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Found 13 matching documents.
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. Okay. Next is, uh, Representative Roberts. Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, it's my understanding that, uh, the Senate did not ask for a fiscal note on this bill. There was no fiscal note addressed associated with this legislation. However, in the twenty twenty-seven appropriation, there was allocated, I believe it was eighteen million dollars....
Um, so there does appear to be some language in that, uh, you know, provision where the General Assembly could consider multiple issues related to, um, issues relating to, uh, Senate Bill 289's effective date on the, the QR code ban. Um, there are two cases from the Georgia Supreme Court which provide some insight into this con- constitutional provision,...
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 The chair announced that HB 613 had been withdrawn from the agenda at the sponsor’s request.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 · 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.
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...
Is that correct? That i- that is correct. Okay. Okay. We'll see next, uh, Representative Mary Mar- Margaret Oliver. Good morning, gentlemen. I wanna understand the timing of this more clearly. As a candidate that's within one half percent if I'm running for governor or lieutenant-governor, there is no deadline or is there a timetable where I can request...
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.
All right, we're gonna, first thing we're gonna do is, uh, we're gonna hear Senate Bill 284. And, uh, this is a committee substitute and a presenter substitute. So I will, uh, welcome Chairman Hilton and Chairman Meeks to the table to go over Senate Bill 284 for the committee. Y'all may proceed when you're ready, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm sure the...
I'll just simply highlight the last section of the bill, Section 5. Uh, th- this act shall become effective upon the governor's signature. The rationale, again, being there, we'd like for the governor to get it quick, sign it so victims can start getting their money back. Uh, and with that, I'll turn it over to Chairman Meeks to walk you through Section 2...
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.
This bill does not address the underlying causes of the unconstitutional and inhumane conditions of the Fulton County Jail and the DOJ connected under staffing at the jail to the failure to protect incarcerated people, the excessive and unreasonable use of force, and the failure to maintain hygienic and safe facilities. Um, so all of these things are, are a...
Good job.
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.
It was... This is, to be quite frank, an, a very new portion. Um, so in speaking with a few building officials today, I've heard around five or more business days at least, at a minimum. Two days doesn't explain to me Saturday and Sunday either. It, I will give credence that it does say business days. Okay. Sorry. Business days. So, um, and m- not required...
It's the local. It's the local up here and it's the... Okay. Okay. Do we have a further question? Okay, we're gonna move on. Uh, Chairman Gullett. Yeah. M- mine was along the same lines. What was the right... How long did... And it sounded like you said five days or more. For line 152, the local governing authority shall have... And it says two business...
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.
Be at ease for just one moment, please.
Okay, we're gonna, now we're gonna st- go back to the top of the agenda, and I'll ask, uh, Representative Draper to come to the table and present House Bill 502. This is another bill that was passed out of this committee last year. Uh, was recommitted when, uh, no further action was taken upon it. So, uh, Representative Draper, proceed. All right. Thank you...
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.
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Thank, thank you, Mr. Christensen. All right. So that concludes our speakers on, for, and behalf of the bill. Uh, th- I would just comment, um, in the future for anybody who wants to sign up for a bill, if you write for amendment, if the question is for or against, so that doesn't tell me exactly what it is that you're wanting to do, so it makes it a little...
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.
Anyone that has an interest would have standing at that point. It puts certain language in here about the desecration. Uh, if a, you know, if a, a jurisdiction does away with these statues, they need to keep the, the statuary preserved. You know, there's, uh, the obelisk that was at the DeKalb County Courthouse. I don't know whatever happened to it, and...
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We've got a few, few, uh, people wanting to discuss this. Uh, Representative Sanchez. Thank you, Chair. Um, thank you, Chairman Powell. I know we've already talked about this already, um, but you keep talking about standing, standing, standing. Uh, I'm pretty sure the traditional, uh, you know, judiciary process is that you...
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.
All right, y'all ready? Okay, I apologize for our little bit of a delay. As you can see, we're still trying to get, we got some members conferring in the hall. We're still trying to get our quorum present in the room. Uh, we're gonna go ahead and, uh, uh, get some of the formalities out of the way. This is the House Governmental Affairs Committee meeting...
It's gonna be a long ride home now, so. So, and her name is Kim, so. Thank you.
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.
Um, that obviously we're not opening that up 'cause that's a different code section following environmental. But if the gentlelady wants to think about that, and I can work with some of the folks that I've been working with to come up with a more specific list, I'm not opposed to that as we go through this process. Is the Sugar Creek race track on, uh,...
Chair Powell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the bill that you're bringing forth, and it, it sort of bears to me, I've got race tracks up in my district. Yes, sir. But it brings to me to bear when we're talking about nuisance or, uh, nuisance suits and such. You know, I'm in a growing part of the country. People wanna come up, they wanna be on the...
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. Representative Roberts. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, okay, so my first question is actually to Stuart Morelli. Um, my understanding is the Constitution precludes us from legislating by population, and it literally has the word population in it. So I'm curious how we're getting around that constitutional issue. Mr. Morrelli. The Constitution says that the...
So the mere changing of certain vehicles, as long as they go with their local jurisdiction, and that local jurisdictions allows that business to make that change, and there's a process that does that, then they can continue. That, that does not constitute a material change. But I will say this, we also, and I didn't highlight this earlier, so I apologize,...
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.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, I see no other questions at this time. The chair will entertain a motion. We have a motion do pass. We have a s- we have a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. The bill passes committee. Thank you. Thank you, sir. All right. Now we're gonna move on to the next bill....
Your mic is active. You can- Correct ... proceed when you're ready. All right. Thank you. Um, I have, uh, House Bill 1362, LC474055. Um, and this is just a great governance bill. Um, I've kind of started down this road in '23, '24 session with, uh, House Bill 1850. Um, and I think we all just want everything to be fair. And so with that bill, what it said...
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