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House Rules Committee

House Rules Committee, March 31, 2026

2025-2026 Regular Session · 341 CAP · 32 min

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.

Copy for LLM, View as markdown, and Send to AI use the Markdown version: the summaries Georgia Commons wrote, under headings that name them, then the whole transcript with its times. View raw is the transcript alone.

The video is the General Assembly's, played from its Vimeo channel. Select any time below to play that moment. Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

Summary

Written by an AI model (gpt-6.1-sol) from the transcript. It is not part of the record, and the video is what was said.

The committee heard presentations on firefighter and tax court pension changes and approved substitutes for SB 462 and SB 552. The ambulance-billing substitute combined surprise-billing and excess-profits provisions. The school-related substitute removed literacy provisions added earlier that day and restored an earlier committee version. The committee then set a supplemental floor calendar. Objections prompted voice votes on placing SB 175, SB 423 and SB 552 on the calendar, and each motion carried. The other calendar motions passed without stated opposition. The committee then adjourned.

Bills discussed (11)

Each account covers the stretch of the meeting it names. The bill's number is said in that stretch, unless it was the only bill on a committee's agenda.

SB 143. Georgia Firefighter's Pension Fund; certain members to retire at age 50; provide

From 0:23:54 · turns 1 to 41 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3953

The presenter said current law allows retirement benefits beginning at age 55 after 25 years of service. The presenter explained that the bill would allow firefighters to continue working in their local fire service while receiving benefits from the supplemental annuity fund. The presenter also said the bill incorporated HB 818, moving the tax court judge's defined-benefit pension from ERS to TRS. No questions were asked. Later, the committee placed SB 143 on the supplemental floor calendar without stated opposition.

HB 818. Georgia Judicial Retirement System; membership for each judge employed full time in the Georgia Tax Court; provide

From 0:24:37 · turns 5 to 6

While presenting SB 143, the presenter said it incorporated HB 818. The presenter described that provision as moving the tax court judge's defined-benefit pension from ERS to TRS. The committee did not take a separate vote on HB 818.

SB 462. "Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act"; insurance coverage for certain out-of-network ambulance transportation service; provide

From 0:25:00 · turns 7 to 54 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3954

The presenter said the substitute combined surprise ambulance-billing provisions with excess-profits legislation. The presenter explained that broader insurance-affordability provisions previously attached to the bill had been removed by the Senate, which had enacted most of those provisions elsewhere. A committee member asked what percentage had increased. The presenter answered that the earlier ambulance-billing version used 300% of Medicare and the Senate version used 325%, which was the agreed amount. The committee approved substitute LC52-1122S without stated opposition and later placed it on the supplemental floor calendar without stated opposition.

SB 552. "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act"; enact

From 0:27:05 · turns 16 to 55 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3954

The presenter said the substitute reversed changes made that morning by removing the literacy bill and restoring the title, returning to the version previously passed by the House Judiciary Committee. A committee member asked whether schools would still have the option not to open a forum. The presenter answered yes, explaining that the language did not require a limited open forum and retained clarifications about schools' authority over discipline and attendance. After an objection, the committee approved substitute LC49-2882S by voice vote. Later, another objection prompted a voice vote on placing the substitute on the supplemental floor calendar, and that motion also carried. No vote counts were stated.

SB 33. "Georgia Hemp Farming Act"; total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; provide limits

From 0:28:41 · turns 36 to 38 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3953

The committee placed SB 33 on the supplemental floor calendar without stated opposition. No substantive discussion occurred.

SB 175. Elections and Primaries; use of ranked-choice voting; prohibit

From 0:28:59 · turns 41 to 49 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3954

A member objected to placing SB 175 on the supplemental floor calendar. The chair called a voice vote and announced that the motion carried. No vote count or substantive discussion was provided.

