House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee approves rules after rejecting 24‑hour notice requirement

Chair Steve Tarvin opened the Georgia House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee meeting with a prayer and an overview of the committee’s duties, then led members through consideration of committee rules. After debate, members rejected a proposal to require legislation be delivered 24 hours in advance and approved the rules as presented. The committee was assigned HB 159 and adjourned, saying it will take public comment at its next meeting.

Tarvin, who identified himself as representing House District 2, framed the committee as an oversight and fact‑finding body focused on transparency, efficiency and ensuring legislative intent. “This is about being transparent,” he said, emphasizing the committee’s role as investigative rather than enforcement‑oriented and urging agencies to follow audit recommendations: “If you're gonna audit, you follow the audits.”

Representative Lisa Campbell moved to add a rule that “any bill or legislation that we would consider, we would have, delivered to us by email at least 24 hours in advance,” a motion that Chair Tarvin accepted for consideration. A member seconded the motion. After a show‑of‑hands vote, the transcript records five members in favor and six opposed, with the chair not voting, so the proposed 24‑hour notice requirement did not pass.

Members then proceeded to a motion to approve the committee rules as written. The motion was seconded by Representative Jasmine Clark. The transcript records the approval vote as six in favor and five opposed; the chair closed the rules discussion after that vote.

Tarvin told members the committee will meet year‑round as needed for fact‑finding and said he will attempt to schedule off‑season meetings near members’ home areas to reduce travel burdens. He said the committee’s published description and leadership press release are available on the Georgia General Assembly website under the committee’s page and encouraged members to review assignments there.

The chair said the committee has been assigned HB 159 and mentioned there is “a housing authority bill,” without giving further detail; he asked members to review the bill ahead of subsequent meetings. The meeting was adjourned with a reminder that public comment and any department questions will be handled at the next meeting.

The committee’s actions at this session were procedural: it debated internal rules, voted down the 24‑hour notice proposal, and approved the standing rules that will govern its meetings going forward. No formal hearings on HB 159 were held at this meeting; the chair said a hearing or further meetings could be scheduled.