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Found 153 matching passages in 16 documents.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 23, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved three bills. A substitute for SB 403 would let the Department of Revenue return unclaimed money without requiring a claim and simplify claims by heirs. The committee approved SB 532 after the chair said its original contents had been replaced with a Gwinnett judgeship proposal. After a recess, members debated a substitute for SB 552 concerning equal access for student political activities at public schools. Questions focused on after-hours access, supervision, school discipline and whether a specific Georgia incident justified the bill. The committee approved that substitute by voice vote, with opposition heard.
That's basically a, a- Okay ... where you allow discussion, but subject to some reasonable restriction. It, they can, you know, prohibit any groups from using school property to meet if they want to. I think that's called a closed forum. Um, uh, so this is not mandating they do that, but it just, you'll notice there are places where it says, "If the school...
36. Yeah. Before, during and after. Yeah, I've, I've heard that concern. Um- But you're, um, you're saying that the, they don't have to let that happen. They can restrict that. Is that what I'm hearing? Uh, yeah. Well, I think they can, as long as they do it fairly- Fairly ... um, and, and, and equally. Um, and, uh, I know one, one concern I had is about...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 16, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee advanced SB 552, concerning students’ political expression and access to school facilities, after rejecting an amendment allowing excused absences for civic or political events. It held a hearing on SB 403, which would simplify unclaimed-property payments and allow the state to permanently take ownership of some unclaimed funds. Members questioned cryptocurrency provisions, protections for creditors and property owners, and the proposed deadlines for claims. The chair held that bill for further consideration and said it would return Thursday. The committee also approved a substitute for SB 570, requiring human-trafficking awareness training for frontline workers in hotels, motels and short-term rentals. Both approved bills were sent to Rules.
Mm-mm. No. So that was offered on the floor of the Senate. I mean, no disparaging, I was in the House for four years, but w- it's a little bit more freewheeling on the floor, so that was offered as amendment and was, uh, voted down. And I tell you, really, the reason I spoke against it, I mean, this is, uh, this is a bill that was carefully crafted, wanted...
I, I, I think this would be the closest that I would want to get to their organization. They're a 501[c][3], and they're not going to, uh, engage on this. I mean, this is obviously, uh, in respect for him, but, uh, I would, uh, not wish that to be changed, so thank you. Thank you Okay. And Representative Crawford. Thank you, Chairman. And thank you,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · February 18, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, February 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved six bills: HB 1208 on certified court reporters at depositions, HB 1185 on business court and shareholder claims, HB 664 on older homeowners associations joining state law, HB 792 on magistrate court claim limits, HB 1160 on wrongful death filing deadlines, and HB 1024 on bankruptcy homestead exemptions. Members amended the magistrate court bill to set a $25,000 limit and clarified a legal reference in the wrongful death bill. Two proposed changes to the shareholder bill failed. The committee held HB 1243, which would expand researchers’ access to criminal justice data, after witnesses raised privacy concerns and possible conflicts with state and federal law.
Amen. Thank you. All right, um, we got a list of bills here. Not too many witnesses, uh, so I hope that we get through all seven of these. I have a hard stop at 3:30. So, uh, I'm gonna call my bill first, uh, because I think it's probably the simplest on here. Um, House Bill 1208, and, um, if nobody objects, I'll just do it from here. Um, this is a court...
I have with me today, uh, Avi Statler with Esquire, who's an expert on this issue. Dealing with this issue, not just in Georgia, but around the country. So if anyone has any questions, he'll be happy to do the, the dirty work. And if you don't have any questions, we simply ask for your favorable support. Thank you. Any questions? Do I hear a motion? Move to...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · February 19, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, February 19, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 1028, which would restructure district attorney pay, by a 6-5 vote after adopting an amendment to also cap local supplements for circuit public defenders. Members rejected a separate amendment that would have delayed the changes until state-funded district attorney salaries rose at least 50%. The committee also approved HB 1042, addressing access to judges’ protected information for real estate transactions, and HB 1021, increasing the amount the court clerks’ authority may retain for administrative expenses. Members discussed HR 1023, a proposed constitutional amendment on parental rights, but took no vote. The sponsor requested help revising its child-protection language, and the chair discussed returning to it Monday.
