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Found 105 matching passages in 13 documents.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · March 17, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered a substitute for SB 214 that would move Georgia toward ballots printed on demand, marked by voters and counted by scanners, with full implementation by January 1, 2028. Members and witnesses discussed training, funding, accessibility, equipment security and transferring a ballot-image audit pilot to the State Election Board. Local election officials and several advocacy organizations supported the longer transition, while opponents sought earlier changes or hand-counting. The committee adopted three amendments and rejected three others concerning audit authority or timing. The committee approved the substitute as amended by voice vote, with opposition heard but no final vote count stated.
Uh, we're gonna provide secure chains of custody and testing, again, with observation and oversight, uh, to ensure that those things are done in conformance with Georgia law. And we're gonna make sure that anyone who, um, takes advantage of our voting systems criminally will be appropriately, uh, held accountable. And we'll, uh, address effective dates as...
It'll, it'll allow for alignment marking, but not for code interpretation. So the, the issue is here in section six, go to a new statewide voting system, uh, actually January 1st of 2028. Is that right? That's, that's, that's the deadline for, yes, for implementation. That's the deadline for selecting the equipment. That's the deadline for implementation....
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · March 5, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved six bills: HB 467 on monument protection and relocation, HB 1482 on county use of Atlanta’s jail, HB 868 on health coverage for retiring county officers, HB 613 on apprenticeship information, HB 1227 on voter-registration notifications, and HB 1442 on limits to local development moratoriums. Members debated monument lawsuits, local control over jail facilities, retirement benefits and development decisions. The committee initially tabled HB 1482, then brought it back and approved it 9-4 without public testimony. It approved HB 467 6-5 after rejecting a naming amendment. Members amended HB 868 to include county commissioners and change coverage-administration provisions, and amended HB 1442 with changes suggested by the Georgia Municipal Association.
But, okay, I'll let you proceed to, uh, bring House Bill 1227. This is a bill we have heard in subcommittee, and, uh, go at, at your leisure, sir. All right. Yeah, this is LC474109S. Uh, this is a bill we've heard a couple times in subcommittee. Um, it's really just best described as a, as a voter service bill, is what I would say. Um, it's not a new...
Any opposed? Motion carries, bill passes. Thank you. All right. Next on the list is House Bill 1442. Uh, Representative Washburn
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · March 26, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 26, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved three bills and tabled another. Members tabled SB 21 after its original sponsor asked to restore language allowing lawsuits against local governments over violations of Georgia immigration law. The committee approved a monument-protection substitute to SB 175 by a 9-5 vote. Members approved SB 423 with an amendment narrowing its proposed limit on out-of-state campaign contributions to candidates and campaign committees, following debate over constitutional concerns and reporting burdens. The committee also approved SB 437, covering private residential building inspections, after changing the project-cost threshold for higher insurance coverage.
And if they don't, and they're out of compliance with this, the violations are subject to civil penalties under our ethics laws, which is 21-5-6, which follows to the Ethics Commission. As said, you can spend what type of money you want, we just wanna know who you are. Section Two of the bill, this is where we get to what I call Georgians Electing Georgians...
And finally, lines 114 through 125, this is to prohibit straw man donations. So either the person outside the state trying to get someone to take illegal money to donate, or an individual inside the state that's willing and knowingly takes the money from someone outside the state to try to skirt the system, will be subject to a felony, that is a one to...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · February 23, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, February 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard proposals on workforce coordination, homelessness services, public officials’ financial interests, housing and local school superintendents. It approved HB 1396, approved HB 1362 with an amendment extending restrictions to federal agencies and departments, and approved HR 1348. Members heard HB 1166 without voting and requested revisions addressing concerns about its scope. The committee amended HB 1177 to raise its income limit, then tabled it while another amendment remained unresolved. The opening portion covered HB 1302, but the transcript shows no vote on that proposal.
Thank you. Thank you very much. All right, now we're gonna move on to House Bill 1177, and invite, uh, Representative Al Williams to come to the table, sir. Could be the finest bill of this session. This bill- My expectations are high, so... I don't know if happy birthday will do it, but, uh- This is, um, in the words of the Silver Fox, former Senator Kidd...
Um, are there any questions you might have? Very simple bill. Got due pass written all over it. All right. Well, we, we do have a question. Uh, Chairman Sainz. Thank you, uh, uh, Mr. Chairman, and to my friend in the coast. My, uh, first, uh, question is, how sweet do you feel this policy would be if passed? How sweet? Not quite as sweet as cherry wine, but...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · February 18, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, February 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved all five bills it considered: SB 51, HB 502, HB 1129, HB 1247 and HB 963. Members amended SB 51 to delay its effective date to July 1, 2027. Discussion covered local government contracting, voting access for people with young children, limits on enterprise zones, courts’ treatment of agency interpretations of law, and foreign money in referendum campaigns. The longest debate concerned HB 1247, including questions about judicial independence, agency expertise and possible appeals. A motion to table that bill failed before the committee approved it. Opposition was heard on the voice votes for SB 51, HB 1247 and HB 963, but no vote counts were stated.