SB 398. Wiretapping, Eavesdropping, Surveillance, and Related Offenses; criminal offenses of virtual peeping; establish

From 0:29:13 · turns 49 to 51 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3954

The committee placed SB 398 on the supplemental floor calendar without stated opposition. No substantive discussion occurred.

SB 400. Education; unaccredited institutions from offering degrees; prohibit

From 0:29:22 · turns 51 to 53 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3954

The committee placed SB 400 on the supplemental floor calendar without stated opposition. No substantive discussion occurred.

SB 423. Government Transparency; campaign committees, independent committees, political action committees, and leadership committees from accepting contributions or donations from non-Georgia persons that exceed 50 percent of all contributions received; prohibit

From 0:29:30 · turn 53 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3954

A member objected to placing SB 423 on the supplemental floor calendar. The chair called a voice vote and announced that the motion carried. No vote count or substantive discussion was provided.

SB 437. State Building, Plumbing, and Electrical Codes; acknowledgement of an applicant's use of a private professional provider to conduct a plan review or inspection; provide

From 0:29:44 · turns 53 to 54 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3954

The committee placed SB 437 on the supplemental floor calendar without stated opposition. No substantive discussion occurred.

SB 586. "K-9 Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2026"; enact

From 0:30:36 · turn 55 · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3954

The committee placed SB 586 on the supplemental floor calendar without stated opposition. No substantive discussion occurred.

Official records of this meeting

Transcript

57 turns. Select a time to play that moment of the video.

  1. 0:23:29

    Good afternoon, everybody.

  2. 0:23:37

    I want to thank our technology group for getting us back in order here. As far as I know, all our mics are working now, so that'll, that'll help us. Okay, we're gonna take requests from the members. And, uh, Chairman Carson, you wanna explain Senate Bill 143?

  3. 0:24:02

    Thank you.

  4. 0:24:02

    Try that.

  5. 0:24:04

    Thank you, Chair. Um, this is Senate Bill 143. This is

  6. 0:24:08

    in regard to some pension reform for the firefighters. Um, what this, uh, particular bill does, the, the current statute allows for retirement benefits beginning at age 55, after 25 years of service. This allows a firefighter to continue serving in the fire service, uh, in their local jurisdiction and can continue to receive, uh, these benefits from the supplemental annuity fund. The second part of House bill... Excuse me, Senate Bill 143 also includes HB 818. What this does is moves the pension for the defined benefit plan for the tax court judge from ERS to TRS.

  7. 0:24:44

    That's all it does, sir.

  8. 0:24:49

    I don't see any questions on that. Thank you. All right. Now, let's, uh, hear from, uh, Chairman Lunsden. You're gonna talk to us about the substitute to Senate Bill 462.

  9. 0:25:07

    Try that.

  10. 0:25:09

    Okay. Yes. Uh, we have a substitute for, uh, Senate Bill 462. This is, um, the, uh, surprise, uh, ambulance billing bill. We passed a version out similar, uh, to this, uh, earlier in session, but this has, uh, a little higher percentage on it than the previous one did. And then, um, previously, we'd attached our insurance affordability legislation to this bill as well, but the Senate took that off and they a- but they have enacted most of our, um, House Bill 1344, which was really the result of the study committee bill.

  11. 0:25:45

    So most of that's taken care of. All we're doing with this is, uh, Senator, uh, Steele's, uh, surprise billing and also, uh, um, Representative, uh, Reeves', uh, excess profits legislation. Um, those are, those two bills have been combined in this, and that's what the sub does.

  12. 0:26:11

    Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Lunsden, I was trying to follow along there. What did you say was increased or was a higher number?

  13. 0:26:19

    Right. The, um, amount of the, it was 300% of Medicare, I think, in Chairman, um, Powell's original bill, and this is, um, the Senate version of it, and it's 325%, so that's what they agreed to.

  14. 0:26:36

    Thank you. Okay. Don't see any other questions. Okay. Is there a motion to accept or to approve of Senate Bill 462, substitute LC52-1122S?

  15. 0:26:53

    Move.