Otherwise, we tie the hands of our Supreme Court of Georgia, and I don't wanna see that happen. Um, it is a fundamental constitutional right. As recently as, uh, June of 2025 in Muh v. Taylor, the US Supreme Court refers to parents' rights as fundamental. So what does that mean? If the members of the committee have received my in advance language for an...
Government doesn't have the license to do whatever it wants once it determines there i- there is a legitimate and compelling interest. It then needs to tailor the remedy in the most narrow way possible to achieve that and not exceed it. And this is, again, in federal cases, state cases. This is not my language. This also is SCOTUS language. "A parent shall...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 19, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 19, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved SB 406 with changes to owners’ association rules, including notice requirements drawn from HB 1221, longer foreclosure notice and clearer financial-record requirements. The committee also approved SB 542, which the sponsor said would address sexual exploitation by clergy. After hearing from survivors, advocates and other witnesses, members revised the clergy definition and extended the time allowed to bring charges. Both measures passed by voice vote with no opposition heard. The committee discussed a revised SB 403 concerning unclaimed property, cryptocurrency and returning money to owners. Members questioned its implementation and provisions ending some owners’ claims. No member moved to advance it, and the chair declared that it failed.
It- I don't believe that we include those within privileged clergy, and so the state of Georgia's evidence code doesn't even recognize imams within it. And, and I appreciate that, and I'll take any advice from the esteemed, um, attorneys on the committee. I, I do think that they would be included in some of the expanded, uh, definitions as you go through...
So that, that's the, uh, line there because consent has always been used as a defense in this misconduct. Okay. And then my other questions are it, it has a first and second degree, and the first degree is for engages in sexually explicit conduct which gets us to that definition in 16-12-100. Which... I, I apologize, sir. Which line are you on? Sorry. Line,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · February 23, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, February 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 1365, HB 1364 and HB 688, along with amended versions of HB 1221 and HB 1348. These measures concerned an additional superior court judge, timeshare foreclosures, delivery of court documents, homeowners’ association collection practices and court-appointed receivers’ pay. Much of the meeting focused on HB 1223, which would restrict public access to recordings depicting death. Members heard arguments about family privacy, commercial use of footage, news reporting and public oversight. The committee adopted several amendments but rejected a proposed news-media exception. With another amendment still unresolved, the chair postponed further work until Wednesday at 1 p.m. No final vote on that bill occurred.
Well, it's still not encoded, but let's provide- Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right, bill passes.
Despite our, our history of finding solutions to a problem, I'm not sure me and you have reached one on this one yet, but I want to talk to you maybe when we get a break here. Yes, sir. Thank you, Reagan. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. Thank you. Let's see. Margaret Caywood. Hope I got that right. You did. Ah, all right. Thank you. I'm...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · February 9, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, February 9, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved four bills. HB 1024 would raise the amount of home equity protected in bankruptcy, following discussion about homeowners’ needs and repayment to creditors. The committee approved a substitute to HB 211 setting a gross negligence standard for PFAS receivers, despite objections about public notice and questions about its wording. Survivors, whistleblowers and advocates supported HB 1187, which addresses confidentiality agreements involving sexual abuse and human trafficking. The committee amended that bill to address existing agreements before approving it. The committee also approved HB 1042 after reviewing a substitute and adopting an amendment clarifying payment language for property sales. All four bills passed by voice vote, with no numerical totals stated.
All right, let's see. All those in favor of the amendment, uh, as stated by Chairman Leverett, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Nay. All right, we have that on. Any further discussion about the bill? Any other amendments? Hearing none, all those in favor of the bill say aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right, bill passes. And we're done. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All right. All right, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? No. The ayes have it. Bill passes, it'll go to rules. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 17, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee held hearings on SB 406, concerning homeowners and condominium associations, and SB 463, concerning large investors’ ownership of single-family homes. On SB 406, members and witnesses discussed state registration, access to records, a lower-cost complaint process and foreclosure protections. The chair requested a revised version rather than voting on individual amendments. On SB 463, supporters described competition between investors and homebuyers, while opponents raised concerns about rental supply, construction financing and legal challenges. Members requested proposed changes and clarification of exceptions. Neither bill received a vote. The chair expected both to return Thursday, with additional testimony planned for SB 463.
