Daily report, 2026 February 18

DAILY REPORT Wednesday
February 18, 2026

20th Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

The House will reconvene for its 21st Legislative Day on Thursday, February 19 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. No bills and resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 419 Education; require possession of opioid antagonists by institutions within University System of Georgia
Bill Summary: HB 419 prevents the prohibition of possession of an opioid antagonist on university system or technical college system property or at university system or technical college system sponsored activities.

The bill requires institutions and units to acquire and maintain a supply of opioid antagonists in a secure location, subject to available funding from community funding sources. For institutions or units that maintain an automated external defibrillator, the bill requires such institutions or units to maintain an opioid antagonist storage compartment within three feet of said automated external defibrillator, subject to available funding from community funding sources.

The bill authorizes university system and technical college system personnel to administer opioid antagonists when necessary in specified situations.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Higher Education
Yeas: 165 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-11-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 541

Education; tuition equalization grants; expand definition of an approved school to include certain institutions which offer programs in nursing
Bill Summary: HB 541 expands tuition equalization grant eligibility to include higher education institutions that offer baccalaureate programs in nursing, have a current physical presence in Georgia for at least 10 years, have received accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and have accreditation from either the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

These institutions must also have a four-year average passage rate of at least 80 percent for the National Council Licensure Examination, and admit students who have a high school diploma or equivalency or a degree from an accredited postsecondary institution. Such institutions are only considered as approved institutions for the tuition equalization grant program, not the Dual Enrollment program or HOPE scholarships/grants.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th) Higher Education
Yeas: 167 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-11-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Today on the Floor

HB 943

Social services; establish a pilot program for autism spectrum disorder to children in foster care; provide
Bill Summary: HB 943 requires the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to develop a five-year pilot program for providing screenings and clinical evaluations for autism spectrum disorder to children in foster care, prioritizing those who have been diagnosed with ADHD or reactive attachment disorder, or who have been prescribed psychotropic medication.

The bill requires training and resources for DFCS providers and caregivers. The pilot program will begin in three regional service areas and expand to additional areas each year. DFCS will submit a written report on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program to the governor, speaker of the House, president of the Senate, and chairpersons of the House Committee on Public and Community Health, House Committee on Judiciary Juvenile, and Senate Health and Human Services Committee upon one year of operation of the pilot program, and annually thereafter until July 1, 2031.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Deborah Silcox (53rd) Judiciary, Juvenile
Yeas: 165 Nays: 2

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-11-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 964

Revenue and taxation; state and local title ad valorem tax fee; exempt certain motor vehicles used in fire protection services for local governments
Bill Summary: HB 964 amends O.C.G.A. 48-5C-1, relating to alternative ad valorem taxation of motor vehicles, to exempt motor vehicles owned or leased by a 501(c)(3) entity and used for fire protection services for local governments from state and local title ad valorem tax.

The bill further amends 48-8-3, related to exemptions from sales and use taxes, to exempt the sale of tangible personal property owned by a 501(c)(3) entity and used for fire protection services for local governments from sales tax.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Charles Cannon (172nd) Ways & Means
Yeas: 164 Nays: 4

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Structured 02-11-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 970

Quality Basic Education Act; expand which healthcare professionals may conduct preparticipation physical examinations
Bill Summary: HB 970 requires the person conducting physical exams for students participating in extracurricular activities to be a licensed medical physician, doctor of osteopathic medicine, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant. The bill requires the examination to contain a cardiovascular prescreening.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Rick Townsend (179th) Health
Yeas: 166 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1096 Public Health, Department of; provide that if certain employees of a county board of health become employees of such department such employees will retain accrued annual and sick leave
Bill Summary: HB 1096 allows eligible county board of health employees to retain accrued annual and sick leave when they become employed by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Public and Community Health
Yeas: 165 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Today on the Floor

HB 1182 Agriculture; soil amendments; provide for additional prohibited acts
Bill Summary: HB 1182 pertains to soil amendments derived from industrial byproducts, prohibiting them from being stored within 100 feet of any property line and from being loaded or unloaded within 100 feet of a public road.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Trey Rhodes (124th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs
Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-11-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1202 Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory Board; correct a scrivener's error in a cross-reference
Bill Summary: HB 1202 corrects a scrivener's error in Code, referencing Code Section 35-6A-16 instead of Code Section 35-6A-15.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. John Corbett (174th) Motor Vehicles
Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2026 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Committee Actions

Committee Actions
Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar.

Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

HB 947

Georgia SNAP Healthier Choices Act of 2026; enact
Bill Summary: HB 947 creates the 'Georgia SNAP Integrity Act of 2026.' The Georgia Department of Human Services is permitted to examine documents, electronic material, records, and other materials relating to SNAP recipients or applicants which may be obtained by subpoena.

The bill restricts new categorical eligibility or gross income standards to be granted unless required by federal law. For households with zero net income, include an able-bodied adult without dependents, or with unstable circumstances, will have a certification period of no more than four months by January 1, 2029. For households that may become ineligible for SNAP within 30 days of eligibility determination, the certification period will be one to two months.

The bill provides further household eligibility requirements, including but not limited to income, residency, and citizenship or immigration status. Beginning July 1, 2027 and for every six months until January 1, 2029, the department will submit a status report to the chairpersons of the House Appropriations Committee; Senate Appropriations Committee; House Committee on Public and Community Health; and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

On a monthly basis, the Department of Human Services ("department") will review information that may indicate a circumstance changes that may affect eligibility including but not limited to death records and changes in residency. Additionally, on a monthly basis, the department will review federal data regarding earned income; death registry; incarceration records; income and employment; fleeing felon information; and address change information. On a quarterly basis, the department will receive and review information from the Department of Labor and the centralized employee registry to see if a change in circumstances may affect an individual's SNAP eligibility.

A data-matching agreement will be shared with the department and the Georgia Lottery Corporation to identify households with lottery winning that may affect their SNAP eligibility. Language is added to restrict the department from seeking, applying for, accepting, or renewing waiver of work requirements without first having General Assembly authorization. The bill provides a definition for "EBT card" and lists card display, citizenship, work, and usage requirements.

Language is provided that the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Division of Family and Children Services ("division") may coordinate to identify SNAP use expansion at local farmers markets, and the division and department will submit an annual report by December 31 to the General Assembly that shows farmers market vendor participation and improvement recommendations.

The bill restricts SNAP benefits from being used to purchase food or beverages in a food service establishment or beverages intended to be consumed at time of purchase, and the division may issue guidelines to authorized SNAP retailers. The bill does not limit or regulate D-SNAP or other emergency circumstance services.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Martin Momtahan (17th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Committee Actions

Governmental Affairs Committee

HB 502

Elections; preferential treatment during advance voting for voters accompanied by children two years of age or younger; provide
Bill Summary: HB 502 allows electors accompanied by one or more children of two years of age or younger to vote without waiting in line during the period of advance voting or during specified hours on election day.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Saira Draper (90th) Governmental Affairs

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 963

Elections; prohibit foreign nationals from contributing to or participating in any campaign
Bill Summary: HB 963 requires campaign committee registrations to include certification that no preliminary activity was funded by one or more foreign nationals, directly or indirectly. The bill requires certain campaign committee reports to include a certification that the donor associated with each contribution is not a foreign national and has not knowingly received contributions from one or more foreign nationals in excess of $100,000 within the immediate four-year period preceding the date of the contribution being reported.

The bill prohibits foreign nationals from interfering or influencing the outcome of any proposed constitutional amendment; proposed statewide, county, or municipal question; or statewide referendum.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chuck Martin (49th) Governmental Affairs

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

HB 1129 Local government; designation of enterprise zones; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 1129 prohibits the exemption of state sales and use tax for any redevelopment projects used to qualify an area for designation as an enterprise zone, unless specifically exempted by the governor. The bill prohibits the use of revenue bond principal funds to be used in specified instances. The bill limits the number of enterprise zones that can exist within an urban redevelopment area to a maximum of four.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Devan Seabaugh (34th) Governmental Affairs

