Georgia CommonsHouse Rules Committee, April 2, 2026
2025-2026 Regular Session · 341 CAP · 40 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.
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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 requests for study committees on teacher pay, local government finances and contracting, disability services, education funding, and physician noncompete clauses. Members also discussed a resolution supporting dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education. The committee approved a substitute for SB 214 after discussing election procedures, recount thresholds, audits, and implementation timing. It then placed SB 214, SB 527, SB 565, HR 1670, HR 1889, HR 1948, and SR 624 on a supplemental calendar for that day. The chair asked for opposition to each calendar placement, and none was recorded. No further action was shown on the other listed resolutions presented.
Bills discussed (15)
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.
HR 1582. House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation; create
From 0:24:02 · turns 2 to 8
The sponsor requested consideration of HR 1582, describing a study committee to examine a pay step increase for veteran teachers at year 28. The chair confirmed the resolution being requested. No substantive questions or further action were shown.
HR 1755. House Study Committee on Alternative Investments for Local Governments; create
From 0:24:34 · turns 10 to 12
The sponsor requested consideration of HR 1755, saying it would create a study committee to examine alternative investment options for local governments. No questions or further action were shown.
HR 1789. United States Department of Education; dissolve and restore educational authority to the states; express support
From 0:24:55 · turns 14 to 28
The sponsor described HR 1789 as urging dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education and restoration of authority to states. The sponsor argued that this would reduce bureaucracy without cutting student funding and could save taxpayers money. A committee member asked whether responsibilities would fall back on Georgia. The sponsor said student loans would move to the Treasury Department, food programs would be handled by the Agriculture Department, and IDEA would remain unchanged. The sponsor also argued that Georgia education officials could act more quickly. The questioning member called the proposal extreme in light of Georgia's reading and math performance and strongly disagreed with the sponsor's position. Another member asked for greater civility after objecting to the sponsor's suggestion that the questioning member read the resolution. The sponsor acknowledged the concern, and the chair closed questions. No vote or calendar placement was shown.
HR 1748. House Study Committee on Local Governmental Professional Contracting; create
From 0:27:39 · turns 30 to 31
The sponsor requested consideration of HR 1748, describing a study committee to examine how design professionals are engaged for work involving public funds. No substantive questions or further action were shown.
HR 1860. House Study Committee on Comprehensive Services and Long-term Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities; create
From 0:28:10 · turns 36 to 38
The sponsor said HR 1860 would examine how Georgia delivers services to people with special needs. The sponsor described having to submit a large binder of paperwork every two years to secure Medicaid for a child and expressed concern about families facing language barriers or navigating the process with fewer resources. The sponsor framed the study as an effort to improve services. No questions or further action were shown.
HR 1948. State and local authorities; transfer operation of Georgia Capitol Museum from University System of Georgia to Georgia Building Authority; urge
From 0:28:49 · turns 40 to 82
The sponsor said HR 1948 would urge moving authority and supervision of the Georgia Capitol Museum from the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents to the Georgia Building Authority. The sponsor said both entities and the chancellor supported the move, and that the governor had requested the resolution. The sponsor explained that legislation to carry out the transfer would need consideration in a future session. No questions were asked. Later, the committee placed the resolution on the day's supplemental calendar after a motion and second, with no opposition recorded.
SB 214. Elections and Primaries; electors to cast physical absentee on-request ballots as an alternative to using other authorized means of casting in-person votes; authorize
From 0:29:45 · turns 44 to 72
The vice chair presented substitute LC474318S for SB 214. The vice chair said it defined hand-marked paper ballots, added a cybersecurity expert to an election-system advisory committee, required a serialized ballot batch identifier, and raised the recount threshold from 0.5% to 1%. The vice chair said the recount change and a provision assigning optical character recognition audits to the State Election Board rather than the secretary of state would take effect in July, after the primary but before the general election. A member questioned county representation on the advisory committee. The vice chair initially said no counties were excluded, then said the language appeared intended to prevent duplicate county representation. The member also raised an election official's concern about major changes close to an election. The vice chair said changes were needed under current law and understood the statewide election officials' association to support the legislation. Asked about hand-marked ballots, the vice chair said the substitute added a definition without changing existing requirements. The committee approved the substitute, then placed it on the supplemental calendar. No opposition or vote count was recorded.