I believe that it requires divestment. It also, I know that for the sing- for the single-family for-rent neighborhoods, which may be part of what you're talking about, where you have somebody come in and build 300 new houses, it would allow them to still do that, but they would have to sell those housing units within seven years. Uh, our bill is silent on...
Why is that? Because these homes that are being built have a high propensity to house children, younger families, and so the cost of these homes, as far as services go in our community, they're higher. That being said, as we work through this bill, I would like to see something that addresses that. We've got to make sure that, um, that as we think about...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 5, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 289 after changing implementation dates to 2027, and separately approved HB 1016 and HR 1046. HB 1360, concerning local tax and fee refunds, did not advance because no member made a motion. During the remote-notarization hearing, witnesses also debated the stronger unauthorized-practice-of-law penalties in HB 1433, without taking action on that bill. The committee continued a lengthy hearing on HB 1343, concerning how unmarried fathers establish legal fatherhood. Speakers discussed education, standardized forms, DNA testing, parental rights and possible drafting changes. After a recess, the chair announced that too few members remained to take action, leaving that bill in committee.
Um, the bill redefines, uh, appear and personally appear at lines forty to forty-five to expressly include interaction, uh, via compliant communication technology, which legally satisfies, uh, the, um, personal-- requiring personal appearance, um, part of the statute. And then step four would be, um, slides three eleven through three eighteen. The entire...
Okay. Well, okay. Can you hear me? All right. Uh, so I have HB 1016. Okay.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 2, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 2, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard seven bills. It tabled HB 899 after supporters and opponents disagreed over changes to transfer-on-death deeds. It approved HB 1403, concerning judges’ military legal service, and a substitute to HB 1223, restricting access to government recordings depicting a person’s death. It also approved HB 1028 after extending its compensation-system opt-in deadline to 2034, and HB 1397 after broadening protections against prosecution based on evidence from sexual assault examinations. The committee approved HB 1414, concerning related limited liability companies. It began discussing HB 1343, which would offer a streamlined process for establishing unmarried fathers’ legal status, but took no vote. The chair said that discussion would continue the next morning.
Exactly. All right. Thank you. And- Okay. Uh, Representative Westbrook. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, uh, Chairman Cooper, for bringing it. And also just want to say thank you to, uh, Ms. Caldwell for, for coming and sharing what had to be an extremely traumatic experience. Um, w- can, and maybe this is for the prosecuting attorney's council, uh,...
I mean, you know, they normally draw blood, and they get a urine specimen. Uh, a lot of the drug testing is from the urine. But if they do feel like that they should do a, um, pelvic exam, they can do it. Or it, it was my understanding they can call the people who normally, the nurses who normally do that to step in to do that part of it. The main thing is...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · February 5, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved five bills: HB 1121 on court-term dates in the Cordele Judicial Circuit, HB 948 on notices about surplus foreclosure proceeds, HB 979 on state jurisdiction over juvenile offenses at military installations, HB 545 on ordering appeal transcripts, and HB 1215 on adding a judge to the Middle Judicial Circuit. The committee also discussed a substitute for HB 1042, covering judicial privacy, special-master eligibility and foreclosure payments. Members questioned whether its payment changes would limit cash buyers or disadvantage smaller bidders. The chair deferred that bill until Monday to allow further work on the language. The five approvals were by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
Oh. Thanks. You got it. That's what, that's what ... All right. All right, ladies and gentlemen. Thank y'all for being here. Uh, got a little late start from what we started to, uh, at 1:00. But, uh, to get us underway, I thought I'd call on the vice chair for a word of prayer. Thank you. Let's pray. Dear Lord, with, uh, literacy being the word of the...