Thank you. All right. Next, we'll call to the microphone, uh, Representative Matt Reeves to present House Bill 1247. Thank you, Chairman Anderson and members of the Governmental Affairs Committee. I am proud to present to you House Bill 1247, uh, the Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act. Um, here in the 20- uh, 250th anniversary of America, this act, uh,...
Uh, that was about the Administrative Procedures Act and some very important rulemaking issues. This bill would apply to any case that goes to court to make it clear that elected officials make the law, judges interpret the law, agencies are there to execute the law. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, sir. We have a few questions here. Uh, Representative Roberts....
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · June 22, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, June 22, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee held a hearing only on SB 3, which addresses future voting equipment, election audits and the deadline for removing QR codes from vote counting. Discussion centered on a Senate-added requirement to hand-count the top two races before certification. Committee members and witnesses raised questions about accuracy, staffing, costs, deadlines and whether parts of the bill fit the special session’s scope. Supporters said hand counts could uncover machine errors and increase confidence. Many witnesses asked the committee to remove the hand-count requirement. The chair said discussions about a possible substitute were underway and another meeting might occur the next morning. No amendment or vote occurred before adjournment.
Thank you. Thank you. Okay. With that, we'll, uh, I'll turn the, uh, microphone over to our esteemed colleague, Senator Burns, to present Senate Bill 3EX. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Committee. Uh, good morning. Happy Monday. I know we're all excited to be here on this day, and, uh, consider Senate Bill 3EX. I'm working from SB3EX as passed by the...
Those decisions will be made in the, uh, 2027 session, regular session. So the committee is composed of nine individuals: three electors by the governor, three electors by the com- uh, committee on assignment... Uh, excuse me, three senators appointed by the committee on assignments in the Senate, and then three representatives appointed by the speaker. Uh,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · February 25, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 812 with changes to construction-permit review procedures, HB 1166 allowing certain small secondary homes, HB 400 offering funding incentives for local housing-policy changes, and HB 863 encouraging state contracts with Georgia small businesses. Members amended the first three before approving them. The committee tabled HB 1315, concerning limits on development moratoriums and compensation for affected property owners, and agreed to send it back to subcommittee. After discussing emergency contacts for apartment properties, response deadlines and penalties under HB 779, the chair designated that discussion a hearing only and said it would return to subcommittee. The meeting ended after the committee lost the attendance needed to conduct business, with remaining business deferred to a future meeting.
Aye. Any opposed? Like sign. Okay, that passes. Uh, that goes back to the, uh... By doing so, we have basically a- approved both amendments in that case. So now we're back to the underlying bill as amended. I'll recognize, uh, Representative Momtahan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I'm thinking about just being a statewide uniform, you know, measure. And Mr....
I wouldn't, uh, gut the bill probably. Okay. So that would be no. Thank you. Yeah, that's a no. Thank you. Okay. It's after line 167. Okay. So, uh, uh, Mr. Morelli is not at a microphone, so you're saying after line 167, if you'd like to... Let's see. Hold on, hold on one second. Let me get you back up. What's that, 14? 13? Let's see. 12. 12. 12. Okay. My...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · February 11, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, February 11, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee advanced all five agenda bills: HB 913 on government software contracts, HB 1066 on racetrack nuisance claims, HB 1130 on campaign-funded security, HB 1133 on financing solar projects at closed landfills, and HB 1180 on removing a housing authority bond limit. The racetrack substitute passed 9 to 8 after debate over property owners’ access to courts, changes in racing operations and local authority. The other bills passed by voice vote, with no opposition recorded. During public comment, two witnesses opposed ending Georgia’s participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center, citing concerns about costs, voter records and data security. No action followed those comments.
Okay. Next, we'll ask, uh, Floor Leader Seabaugh to come and present House Bill 1130. And guest. Honored guest. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members of the committee, I present House Bill 1130, LC 47-39-37. It's titled the SECURE Act. The Georgia SECURE Act is about one simple principle: No one should be discouraged from serving the public because of threats to...
So it requires that security equipment purchased with campaign funds be returned to the campaign or reimbursed at fair market value at the conclusion of the campaign or term of office. So this legislation does not change election procedures, voting laws, or ballot access. It simply provides clarity in a statute, strengthens reporting requirements, and...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · March 2, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 2, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 1177, HB 1260 and HB 1299, covering development-authority housing financing, training requirements for local elected officials and hospital partnerships with physicians. It also approved HB 1447 after adding a requirement to review utility bond structures. The committee heard competing arguments on HB 1384, which would redirect part of municipal utility franchise revenue to counties, but held no vote. After testimony supporting and opposing expanded city control over development-authority activity in Fulton County, the committee approved HB 1386.
