Georgia House approves separate ambulance and hearse license plates, updates commercial-vehicle rule; adopts property conveyance and easement resolutions

The Georgia House of Representatives on Feb. 11, 2025, unanimously passed House Bill 61 to authorize separate license-plate classes for ambulance vehicles and funeral coaches, approved House Bill 114 updating the state's commercial motor-vehicle rules to the 2025 federal guidance, and adopted House Resolutions 97 and 98 to authorize conveyances of state-owned property and grant nonexclusive easements. Several other bills were formally withdrawn by their sponsors during the session.

House Bill 61: separate ambulance and funeral coach plates Representative Seba introduced House Bill 61, saying the measure "authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to make 2 separate license plates," one for ambulances and one for funeral coaches. Seba told the chamber the bill "passed this house last year with unanimous consent, and it died an untimely death over in the senate." The House voted on the bill by electronic roll call; the clerk recorded 165 yays, 0 nays, and the speaker declared the bill passed after it "received a requisite constitutional majority." The bill was referred to the committee on motor vehicles before being reported favorably and taken up on the floor.

House Bill 114: annual update to commercial motor-vehicle rules Representative Lauren McDonald presented House Bill 114 as the routine annual update that aligns Georgia law with the current federal standards for safe operation of commercial motor vehicles. McDonald summarized the change in scope as procedural, saying she was "changing the date from 2024 to 2025." The House approved the bill by electronic vote; the clerk recorded 165 yays, 0 nays, and the bill was passed.

House Resolutions 97 and 98: property conveyances and easements Dean of the House Representative Gerald Greene presented House Resolution 97, an annual resolution authorizing the conveyance of certain state-owned properties across multiple counties; the House adopted the resolution by voice and electronic vote (ayes 166, nays 0). Greene also presented House Resolution 98, which grants nonexclusive easements for construction, utilities, roads and ingress/egress over various parcels; that resolution likewise passed on a recorded vote (ayes 166, nays 0). Greene said members affected by the transactions had been notified prior to the vote.

Withdrawals and other formal actions During the afternoon, Representative Scott asked to withdraw several bills; House Bills 19, 22, 24 and 23 were withdrawn at the sponsor's request and recorded by the clerk. Those withdrawals were handled individually on the floor with no recorded roll-call opposition.

Procedure and next steps Clerks and the speaker managed the electronic roll calls for the recorded measures. Passed bills and adopted resolutions will be transmitted to the Senate or processed according to legislative rules. The House adjourned to reconvene at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.

Ending note All quoted and paraphrased remarks above were taken from floor proceedings during the Feb. 11, 2025, session of the Georgia House of Representatives.