Senate first readers, 2026 February 9

SENATE FIRST READERS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2026 FIFTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 470.

By Senators Albers of the 56th, Robertson of the 29th, Bearden of the 30th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Payne of the 54th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public order, so as to prohibit the possession, use, operation, manufacture, sale, offer for sale, distribution, or import of signal jammers; to specifically authorize the Attorney General to commence forfeiture proceedings; to provide for exemptions; to provide for definitions; to provide a short title; to provide an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 471.

By Senators Dolezal of the 27th, Hatchett of the 50th, Watson of the 1st, Summers of the 13th, Goodman of the 8th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing that no local board of education, local school superintendent, or school administrator, teacher, or other school personnel shall make or enforce any rule that requires a student to wear a face mask or face covering while present on school property unless such rule provides that a parent or guardian of such student may elect for his or her child to be exempt from such rule, approved March 29, 2022 (Ga. L. 2022, p. 23/SB 514), so as to eliminate the automatic repeal provision; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

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SB 472.

By Senators Hickman of the 4th, Walker III of the 20th, Tillery of the 19th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Sims of the 12th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, rebating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for the suspension of members of local boards of education following certain audit findings or findings by the state auditor of financial mismanagement or misconduct; to provide for a cap on the total amount of advance distributions of state allotted funds that may be made by the State Board of Education to local units of administration; to provide for intervention plans; to provide for the authority of the state auditor relative to such intervention plans; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 473.

By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Bearden of the 30th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Hatchett of the 50th, Cowsert of the 46th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to require submission of proof of completion of certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs by certain applicants to obtain limited driving permits; to require completion of a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program for acceptance of a reduced plea for a charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

SB 474.

By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Hatchett of the 50th, Tillery of the 19th, Strickland of the 42nd, Williams of the 25th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits for state income tax, so as to exclude overtime compensation from taxation; to provide for reporting by employers; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

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SB 475.

By Senators Kemp of the 38th, Dixon of the 45th, Payne of the 54th, Halpern of the 39th, Howard of the 35th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-2068.1, relating to charter school funding, so as to require local boards of education to treat local charter schools no less favorably than other local schools with respect to the expenditure of the proceeds of a special purpose local option sales tax for education; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 476.

By Senators Tillery of the 19th, Walker III of the 20th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Robertson of the 29th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 and Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance and revenue and taxation, respectively, so as to reduce the personal income tax rate; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

SB 477.

By Senators Tillery of the 19th, Walker III of the 20th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Gooch of the 51st, Robertson of the 29th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits relative to income taxes, so as to reduce the personal income tax rate; to revise provisions relative to annual reductions of the income tax; to reduce the rates of taxation on corporate and partnership income; to increase the amount of the standard deduction from state taxable income for individuals; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

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SB 478.

By Senators Watson of the 11th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Walker III of the 20th, Anderson of the 24th, Goodman of the 8th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6A of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to outdoor stewardship, so as to provide for a sunset; to raise the percentage of moneys appropriated; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.

SR 715.

By Senators Echols of the 49th, Goodman of the 8th, Burns of the 23rd, Gooch of the 51st, Hatchett of the 50th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia FFA Association and recognizing February 24, 2026, as FFA Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

SR 716. By Senator Rhett of the 33rd:

A RESOLUTION honoring Reverend Tracey R. Harris and the Harvest Community Outreach Church; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 717. By Senator Davenport of the 17th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing the City of McDonough, Georgia, upon the first annual McDonough Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 718.

By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Harbison of the 15th, Rhett of the 33rd, Wicks of the 34th and Payne of the 54th:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Sam R. Mayhan; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 719.

By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Wicks of the 34th, Harbison of the 15th, Rhett of the 33rd, Davenport of the 17th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Catherine Hardrick; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 720.

By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Wicks of the 34th, Setzler of the 37th, Kemp of the 38th, Halpern of the 39th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia Council on Aging and recognizing Wednesday, February 11, 2026, as Senior Day at the Capitol as part of Senior Week; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 721.

By Senators Wicks of the 34th, Anderson of the 43rd, Harbison of the 15th, Rhett of the 33rd and Kemp of the 38th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Tiffani Williams; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 722.

By Senators Wicks of the 34th, Anderson of the 43rd, Harbison of the 15th, Rhett of the 33rd and Kemp of the 38th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Dr. Anissa D. Hunter; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 723.

By Senators Wicks of the 34th, Sims of the 12th, Mallow of the 2nd, Anderson of the 43rd and Kemp of the 38th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing March 3, 2026, as Blue and White Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 724. By Senator Wicks of the 34th:

A RESOLUTION commending Earnest "Ernie" Broadwell and recognizing February 9, 2026, as Fayette County Day at the Capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 725.

By Senators Wicks of the 34th, Harbison of the 15th, Anderson of the 43rd, Payne of the 54th, Rhett of the 33rd and others:

A RESOLUTION celebrating the dedication of the Edward Crook Jr. Gymnasium; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 726.