HR 1947. House Study Committee on Education Finance; create
From 0:36:04 · turns 56 to 58
The sponsor requested consideration of HR 1947, describing a study committee to examine the education funding formula, the local five-mill share, and equalization grants, particularly their effects on economically disadvantaged areas. No questions or further action were shown.
HR 592. House Study Committee on Noncompete Clauses in Physician Contracts; create
From 0:36:36 · turns 60 to 61
The sponsor said HR 592 would study physician noncompete clauses and ways to recruit and retain physicians in Georgia. The sponsor cited Georgia as ranking 40th nationally in the number of physicians. No questions or further action were shown.
HR 1832. House Study Committee on the Assessment and Collection of Fees by Local Governments; create
From 0:37:05 · turns 62 to 63
The sponsor said HR 1832 would create a study committee to examine how local governments levy fees and taxes and clarify the distinction between them. No questions or further action were shown.
SB 527. Sheriffs; candidates for the office of sheriff are certified peace officers at the time of qualifying as a candidate; require
From 0:38:22 · turns 72 to 74
The committee placed SB 527 on the day's supplemental calendar after a motion and second. The chair asked for opposition, and none was recorded. No presentation or substantive discussion occurred.
SB 565. Peace Officers; the definition of law enforcement unit and peace officer to include members of police forces of nonprofit private colleges and universities; revise
From 0:38:31 · turns 74 to 76
The committee placed SB 565 on the day's supplemental calendar after a motion and second. The chair asked for opposition, and none was recorded. No presentation or substantive discussion occurred.
HR 1670. RESCUER initiative; recognize importance of voluntary community based resource recovery efforts; encourage counties to explore voluntary resource recovery programs
From 0:38:43 · turns 76 to 78
The committee placed HR 1670 on the day's supplemental calendar after a motion and second. The chair asked for opposition, and none was recorded. No presentation or substantive discussion occurred.
HR 1889. Termed and perpetual conservation easements; important tools for promoting conservation practices; express support
From 0:38:57 · turns 78 to 80
The committee placed HR 1889 on the day's supplemental calendar after a motion and second. The chair asked for opposition, and none was recorded. No presentation or substantive discussion occurred.
SR 624. Officer Drew Haynes Brown Memorial Intersection; Cobb County; dedicate
From 0:39:11 · turns 82 to 84
The committee placed SR 624 on the day's supplemental calendar after a motion and second. The chair asked for opposition, and none was recorded. No presentation or substantive discussion occurred.
Transcript
85 turns. Select a time to play that moment of the video.
- 0:23:37
Good afternoon, everybody. We'll call the meeting to order.
- 0:23:54
Okay, let's go ahead and we'll take some requests from our friends over here. Go ahead, Carolyn.
- 0:24:00
Thank you, Chairman. I have House Resolution 1582. What that is, is a study committee where we look at, uh, giving a step increase to our teachers, our veteran teachers, at year 28.
- 0:24:11
Okay. Give me that number again. What was it? 15-
- 0:24:15
1582. Last on the page.
- 0:24:19
What was the number?
- 0:24:22
1582.
- 0:24:23
Okay.
- 0:24:25
Thank you.
- 0:24:27
Gotcha. Thank you. Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman.
- 0:24:32
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to ask for House Resolution 1755, sixth from the bottom on the second page. Uh, it's calling for a study committee to look at alternative investment options for local governments.
- 0:24:44
Okay. Thank you, sir.
- 0:24:46
Thank you.
- 0:24:48
Will Wade.
- 0:24:50
Thank you, Chairman. This, uh, asking for on page two, just below, um, uh, Chairman Anderson's House Resolution 1789. This is an urgent resolution to, um, dismantle the US Department of Education and recognize the Tenth Amendment and restore our, uh, uh, rights. It will not cut funding that impacts students. It's just making more efficiencies within our federal government, and that process has started. And many believe that it's gonna save taxpayers in the long run. It also gives states the opportunity, like we are in Georgia, leading the way to help our students.