  16. 0:26:54

    Second.

  17. 0:26:54

    Have a move and a second. Is there any opposition? Okay, it's approved. Now we're gonna recognize, uh, Vice Chair Leverett to speak to Senate Bill 552.

  18. 0:27:06

    Wireless.

  19. 0:27:08

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um-

  20. 0:27:10

    Wait a minute

  21. 0:27:10

    ... in the spirit of deja vu all over again, on Senate Bill 552, um, we are, uh, undoing the changes we did this morning. So we've removed the literacy bill and inserted the, uh, title back in. So this is the, um, version that passed the House Judiciary Committee of this bill earlier this year.

  22. 0:27:33

    I don't see any questions. Well, I do have a question. Since, uh, represent- uh, Whip Park.

  23. 0:27:37

    Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, Chairman Leverett, uh, uh, does, uh, this original version still include that opportunity for schools to not be open?

  24. 0:27:49

    Yes. Yes, it does.

  25. 0:27:49

    Okay.

  26. 0:27:49

    It still has the language about n- nothing requires a limited open forum, and there are also the additional, um, I guess I would say, uh, clarifying provisions at the end, uh, that, that, uh, of the, the sort of powers that schools still retain over discipline and, uh, attendance and all that kind of stuff.

  27. 0:28:08

    Thank you, sir.

  28. 0:28:09

    Thank you for the question.

  29. 0:28:10

    Okay. Don't see any other questions. Do I hear a motion to approve Senate Bill by sub- 552 by sub LC49-2882S?

  30. 0:28:20

    Move.

  31. 0:28:21

    Have a motion and a second. Any opposition?

  32. 0:28:23

    Objection.

  33. 0:28:24

    Have an objection. All those in favor say aye.

  34. 0:28:26

    Aye.

  35. 0:28:27

    All opposed, no.

  36. 0:28:29

    No.

  37. 0:28:29

    It's approved. Okay. All right. Now, let's set a supplemental calendar for today under a modified structure. Modified structure. Senate Bill 33.

  38. 0:28:42

    Move.

  39. 0:28:43

    Have a move and a second. Any opposition? It's own. Okay. Senate Bill 143.

  40. 0:28:52

    Move.

  41. 0:28:53

    Second.

  42. 0:28:53

    Have a move and a second. Any opposition? It's own. Senate Bill 175.

  43. 0:29:01

    Move.

  44. 0:29:02

    Have a move and a second. Any opposition?

  45. 0:29:05

    Objection.

  46. 0:29:05

    Have an objection. All right. All those in favor of putting it on say aye.

  47. 0:29:09

    Aye.

  48. 0:29:09

    Those opposed, no.

  49. 0:29:11

    No.

  50. 0:29:12

    It carries. Senate Bill 398.

  51. 0:29:16

    Move.

  52. 0:29:17

    Have a move and a second. Any opposition? It's own. Senate Bill 400.

  53. 0:29:24

    Move.

  54. 0:29:26

    Move and second. Any opposition? It's own. Senate Bill 423. Moved. Moved and seconded. Any opposition? Objection. Have an objection. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed, no. No. It carries. Senate Bill 437.

  55. 0:29:49

    Moved. Have a move and a second. Any opposition? Okay, it's on. Now, Substitute Senate Bill 462, LC52, 1122S. Is there a move? Moved. Have a move and a second. Is there any opposition? It's on. Senate Bill 552 by Substitute LC492882S.

  56. 0:30:21

    Is there a move? Moved. Moved and second. Any opposition? Objection. Is there opposition? Yes, sir. There is opposition. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed, no. No. It carries. Senate Bill 586. Moved. Moved and second. Any opposition? It's on. Okay, uh, that'll be our s- supplemental calendar. Keep an eye out for your emails or for announcements on the floor, and if not, we'll see you, uh, Thursday at 9:00 AM on day 40.

  57. 0:30:57

    Thank you. We're adjourned.

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