Georgia CommonsSenate Rules Committee, June 22, 2026
2026 Special Session · 125 CAP · 10 min
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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 discussed HR 3, which would ratify an additional two-week suspension of motor fuel and diesel fuel taxes. Presenters said the suspension saved Georgians nearly $100 million. The chair encouraged replacing the lost transportation infrastructure funding with surplus funds, as the chair said had been done previously. The committee unanimously approved placing the resolution on the calendar for the fifth legislative day, identified as the following day.
Bills discussed (1)
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 3. General Assembly; motor fuel and diesel fuel taxes; ratify Governor Brian P. Kemp's Executive Order
From 0:03:56 · turns 5 to 55
The Finance Committee chair explained that HR 3 would ratify an additional two-week fuel-tax suspension ordered by the governor after the session, following earlier suspensions. A committee member asked how much drivers would save and confirmed the two-week duration. The Finance Committee chair estimated monthly savings of $180 million to $200 million, putting the two-week savings near $100 million. The Rules Committee chair said previous suspensions had saved residents about $1 billion but also removed that amount from infrastructure funding. The chair said surplus funds had replaced that money and encouraged doing so again. The designated floor presenter said this suspension had saved Georgians almost $100 million and urged ratification. After a member selected the resolution for the calendar, another member asked whether it would be considered that day. The chair clarified that the calendar was for the fifth legislative day, the following day. The committee unanimously approved the motion to place the resolution on that calendar.
Transcript
56 turns. Select a time to play that moment of the video.
- 0:03:04
Call this meeting to order.
- 0:03:09
Rules Committee on Monday, June 22nd, 2026, in the year of our Lord.
- 0:03:19
Senator Dixon, would you lead us in a word of prayer?
- 0:03:22
Absolutely, absolutely, Mr. Chairman. If you would bow your heads with me. Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for wisdom and a hedge of protection around this committee as we make very important decisions today, Lord. And, uh, I pray that you watch over, uh, everyone under the Gold Dome. In your loving name I pray, amen.
- 0:03:42
Thank you. Some late arriving members. Late arriving non-member.
- 0:03:51
We have one bill on the consideration calendar, HR 3EX. This is the ratification of the motor fuel and diesel fuel. So, we got, uh, Representative Gamble's not here. Sir, anybody want... This came through Finance. Chairman, you wanna cover that for us?
- 0:04:18
It's just ratifying, as we did for the other two months, the two-week additional suspension of the gas tax that the, uh, governor imposed after session.
- 0:04:27
Okay. Are there any questions?
- 0:04:34
Does anybody know the price of gasoline now? It was, when I filled up this morning, it was 3.74. Huh?
- 0:04:44
I got it at 3.39.
- 0:04:45
Dang, I was 3.74. I should've drove up there and got it. 3.50? I guess it's higher in Coweta County. So, Senator Robertson has a question. You're recognized.
- 0:04:59
Yes, sir. Um, Chairman Hufstetler, is, is there a, a, a, an approximate figure that you can give us on what this would save residents driving? And this is two weeks, correct?
- 0:05:11
Mm-hmm.
- 0:05:12
Is there-
- 0:05:13
It's, it's a little, uh, it's, it's, uh, for a month is 180 to 200 million. So for a two-week week period, it's gonna be half of that.
- 0:05:20
Half of that, all right. So it's a substantial savings for our taxpayers.
- 0:05:24
Close to $100 million, correct.
- 0:05:25
Thank you.
- 0:05:27
Well, it's our mind in years past, we have, uh, backfilled that with surplus. Um, last couple years I think we ran it. It was about a billion dollars in savings to our, um, to our citizens, but also it was a billion dollars out of our infrastructure, which we put back with surplus. And so I would encourage us all to try to do that again as we move forward. Senator Hatchett, you're presenting this bill on the floor should it make it out of Rules.
- 0:06:00
Would you, do you have anything you'd like to add to the conversation?
- 0:06:04
No, we've done this multiple times before. Um, this specific gas tax suspension has saved Georgians almost $100 million and, um, it would be a big mistake if we don't ratify this.
- 0:06:21
Are there any questions for the longest serving governor's floor leader of all time?
- 0:06:28
Senator Ginn, if you'll leave the table. Senator Ginn, get him out of here.
- 0:06:33
What'd you want, Jeff?
- 0:06:35
Get him out of here. Turn the phone off or get out. Thank you.
- 0:06:40
Mike, I think...
- 0:06:42
Senator Rhett, you have a question.
- 0:06:47
Go ahead.
- 0:06:47
Is this a dinger?
- 0:06:49
No. We don't, we won't disclose that. I'd tell, I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you, so.
- 0:06:58
Is there, is there-
- 0:06:59
And I like you, so I don't want you to die.
- 0:07:01
Is this appropriate time to make a motion?
- 0:07:03
Um-
- 0:07:04
If I may
- 0:07:04
... are there any other questions? All right, now would be the appropriate time. I'll allow the minority whip, if you're recognized.
- 0:07:13
Oh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we put HR 3EX on the calendar.
- 0:07:20
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. First we gotta have a pick. I gotta do picks.
- 0:07:25
Oh, I'm sorry.
- 0:07:26
And I have, uh, decided that during special session, whoever, whoever arrives to Rules Committee first gets the pick. So today's winner is all the citizens from Senate District 56, represented by Senator John Albers. What pick would you like?
- 0:07:52
Mr. Chairman, you're, uh-
- 0:07:54
I don't know what number you are
- 0:07:55
... I am, uh, number three.
- 0:07:56
All right.
- 0:07:57
You're, uh, you're most gracious and, uh, kind. And, uh, after a careful review and thorough analysis, I would like to choose, if you allow it, uh, HR 3EX.
- 0:08:08
HR 3EX. Okay, now would be the appropriate time for a motion.
- 0:08:14
Point of clarification. This says for the fifth legislative day, but are, are, are we actually gonna do this today?
- 0:08:20
No. We're, we're going off-
- 0:08:22
It is-
- 0:08:22
... the yellow sheet-
- 0:08:23
Okay
- 0:08:23
... fifth yellow legislative day tomorrow.
- 0:08:24
All right, sir. All right, no problem. Um, I move that we, um, add HR 3EX to the legislative calendar for the fifth day.
- 0:08:31
Okay. We'll have a motion, we'll have a second from both whips. Is there any further discussion? All in favor say aye.
- 0:08:42
Aye.
- 0:08:44
Any opposed say nay. Motion carries unanimous. Okay, go back to the floor. Meeting adjourned.