Okay. All right. Well, we- we got a question. Representative Kelley. Mr. Chairman, I was just saying I remember us passing this bill. Is it the same language? Same language. Motion to pass, Mr. Chairman. All right. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Thank you. Bill passes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · January 27, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, January 27, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The House Judiciary Committee approved five measures: HB 999, allowing additional magistrate court fees through local legislation and correcting an election-law provision; HR 251, proposing a constitutional amendment for nonpartisan probate judge elections; HB 557, adding a sixth superior court judge in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit; HB 960, adding a twelfth superior court judge in Gwinnett; and HB 676, imposing a penalty for knowingly filing an unauthorized mechanic’s lien. The committee considered a substitute for HB 557 that moved dates back one year. All five measures passed by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
Thank you. Any further questions? All right. No further questions. Do we have a motion? Move to pass. We have a, a motion by the majority leader to pass. Uh, we have a second by, uh, Representative Scoggins. Uh, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. All right, the bill does pass. Thank you, sir. Thank y'all.
Uh, and you were right, they, they definitely have weighed in and are asking for this seat. Um, do any, any questions for Representative- Move to pass. We have a, a motion to pass by Vice Chair Hong. We have a second by Majority Leader Efstration. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. The bill does pass. Thank you.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 4, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved four bills: HB 1475, concerning representatives continuing public-benefit matters after an applicant dies; HB 1433, increasing penalties for unauthorized practice of law; HB 1470, addressing allegedly abusive website-accessibility lawsuits; and HB 899, revising transfer-on-death deed procedures. Members amended HB 1475 before approval and approved substitutes for HB 1470 and HB 899. The committee also discussed HB 1360, which would prohibit class-action tax-refund lawsuits against counties and cities. Supporters described costs to taxpayers, while members raised concerns about affordable access to legal relief. The committee tabled that bill, with the chair indicating it could return the next day.
All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Okay, Bill- Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Got your bill. All right. Um, Ms. Hong, you have 1433?
Thank you. All right. So any objection to adding in line five the changes in- No ... in your amendments? No, no, I would- Okay I would m- move to amend my amendment. Well, our, our, our, our motion was for the- ... amendment before we added that in, so that's why I'm asking. Okay. Yeah, no, I'm, I'm- All right, hear no objection, then we're adding that...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 26, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 26, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee reviewed the Senate changes to HB 61, focusing on removing unauthorized occupants from property, hotel guests’ rights and clearing certain eviction records. Members disagreed over protections for families living in extended-stay hotels. The chair then proposed replacing the contents of SB 463 with the language under discussion, and a motion to approve that bill was seconded. Members requested clearer protections and testimony from housing advocates after hearing from the hotel industry. No amendment vote or final vote appears in the transcript. The chair recessed the meeting until 1 p.m. to prepare a substitute and allowed written testimony before then.
Okay. That's all the questioning we have right now. So in order to prepare these amendments, 'cause I don't think we've had any time to do that, we're gonna take a short break and let folks work on it, and then we're gonna come back. Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, I'm backing Judiciary non-civil up to 11:00 AM to provide for time for- Right ... Judiciary, so....
I just think if we've heard from the hotel industry, the least we could do is at least hear from some of the advocates for the families. I don't mind doing that. I just, I'm just telling you I'm running out of time. I ju- I just think, in fairness, we should hear from them right now. Okay. Yeah. You don't wanna have any time to work on your amendment? No, I...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 26, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 26, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee resumed consideration of SB 463 and approved a substitute dealing with hotel guests and long-term stays. Members rejected five amendments addressing eviction records, notice and opportunities to resolve contract violations, law enforcement involvement, restoration of the Senate-passed text, and tenant status for long-term hotel residents. The chair confirmed that written testimony had been received. A member noted that people who returned to the meeting had no opportunity to testify. The substitute passed by a show of hands, with no vote count announced, and the committee adjourned.
Vice Chair Reeves? Representative Oliver, did, did this amendment pass the Senate? It did not. Okay. Thank you. I'm giving it another chance in a body with greater wisdom. And I have the perspective of both bodies that I can assert that opinion. Okay. All right. Uh, Chairman Smith? After, after this amendment, Mr. Chair. Okay. All right. Then I'll clear it....
Yeah. We're adjourned.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 25, 2026
House Judiciary Committee, March 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee brought SB 111 off the table and considered a substitute concerning eligibility for the Rural Hospital Tax Credit. The presenter said the changes would add seven rural hospitals to the program and prevent federal funding from affecting eligibility. After brief supportive comments and no substantive questions, the committee approved the bill by voice vote, with no opposition heard, and adjourned.
Well, take care. That's it. We're adjourned.
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