Okay, now we're gonna let Chair Lady, uh, Leesa Hagan come up, and we'll present 1260, House Bill 1260. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I regret that I have to follow that incredible, uh, Representative Williams and his perfect bill. Uh, I have, uh, House Bill 1260. It is the same that, that we had as subcommittee, no changes. LC443449S. And, um, just as a...
Mm ... that operate. So looking at that and making sure we're doing what's right for the taxpayer, I think, is where this bill comes from. Got it. And so you said every 10 years, so the first review would be in 2037? That would be correct. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Chairman LaHood. Thanks, Chairman. Uh, on line, uh, 13 it says the local, a local taxing body...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · March 18, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved a substitute for SB 284 that combined authority to order repayment to securities-fraud victims with school-roofing procurement provisions presented from HB 669. Members asked who would be covered by the repayment authority and how victims currently recover money. The committee also approved SB 593, which would require local governments to disclose development impact fees upon a written request describing a project. Both measures passed by voice vote, with no vote counts stated.
Okay, thank you. We've got a couple of lights flashing here. Uh, Representative Adesanya. Th- th- thank you, Chairman. Um, I kinda, like, got lost. Uh, we, we started talking about the compensation from, like, fraud, correct? Correct. And that's to, um, all banks in Georgia? No, so what happens is, so you have someone, a fraudster, who, uh, uh, gets a...
There you go. That one works. Thank you. So does this just apply to individuals, or does it also apply to banks? So, so this applies to anyone who is subject to the Georgia Uniform Securities Act. So anybody, business or individual, who violates that act or is found in violation, uh, this then is appli- applied to them, and an order is issued for them to...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · January 28, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, January 28, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 903, which the sponsor described as expanding oversight of state agency rules, and HB 140, which would limit cities’ reliance on fines and forfeitures. For HB 140, members adopted an amendment phasing in the limits through 2030 before sending the amended bill to Rules. Both bills passed by voice vote, with no vote counts stated. The chair announced that HB 613 had been withdrawn from the agenda at the sponsor’s request. The committee also heard from DeKalb County’s chief executive about housing affordability, rental registries and rent increases, and from a citizen urging protection of voting access and opposition to federal executive involvement in elections.
That's right. Yeah, GMA and I, um- Their, their organization was involved in that Okay. Vouch for that, but- All right. And now we'll recognize, uh, Representative Oliver. I may be re- not remembering this correctly, and, um, Mr. Hitc- Representative Chairman Hitchens may be able to answer better. There used to be a statute or a process where public safety...
It's just different. Um, theirs is specific with the speeding, and I think, um, Department of Public Safety has the ability to pull the radar if they exceed a percentage of their public safe- of their, of their police budget for speeding tickets. Mine covers all fines and fees, including civil asset forfeiture fines and fees for the entire city budget. So...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · February 4, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, February 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved two bills. HB 1066 would protect established racing facilities from certain nuisance claims within five miles. Members debated the size of that area, residents’ access to courts and whether protection should cover nuisances other than noise. Amendments to reduce the radius and limit protection to noise claims failed, and the bill passed by voice vote. HB 1027 would allow participating local governments to make retail electricity contracts lasting up to 20 years rather than 10. The sponsor said longer contracts would help recover infrastructure costs from large customers. It passed with no opposition voiced. The chair initially announced HB 166, but the presentation that followed concerned HB 1066; no substantive discussion of HB 166 followed.
Thank you. Okay, we're gonna move on to the next and last bill. It happens to be a bill that I am the author of, so I'm gonna relinquish the microphone and the tablet- Representative Mary Margaret, I will, I will co-sponsor a bill- ... to Vice Chair Thomas ... to ban strip clubs in all of Georgia forever, in perpetuity. I'm 100% with you. So. Oh, boy. Hey,...
Um, we, we took a different approach than Iowa and many of the other states who are considering this. Um, Iowa, for example, did not even put a s- set definition on what the radius would be. It is not even in their state law. So I felt like for Georgia, we're not gonna do things the same way another state does. So I felt like after talking with many folks,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee · June 23, 2026
House Governmental Affairs Committee, June 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved an amended substitute for SB 3, concerning recommendations for future election equipment, hand recounts and election audits. Members questioned how recount results would be used, certification deadlines and whether equipment requirements could limit vendors. The committee adopted an amendment directing equipment recommendations toward hand-marked paper ballots printed on demand. An amendment to remove the mandatory hand-recount section failed, 7 to 13. The amended substitute then passed by voice vote.
Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, again, uh, committee, I appreciate your, uh, diligence and your work. I appreciate the chairman, uh, making recommendations that both Um, bodies can be comfortable with. And I, as is, as in every piece of legislation, it's a process, and in most processes, uh, no one, uh, party gets everything that they'd like to see. But at...
Okay, and then the last question, if this is, i- if this is, recount does come up, does that mean, uh, we're, um, having to delay certification and delay who declares, who's declared the winner? And so for example, say, on election night, they declare something, someone won by, say, .4%, would this mean that the, that, that declaration is no longer valid...
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