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

HB 1247 Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act; enact
Bill Summary: HB 1247 creates the 'Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act.' The bill prohibits a court from deferring to a state agency when interpreting laws and regulations.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Matt Reeves (99th) Governmental Affairs

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 51

State, County, and Municipal Road Systems; contracting procedures related to the acquisition of certain professional services by counties and municipalities; revise
Bill Summary: SB 51 provides requirements and procedures for the acquisition by local governments of professional services by architects, interior designers, land surveyors, landscape architects, and professional engineers.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Ed Setzler (37th) Governmental Affairs

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Committee Actions

Health Committee

HB 810

Insurance; require that final reimbursements to pharmacies for prescription drugs are based on certain formulas
Bill Summary: HB 810 requires pharmacy benefit managers to ensure final reimbursement to a pharmacy for a prescription drug is equal to the national average drug acquisition cost at the time the drug was dispensed, plus a professional dispensing fee equal to the Georgia Medicaid dispensing fee.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Health

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 951

Insurance; require health benefit policy coverage for medically necessary orthotic and prosthetic devices and their materials and components
Bill Summary: HB 951 requires insurance companies to cover medically necessary orthotic and prosthetic devices, along with their materials and components.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Clark (100th) Health

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

HB 1002 Social services; transfer Medicaid coverage for foster children from managed care to fee-forservice
Bill Summary: HB 1002 moves foster care children on Medicaid from managed care organizations to fee-for-service.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Beth Camp (135th) Health

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

HB 1192 Public assistance; certain accounting practices by Department of Human Services and Department of Community Health; provide
Bill Summary: HB 1192 requires additional reporting from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Community Health to the chairpersons of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, as well as the House Committee on Public and Community Health and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Health

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

HB 1211 Insurance; guidelines and recommendations for colorectal cancer screening, examinations, and laboratory tests; provide
Bill Summary: HB 1211 updates the organizations that establish guidelines and recommendations for colorectal cancer screening and insurance coverage.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Trey Kelley (16th) Health

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Committee Actions

HR 592

House Study Committee on Noncompete Clauses in Physician Contracts; create
Bill Summary: HR 592 creates the House Study Committee on Noncompete Clauses in Physician Contracts. The committee will be composed of five members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the House, who will also designate a chairperson. This committee will be abolished December 1, 2026.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mark Newton (127th) Health

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HR 948

House Study Committee on Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumer Access to Prescription Medications; create
Bill Summary: HR 948 establishes the House Study Committee on Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumer Access to Prescription Medications. This committee will have five members and be abolished on December 1, 2026.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ron Stephens (164th) Health

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Human Relations & Aging Committee
HB 1238 Community Health, Department of; submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize the qualification of certain caregivers for Medicaid reimbursement
Bill Summary: HB 1238 directs the Department of Community Health to submit a waiver request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize qualification for Medicaid reimbursement for caregivers of individuals under the age of 21 and at risk for out of home placement or residential treatment due to complex behavioral health conditions.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th) Human Relations & Aging

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

Judiciary Committee

HB 664

Property owners' associations; development and affirmative election; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 664 allows the recordation of home owners associations covenants that require three-fourths of votes to approve submission and amendments. Covenant provisions that require a majority greater than three-fourths are valid if the association votes by majority within one year of recordation to maintain the provisions. If no vote occurs, those provisions requiring more than threefourths of votes will be deemed to only require three-fourths of the voting interest.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Deborah Silcox (53rd) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 792 Courts; increase amount of magistrate court claims from $15,000.00 to $30,000.00
Bill Summary: HB 792 increases the maximum dollar amount of claims to be heard in magistrate courts from $15,000 to $25,000.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Martin Momtahan (17th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Committee Actions