- 0:25:24
That's the resolution.
- 0:25:25
I have a question for you. Whip Park has a question.
- 0:25:28
Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Representative Wade, uh, with this, uh, urging resolution to dissolve the Department of Education, um, would, where would... Uh, so this just falls back on Georgia i- is, is what you're asking for?
- 0:25:44
No, if, if the gentleman would take a few minutes to read the resolution, I'm happy to go with it line by line at, at, after the Rules Committee meeting. But it specifically, uh, acknowledges that it targets, like for example, student loans would now go to the Department of Treasury. Um, food, food programs for kids would be in the Department of Agriculture. It's just removing a layer of bureaucracy that delays what I believe is serving our children in our state. It would give us, as Georgians, the opportunity to take up the mantle and lead on certain other efforts. It will also not change IDEA, but it will allow special education teachers and Georgia's Department of Education and, and Govern- Governor's Office of Student Achievement a opportunity to act more swiftly without waiting on federal bureaucracy.
- 0:26:26
Th- this comes across as somewhat extreme given where Georgia's rankings are with respect to reading and math scores. Um, so I mean, if y'all think that this is a good policy or good politics, um-
- 0:26:37
I appreciate your support of the literacy bill, and the House is leading the effort to make that change. And I think that the-
- 0:26:41
To catch up with Mississippi, I believe. Correct?
- 0:26:43
Uh, to catch up with our potential and other states, and I think the US Department of Education also is limiting many states in their success. You may disagree, and I can respect that.
- 0:26:52
Strongly disagree.
- 0:26:52
Okay, got another question. Leader Hugley.
- 0:26:55
Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I really don't have a question, but I, I, I'm offended when somebody asks a question and the response is that if you would read the bill, blah, blah, blah, blah. This is our last day here, and we're, there are a lot of things coming before us, and I'm just asking for a little more civility.
- 0:27:16
I think the, the whip and I just have a, a, a friendly banter, but I respect the, the leader's comment.
- 0:27:22
Okay, we're gonna all be friendly this afternoon now. Okay, no more questions. Thank you.
- 0:27:28
Thank you, Chairman.
- 0:27:32
Yes, sir. Come on up, Rob.
- 0:27:34
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two resolutions. I'm gonna start with, uh, House Resolution 1748. This is a study committee to look at, um, how we are working with design professionals for, um, public funds.
- 0:27:49
Okay. What's your second one?
- 0:27:50
Uh, House Resolution seve- 1749. This is a, uh, study committee to look at, uh, online gaming platforms in the hope of protecting our children.
- 0:28:01
Okay. Thank you, sir.
- 0:28:03
Yes, sir.
- 0:28:05
Chairman Hilton.
- 0:28:08
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. House Resolution 1860 at the top of page three. Uh, this looks, this is kind of a passion project of mine. It looks at how we deliver, uh, services for individuals with special needs. Every two years, my wife and I have to submit a binder about this large of paperwork to qualify for, to receive Medicaid for our son. Uh, and we both have advanced degrees. I worry about the single mom, English as second language, who's got to navigate all this, who frankly is not navigating it. Uh, and how do we make Georgia the number one state for individuals with special needs?
- 0:28:42
No questions. Thank you, sir.
- 0:28:43
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yep.
- 0:28:45
Yes, sir. Leader Gambill.
- 0:28:48
Thank you, Chairman. Page three, House Resolution 1948. This is one that I apologize, and I know comes a little bit late. We did have a bill to do this, and it didn't get things going until after crossover day. But this is simply an urging resolution that moves the, um, authority and supervision of the Georgia Capitol Museum here in the State Capitol on the fourth floor from the university system Board of Regents to the building authority. Uh, both entities have signed off on it. The chancellor supports it. The building authority, uh, is in favor of it.
