Georgia House oversight committee adopts rules, rejects separate 24-hour notice requirement for bills

The Georgia House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee on [date not specified] adopted its standing rules but declined a separate proposal to require that any bill considered by the panel be emailed to members at least 24 hours before a meeting.

Representative Steve Tarvin, chair of the committee, opened the meeting by summarizing the panel’s charge: “The committee is responsible for holding hearings to monitor the spending programs within the state's budget,” and said the committee also will seek “transparency, efficiency, and [to] make sure we're spending our money as legislative intended.”

The committee debated a motion introduced by Representative Cyra Draper to add a rule requiring that any bill or legislation the committee would consider be delivered to members by email at least 24 hours in advance. Draper argued the measure would advance openness: “it serves the public, well to be able to understand what we're gonna be reviewing in advance.” The motion failed on a recorded hand vote, with five members voting in favor and six opposed; the chair did not cast a vote.

After that vote the committee moved to adopt the existing rules as written. A motion to approve the rules passed on a separate hand vote; six members voted in favor (the chair did not vote), and none were recorded as opposed.

During introductions, several members new to the committee identified themselves, including Representatives Jason Ridley, Vance Smith and Representative Henderson (not present). Tarvin said the committee will conduct fact-finding meetings and occasional hearings across the state and asked members to share their home locations to help schedule meetings geographically.

Tarvin also told members that the committee already has a bill assigned to it. “We do have a bill, assigned to the committee … it is HB 159,” he said, and asked members to review materials on the General Assembly website; he described the likely next step as holding a hearing and giving members a chance to discuss the bill. He said whether the committee will call the bill for a vote at the initial hearing could change.

On procedural points, the chair reminded members that a quorum for the committee is seven members and noted that changing the rules would require a higher threshold: “Now we need 9 here now to to change the rules,” he said. Representative Jasmine Clark asked for clarification earlier in the meeting about whether the chair counts toward quorum; Tarvin confirmed that the chair is included in the quorum count, though he said he may be nonvoting at times.

The committee did not take any final legislative action on HB 159 at the meeting; Tarvin said a hearing was likely and public comment would be scheduled at a later meeting.

The committee adjourned after approving its rules and setting the stage for future hearings and public comment on assigned bills.