HB 1024 Property; debtor's aggregate interest in real property or personal property used as a residence; revise exemption
Bill Summary: HB 1024 revises the maximum values of property exempted for purposes of bankruptcy from $21,500 to $50,000 for an individual, and from $43,000 to $100,000 for a married couple when that property is the primary residence of both spouses. Procedures for adjusting for inflation are included in the bill.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Soo Hong (103rd) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1160 Civil practice; tolling of limitations; provide for surviving relatives in wrongful death actions
Bill Summary: HB 1160 adds to the period of tolling of limitations with respect to tort actions brought by the surviving relatives of a victim in a wrongful death action.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Omari Crawford (89th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1185 Courts; certain shareholder claims to be brought before the Georgia State-wide Business Court; provide
Bill Summary: HB 1185, relating to the jurisdiction of the Georgia State-wide Business Court, permits a corporation through its bylaws to require internal entity claims such as proceedings related to court-ordered inspection of corporate records to be brought solely and exclusively in the business court.

Jurisdiction further includes derivative proceedings, provided the ownership threshold does not exceed one percent of outstanding shares. A hearing may be requested by a party to a court-ordered inspection of records, and if the court does order inspection and copying of records, it will order the shareholder to pay costs if determined after a hearing that the shareholder's inspection demand was not made in good faith or for a proper purpose that was reasonably relevant to the shareholder's interest.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

HB 1208 Civil practice; require depositions to be taken before certified court reporters
Bill Summary: HB 1208 revises statute related to court reporting by removing requirements that stenographic means be used, but rather a certified court reporter or by any means permitted by the board of court reporting.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Stan Gunter (8th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
HB 1080 Georgia Public Safety Support Fund Act; enact
Bill Summary: HB 1080 establishes the 'Georgia Public Safety Support Grant Program Act.' Under this program, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council can accept gifts, grants, donations, devises, or contributions to assist eligible local law enforcement agency operations.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Yasmin Neal (79th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Committee Actions

HB 1265 Traffic offenses; fleeing or attempting to elude a pursuing vehicle or law enforcement officer performing duties; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 1265 creates the penalty of 30 days in jail for every mile that a driver eludes a Department of Public Safety Officer or vehicle.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lauren McDonald III (26th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

Special Rules Committee
HR 1204 United States and the State of Georgia; burden of lung cancer; recognize
Bill Summary: HR 1204 recognizes the burden of lung cancer in Georgia and the United States. It supports prevention and encourages expanding access to technology to support lung cancer prevention, detection, and intervention for Georgians.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Special Rules

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee

HB 949

Aviation; prohibit launch or intentional landing of unmanned aircraft systems from or on agricultural land
Bill Summary: HB 949 defines the term "agricultural land" and makes it illegal to operate an unmanned aircraft over said land for certain purposes without consent of the land owner.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Beth Camp (135th) Technology and Infrastructure Innovation

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Ways & Means Committee

HB 376

Income tax; rehabilitation of certified structures; increase amount of tax credits
Bill Summary: HB 376 amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-29.8, relating to tax credits provided for the rehabilitation of historic structures, to increase the maximum amount of credits that can be issued for individual certified structures other than historic homes from $30 million to $60 million.

A tax credit for a certified structure other than a historic home is lowered from 25 percent of qualified rehabilitation expenditures to 20 percent for credits issued on or after January 1, 2026. Additionally the minimum amount needed for a rehabilitation to meet the definition of "substantial rehabilitation" for an otherwise certified structure is increased from $5,000 to $25,000.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Scott Hilton (48th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 874

Georgia Taxpayer Privacy Protection Act; enact
Bill Summary: HB 874, known as the 'Georgia Taxpayer Privacy Protection Act,' prohibits the inclusion of a taxpayer's telephone number in any tax roll, assessment record, or other accessible property tax document. This provision would not apply to internal use by state and local government agencies, court-ordered disclosures, or if the taxpayer provides written consent.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Huddleston (72nd) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

Page 9 of 12

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Committee Actions

HB 962

Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan; Board of Directors shall determine maximum contribution limit for savings trust accounts; provide
Bill Summary: HB 962 amends O.C.G.A. 20-3-634, relating to savings trust accounts, to change the total account balance limit for the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan from $235,000 to a reasonable amount set by the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan board of directors.

