after rejecting an amendment allowing access between classes. Senators also passed measures on advanced math, forestry tax credits, local property-tax relief, bankruptcy protections, school financial oversight, public health employees and medical treatment rules. A substitute to HB 154 replaced its ambulance provisions with a proposal to seek year-round Atlantic Standard Time. A lengthy debate over district attorney pay ended with passage of HB 1020, followed by notice of a request to reconsider it. Senators left SB 350, concerning DeKalb County officials’ pay, available for later action after questions about conflicting pay provisions. They returned HB 79 to the Rules Committee, adopted a family-farm study resolution and agreed to the House changes to SB 427. The Senate adjourned until March 25.
House floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36, PM)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The House passed measures on medical cannabis, local government investments, mental health services, professional licensing, healthcare workforce data and clergy sexual abuse. After extended debate, the House passed SB 443, which increases penalties and allows civil liability for unlawful obstruction of public passages, by 96 to 69. Members also agreed to Senate changes on first-offender records and protections for code enforcement officials, and approved a revised magistrate court measure. The House returned SB 566 to the Rules Committee for a date change and postponed SB 23 until the next legislative day. Members approved a group of honorary resolutions and allowed unnamed local bills to be received together and assigned to committee. The House adjourned until March 25, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Senate Public Safety Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved amended versions of HB 1022, addressing vehicle tinting, digital licenses and fleeing police; HB 1023, requiring school weapons detection systems; and HB 957, allowing miniature trucks on certain local roads. Most discussion focused on school safety, with students and parents urging statewide weapons detection requirements and a school district witness raising funding concerns. Members added explicit implementation language and a January 1, 2028 date to the school bill. The committee also heard HB 990, creating a privately funded program to help retired law enforcement dogs. Members voted by voice on that bill, but the chair did not clearly announce the result after questioning an apparent opposing vote.
House Health Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved SB 411 with an amendment adding physicians to the professionals allowed to perform dry needling. The approved version also included provisions from HB 1428 allowing the engineering and land surveying licensing board to retain certain fee revenue. The committee held a hearing only on SB 367, which would remove state approval requirements for certain cancer care facilities, services and equipment. Supporters argued that the change would reduce delays and expand access. Opponents raised concerns about hospital finances, pediatric care, quality standards and care for patients unable to pay. No vote was taken on that proposal.
House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered a revised version of SB 8 covering remote online notarization and penalties for practicing law without a license. The presenter described identity checks, recordings and other safeguards for online notarizations. A legislator supported stronger penalties to protect clients facing language barriers. Two commercial real estate attorneys supported online notarization but raised concerns about broad liability and increased costs from the penalty provisions. A committee member also questioned whether people offering help in good faith could face felony charges. The committee approved the substitute with one member opposed.
House Judiciary Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved three bills. A substitute for SB 403 would let the Department of Revenue return unclaimed money without requiring a claim and simplify claims by heirs. The committee approved SB 532 after the chair said its original contents had been replaced with a Gwinnett judgeship proposal. After a recess, members debated a substitute for SB 552 concerning equal access for student political activities at public schools. Questions focused on after-hours access, supervision, school discipline and whether a specific Georgia incident justified the bill. The committee approved that substitute by voice vote, with opposition heard.
House Special Rules Committee, March 23, 2026 (part 1)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved 10 resolutions and sent them to Rules. Eight proposed study committees covering disaster bridge loans, local government investments, Medicaid waivers, environmental permitting, professional contracting, online gaming, criminal post-conviction litigation and state oversight of emergency medical services. The committee also approved HR 1792, urging a pause on adopting a newer residential energy code, and HR 1707, encouraging a legislative golf caucus. Members amended HR 1665 to let the Speaker select all seven study committee members and its chair, and approved a substitute for HR 1748 focused on whether government design contractors deliver complete plans. All approvals were by voice vote, with no numerical totals stated. At the end, the chair declined a motion to adjourn and announced a 15-minute pause while awaiting another presenter. The transcript shows no further substantive business.
House Education Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved seven bills covering school finances, enrollment, instruction, teacher recruitment and attendance. Members advanced SB 472 on financial oversight, SB 589 on parents’ enrollment choices, SB 515 on teacher tax credits, SB 425 on cursive instruction and school safety, and SB 431 on foster students’ enrollment. The committee approved SB 475 on local charter school facility funding by an 11 to 5 vote. Members added a requirement to print the 988 crisis number on student identification badges to SB 589. After debate over attendance penalties and students’ transportation needs, members amended SB 513 to exempt students enrolled in completion special schools, then approved it. Other approvals were by voice vote, without numerical totals.
House Special Rules Committee, March 23, 2026 (part 2)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved HR 1789, which the presenter described as urging the dissolution and dismantling of the United States Department of Education. A member moved to approve it, another member seconded, and no further discussion followed. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote and sent it to the Rules Committee. No vote count was stated.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee approved six bills and held a hearing without a vote on a seventh. Members approved HB 382 on certain drug approvals and pharmacy staffing, HB 506 on ambulance surprise billing, HB 1138 on pharmacist-prescribed contraception, HB 970 on student sports physicals, HB 659 on rural optometrist loan forgiveness, and HB 1275 on stem cell processing. Members added a corn-flour fortification requirement to HB 1138 and made changes to HB 1275. The hearing on HB 1393 focused on allowing rural hospitals to work together while remaining independent. Supporters described financial and staffing needs, while other witnesses raised concerns about higher prices, large hospital systems benefiting, and insufficient state oversight. The chair called for further work on that bill before the meeting adjourned.
Senate Finance Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee unanimously approved HB 547, covering conservation-use property tax agreements; HB 229, with language exempting tips and overtime from tax; and HB 169, with language offering small businesses tax credits for contributing to employee health coverage. Members also discussed HB 1116, a broader property tax proposal involving limits on local tax revenue growth, homeowner exemptions and sales tax offsets. Questions focused on effects on commercial property, communities with limited sales tax revenue and Atlanta’s eligibility for replacement revenue. The chair held that proposal for another day so members could verify how it would work.
Senate Judiciary Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee advanced 12 bills addressing survivor confidentiality, court administration, juvenile justice planning, criminal penalties, domestic violence records, judicial staffing, public defender oversight and business lawsuits. Members unanimously approved most measures. HB 1076, which would make knowingly obstructing law enforcement with a vehicle a felony, passed 4 to 3 after an amendment excluding stationary vehicles failed. HB 1303, concerning unlawful drug possession around children, passed 4 to 1. HB 1075, increasing penalties for repeated misdemeanor offenses against people and sex offenses, also advanced on a divided vote, though the count is unclear in the transcript. Members amended HB 1061 to include the Georgia Public Defender Council in juvenile justice planning. Several substitutes substantially changed or expanded the bills, including HB 903, which became a measure regulating coin-operated amusement machines.