- 0:29:20
And, uh, the governor has requested that we, uh, pass this urging resolution and then, uh, obviously consider legislation in the future session, uh, that would actually make that happen. But at this point, this is just an urging resolution to move that under the building authority.
- 0:29:37
Okay. Thank you, sir. I don't see any questions.
- 0:29:39
Thank you.
- 0:29:39
Thank you. Okay. Uh, gonna call on Vice Chair Leverett to speak to substitute Senate Bill 214. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen, there should be on your desk a substitute to Senate Bill 214. It's LC474318S. And this was the elections bill that was passed out of government affairs a few weeks ago. There are, um, about eight or nine changes on it, which I was gonna try to walk through quickly with you.
- 0:30:10
On page two, in lines 32, 33, we have added a definition for hand-marked paper ballot. The term paper ballot was used throughout some of these code sections, but we've actually created a defined term there. Uh, on page five, um, there is a, a, um, a use of that term, the, the, on line 109, um, the, um, the term paper ballot has been used. Now that we've created a new defined term, it's just hand-marked paper ballots, and that also appears at the top of page six in line 119.
- 0:30:44
On page seven, uh, I, I guess the, the operative section starts on page six, which was to set up the advisory committee to the secretary of state for, uh, certifying the new, uh, sort of uniform statewide election system. We've added on page seven, in lines 152, 153, that, um, a, a member, an additional member of that committee should be an elector of the state appointed by the secretary of state who's an expert in cybersecurity. So we're just adding a cybersecurity expert to that advisory panel.
- 0:31:15
Then on page nine, uh, there's a new section, section seven, at the top of that page. Goes from lines 198 to 210. Uh, and the, the primary thing there, that's about ballot formats. And, um, one of the requirements for ballots will be there, the, a serialized ballot batch identifier number. That's down in lines 209 and 210. Uh, then on pages 17 through 19, we've added a new section 20. Um, and you'll note, if you look on page 18, there in lines 428 and 431, the threshold for a, a recount has been, uh, moved from one half of one percent to one percent.
- 0:31:57
So we're trying to make those, those recounts of, a little, little broader or a little more frequent. And then on page 24, the very last page of the bill, at the top, we have, um, uh, changed the effective dates. Section 20, which is new, that's the one on the recount threshold, and section 21, which is, uh, where the state election board, not the secretary of state's office, would conduct those, um, optical character recognition audits. Um, those are to be effective in July, so they would not be effective during the primary, but would be, uh, in place for the general election later this year.
- 0:32:32
And those are the changes, Mr. Chairman. Okay. We've got a question. Leah Hughley has a question for you. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I apologize if you said some of this. It was, it was difficult for me to hear some of the things that you were saying. But, uh, on page seven, uh, were you talking about, uh, appointing, uh, officials to this, uh, committee, uh, and it's election officials except from counties, uh, provided for in section eight of this subparagraph?
- 0:33:07
What, what counties are we excluding here? Uh, I don't believe we're excluding any. It's, it's just the, um, the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Elected Officials, GAVREO, would, uh, give us, um, uh, names, uh, and then we would appoint from that list. That is not a change. That was in the original bill. I'm sorry. Excuse me, Mr. Chairman. Um, uh, uh, I don't believe we're excluding any counties there. Um, it's just that GAVREO would provide a list, and then the one, um, election official from that list would be appointed to the advisory committee.
- 0:33:43
But it says from counties other than those provided for in, um, and it continues on. Division eight- Uh-huh ... of the subparagraph. So I was just wondering w- what counties are we- Um, and I'm afraid- ... excluding there ... I don't know. That, that was in the bill as it, as it came through committee last time. That's not a change. But I can, um ... I think if you look in, in paragraph eight, there's ... One of the appointments is a county election official to be appointed by the secretary of state from a list of at least five nominees provided by GAVREO.