By Senators Wicks of the 34th, Harbison of the 15th, Anderson of the 43rd, Payne of the 54th, Rhett of the 33rd and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Edward "Eddie" Crook, Jr.; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

HB 629.

By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Cooper of the 45th, Newton of the 127th, Greene of the 154th and Mathiak of the 82nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to remove the requirement of having a licensed physician in automated external defibrillator programs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

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HB 877.

By Representatives Jackson of the 68th, Bazemore of the 69th, Bonner of the 73rd and Mathiak of the 82nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Fayetteville; to provide for incorporation, boundaries, and powers of the city; to provide for the exercise of powers and limitations on powers; to provide for a governing authority of such city and the powers, duties, authority, prohibitions, elections, terms, removal from office, method of filling vacancies, compensation, expenses, and qualifications; to provide for franchises, service charges, and assessments; to provide for bonded and other indebtedness; to provide for accounting and budgeting; to provide for contracting and purchasing; to provide for sale of city property; to provide for bonds for officials; to provide for pending matters; to provide for definitions and construction; to provide for severability; to provide for related matters; to repeal specific Acts; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 936. By Representative Cannon of the 172nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Municipal Court of the City of Berlin; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 937. By Representatives Ford of the 170th and O'Steen of the 169th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Magistrate Court of Berrien County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

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HB 938. By Representatives Ford of the 170th and O'Steen of the 169th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Magistrate Court of Tift County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 939. By Representatives Ford of the 170th and O'Steen of the 169th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the State Court of Tift County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 940. By Representatives Ford of the 170th and O'Steen of the 169th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating and establishing the State Court of Tift County, approved March 30, 1971 (Ga. L. 1971, p. 2468), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 5, 2006 (Ga. L. 2006, p. 4575), and an Act approved May 3, 2016 (Ga. L. 2016, p. 3999), so as to provide for the compensation of the judge of such court; to provide for the compensation of the solicitor-general of such court; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 941. By Representatives Ford of the 170th and O'Steen of the 169th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Tift County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
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HB 945.

By Representatives Williamson of the 112th, Williams of the 148th and Chastain of the 7th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to banking and finance, so as to provide for holds on accounts of eligible adults for suspected financial exploitation; to provide for procedures for placing and lifting such holds; to no longer require independent credit reports to be obtained from a consumer reporting agency as defined in the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act; to provide for procedures for cease and desist orders for unregistered persons providing litigation finance; to provide for judicial hearings to review department decisions regarding litigation finance; to provide for registrant disclosures; to provide for definitions; to make conforming changes; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.

HB 952.

By Representatives Franklin of the 160th, Parrish of the 158th and Burns of the 159th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create a board of elections and registration for Bulloch County and provide for its powers and duties, approved May 11, 2009 (Ga. L. 2009, p. 4409), so as to increase the size of the board to five members; to revise procedures for the appointment of such board members; to provide for interim terms; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 953.

By Representatives Franklin of the 160th, Parrish of the 158th and Burns of the 159th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the City of Statesboro Public Facilities; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

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HB 980.

By Representatives Bonner of the 73rd, Stephens of the 164th, Petrea of the 166th, Roberts of the 52nd, Tran of the 80th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to commissions and other agencies, so as to create the Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission; to provide for members and purpose of the commission; to provide for annual reporting; to create a fund for commission expenses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

HB 982. By Representatives Camp of the 135th and Dickey of the 134th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing a new charter for the City of Barnesville, approved March 11, 1987 (Ga. L. 1987, p. 3865), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 12, 2005 (Ga. L. 2005, p. 3510), so as to change the description of the election districts for the city council; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 1026. By Representatives Sharper of the 177th, Corbett of the 174th, LaHood of the 175th and Burchett of the 176th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide for the compensation of the City of Valdosta Board of Education; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 1037. By Representatives Cummings of the 39th, Adesanya of the 43rd, Parsons of the 44th, Campbell of the 35th, Seabaugh of the 34th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the State Court of Cobb County, approved March 26, 1964 (Ga. L. 1964, p. 3211), as amended, so as to change the compensation of judges of the State Court of Cobb County; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

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HB 1057. By Representatives Kendrick of the 95th, Efstration of the 104th, Park of the 107th, Reeves of the 99th, Hong of the 103rd and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to continue and re-create the State Court of Gwinnett County, approved March 23, 1977 (Ga. L. 1977, p. 3331), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 2, 2022 (Ga. L. 2002, p. 6031), so as to provide for an eighth judge for the State Court of Gwinnett County beginning January 1, 2027; to provide for a ninth judge for said court beginning January 1, 2028; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1074. By Representatives Reeves of the 99th, Park of the 107th, Hong of the 103rd, Clark of the 100th, Efstration of the 104th and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from City of Suwanee ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes for residents of that city; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1093. By Representatives Burchett of the 176th and Corbett of the 174th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide for a nonbinding advisory referendum for the purpose of ascertaining whether the electors of Ware County support a perimeter highway bypass around Waycross; to provide for legislative purposes and findings; to provide for a referendum; to provide for mandatory execution of election and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
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