House Rules Committee advances HB 397, HB 529 and approves HR 128

The Georgia House Rules Committee on Oct. 12, 2025, approved rule substitutes for House Bill 397 and House Bill 529 and passed House Resolution 128, advancing the measures for further consideration without recorded opposition.

Committee members said the measures were procedural cleanups and consensus-oriented revisions intended to address outstanding questions before floor or Senate consideration. A Rules Committee member said HB 397 combines three related bills so leadership can continue working with the Senate Ethics Committee on election-related ethics concerns ahead of the 2026 election.

House Bill 397: The committee approved a rule substitute for House Bill 397. A Rules Committee member summarized that the substitute combines three separate bills to address issues the committee considered necessary to resolve before the 2026 election and that the author, committee leadership and the Senate Ethics Committee intend to continue work on controversial provisions. The committee’s recorded action on the rule substitute was to move the bill do pass; there was no recorded opposition during the Rules Committee proceeding.

House Bill 529: Committee discussion identified the substitute as a cleanup to Representative Barrett’s bill on automatic subscription renewals. The explainer drew attention to language in the substitute clarifying the length of an automatic renewal period, saying, “it just makes clear it’s for a period of 1 year.” The committee moved the rule substitute for HB 529 do pass; no opposition was recorded in the Rules Committee proceeding.

House Resolution 128: Representative Lady Dempsey explained that House Resolution 128 bundles five compensation resolutions and contains tightened language to address drafting issues before moving to the House floor. The committee moved the resolution and it passed without recorded opposition.

Votes at a glance - House Bill 397 (rule substitute LC 47 3558s): Moved do pass by the Rules Committee; no recorded opposition (tally not specified). - House Bill 529 (rule substitute LC 55 050589s): Moved do pass by the Rules Committee; no recorded opposition (tally not specified). - House Resolution 128 (LC 600129s): Moved do pass by the Rules Committee; no recorded opposition (tally not specified).

The committee briefly proceeded to place additional bills on its calendar; members named House Bill 471, House Bill 266 and House Bill 328 during the later motions. The Rules Committee concluded the session after completing its agenda and confirming the passed substitutes and resolution.