- 0:34:17
I think it's just making sure that we don't have two f- people from the same county. There would be multiple counties represented. Thank you. One other question, if you don't mind. Yes, ma'am. Um,
- 0:34:29
at this late juncture and as close as we are to election, my election official is saying, "Don't, don't send us any major changes." How do you anticipate that election officials across the state can accommodate this within the timeframe that we have? Well, I, I believe we've got to make some changes because of the current state of the law. And, um, uh, my understanding was GAVREO was, is supportive of the legislation. Um, now I understand if you've got someone back home saying, "Don't vote for it," we all have to make those decisions.
- 0:35:03
But generally, I think, uh, as an, as an organization, they support this legislation. Well, isn't it true that, um, we realize there are certain things that we have to do because of timeframes, but we don't have to go with hand-ma- marked paper ballots at this juncture. Is that not true? Well, this, this doesn't mandate it. It just creates the defined term. The, the, there, there was no substantive change in the sort of requirements with respect to any hand-marked paper ballots. We're just creating a defined term in this substitute. Thank you. Thank you.
- 0:35:35
Don't see another question on that. Is there a motion to, that we approve Senate Bill 214 by substitute LC474318S? Have a motion and a second. It, it is approved. Is any opposition? Okay, it's approved. Okay. Uh, Chairman Blackmon.
- 0:35:59
Uh, thank you, m- Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I just wanted to ask for House Resolution 1947, uh, just a study committee that would take a look at the QB funding formula and how it is, uh, impacts the local 5 mil share and equalization grants, um, and i- in, in respect to, uh, economically disadvantaged areas. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
- 0:36:23
Okay. Do we have a question on that? Okay, no questions on that. Thank you.
- 0:36:29
Thank you.
- 0:36:31
Chairman Newton, you have request?
- 0:36:34
Yes, sir. At the top of page one, uh, House Resolution 592, it deals with, uh, Georgia being 40th in the nation in number of physicians. An effort to try to study, uh, physician non-compete clauses and wha- and what the best avenue forward to ensure we retain and recruit the needed, the physicians in Georgia.
- 0:36:51
Okay. Okay, I don't see any questions on that one. And Secretary, uh, Kelley has a request.
- 0:37:00
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. A study committee at the bottom of page two, HR1832 would study, uh, the way local governments, uh, either levy fees or taxes, and trying to put some clarity as to when a fee is a fee and when's a tax a tax.
- 0:37:16
Okay. I don't see any questions on that. Thank you. Chair Cooper, did you have a request?
- 0:37:22
I need some information, and I apologize for not getting it offline. Um, on the, I have a, uh, a resolution on the yellow sheets, but it didn't come on the blue. It's just an awareness day. Are we handling those different than like we u- like we used to, or should I ask for it?
- 0:37:39
Go ahead and ask for it.
- 0:37:40
Oh, it's, um, re- uh, Resolution 1052. It's just making, uh, asking that Prader-Willi's, the Prader-Willi in, uh, genetic illness, there be an awareness day for it.
- 0:37:52
Okay.
- 0:37:52
Thank you.
- 0:37:53
Thank you.
- 0:37:56
Okay. Let's go ahead and set a, uh, supplemental calendar for today.
- 0:38:07
It's still on the calendar.
- 0:38:08
Yeah. Okay. Senate Bill 214 by substitute LC 474318S. Move. It's a move and a second. Any opposition? It's on. Senate Bill 527. Move. Have a move-
- 0:38:26
Second
- 0:38:27
... and a second. Any opposition? It's on. Senate Bill 565. Move.
- 0:38:33
Second.
- 0:38:35
Move and second. Any opposition? It's on. These are all modified structure. House Resolution, House Resolution 1670. Move.
- 0:38:46
Second.
- 0:38:46
Have a move and second. Any opposition? It's on. House Resolution 1889. Move.
- 0:39:03
Second.
- 0:39:04
Moved and second. Any opposition? It's on. House Resolution 1948. Move.
- 0:39:06
Second.
- 0:39:06
Moved and second. Any opposition? It's on. Okay, Senate Resolution, Senate Resolution 624. Move.
- 0:39:13
Second.
- 0:39:13
Have a move and a second. Any opposition? It's on. Okay, that'll be our supplemental calendar as of right now. Thank you.