The bill amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-27, related to the computation of taxable net income, to expand the eligibility for a tax deduction for contributions to a savings trust account from being specifically for contributions to Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan accounts to contributions to any qualified tuition program established by a state and is exempt from taxation per Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chuck Martin (49th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

HB 1085 Income tax; various tax credits for forestry manufacturing facilities; provide
Bill Summary: HB 1085 amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-40, 48-7-40.1, 48-7-40.2, 48-7-40.3, and 48-7-40.4, relating to the designation of counties as less developed areas for the purpose of qualifying for various tax credits. It adds forestry manufacturing to the definition of business enterprises that qualify for a credit provided to enterprises headquartered in less developed areas of the state.

The bill provides for an extensive list of businesses that qualify as a forestry manufacturer. Any credit earned by a forestry manufacturer from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2031 may be transferred or sold to another Georgia taxpayer.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jesse Petrea (166th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1156 Local government; authorize establishment of local homeowner's incentive adjustment grant programs
Bill Summary: HB 1156 allows for a county or municipality that levies ad valorem taxes to establish a local homeowner's incentive adjustment grant fund for the purpose of providing credits to homeowners to reduce any property tax liability that exists after the application of all applicable homestead exemption. The fund may only be created or dissolved following successful local referendum.

Local governments with an approved grant fund may only appropriate to the fund if actual revenues exceed the previous fiscal year's total appropriations and the estimated total revenues for the following fiscal year are expected to exceed the current fiscal year's actual revenues.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Gary Richardson (125th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

HB 1159 Income tax; all income received by individuals, corporations, and partnerships under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program; exempt from taxation
Bill Summary: HB 1159 allows for deduction of payments from the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture received on or before March 31, 2026 from taxable state income.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Committee Actions

HR 1178 General Assembly; provide by general law for local grant and adjustment programs; authorize
Bill Summary: HR 1178 amends the Georgia Constitution to allow for local governments and schools systems to establish grant programs for the purpose of providing local homeowner's incentive adjustments.

The amendment also removes the limit on a Homeowners Tax Relief Grant (HTRG), which was set at $18,000 of assessed value of a homestead property.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Gary Richardson (125th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass

SB 59

Bona Fide Conservation Use Property; a limitation on leased property; remove
Bill Summary: SB 59 amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-40.37, relating to tax credits for timber producers that incurred losses from Hurricane Helene, to increase the aggregate limit for tax credits offered to affected timber producers from $200 million to $250 million. Producers that have already received a pro-rated credit will receive the full value of the credit for which they initially applied.

The Department of Revenue will open applications up for any amount that remains under the aggregate cap no later than July 31, 2026 and notify award recipients no more than 45 days upon accepting an application.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Sam Watson (11th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-18-2026 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 18, 2026

Committee Meetings

Committee Meeting Schedule
This meeting schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. To keep up with the latest schedule, please visit www.legis.ga.gov to view all upcoming events. .

Thursday - February 19, 2026

02/19/2026 8:00 AM INSURANCE (House)

406 CLOB

02/19/2026 8:00 AM NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIORNMENT (House)

606 CLOB

02/19/2026 8:00 AM STATE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS (House)

506 CLOB

02/19/2026 9:00 AM RULES (House)

341 CAP

02/19/2026 10:00 AM FLOOR SESSION (LD21) (House)

House Chamber

02/19/2026 12:30 PM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM (House) 403 CAP

02/19/2026 1:00 PM EDUCATION (House)

506 CLOB

02/19/2026 1:00 PM JUDICIARY (House)

132 CAP

02/19/2026 1:00 PM TRANSPORTATION (House)

606 CLOB

02/19/2026 1:00 PM Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Tax (House)

406 CLOB

02/19/2026 1:30 PM Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Finance 406 CLOB and Local Policy (House)

02/19/2026 2:00 PM JOINT DEFENSE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS (House) 341 CAP

02/19/2026 3:00 PM Regulated Industries Lottery Subcommittee (House) 515 CLOB

02/19/2026 3:00 PM Gullett Subcommittee of Judiciary Non-Civil (House) 132 CAP

02/19/2026 4:00 PM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL (House)

132 CAP

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