Senate stalls attempt to move 'boot' ban bill out of committee amid procedural dispute
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Summary
A motion to recommit Senate Bill 541 (a proposed ban on vehicle wheel restraints, “the boot”) from the Interstate Cooperation Committee to the Public Safety Committee failed after floor debate over committee assignment and procedure; the motion lost 23–28, leaving the bill in Interstate Cooperation.
On Feb. 24 the Georgia Senate considered a procedural motion related to Senate Bill 541, a measure proposing to prohibit the placement of wheel restraints on trespassing motor vehicles (commonly described on the floor as a "ban the boot" bill). Senator (14th District) moved to withdraw SB 541 from the Committee on Interstate Cooperation and commit it to the Committee on Public Safety, arguing that the bill has broad public support and that assigning it to Interstate Cooperation—currently lacking an active chair—was a tactic to stall it.
"You have procedural tactics that are holding back the will of the people and of 40 senators in this chamber," the sponsor said, urging colleagues to support the motion and characterizing the fight as a choice between advancing public priorities and keeping the bill in a committee where it cannot be heard. Several senators objected to changing committee placement by floor motion. Senator (56th District) said she agreed with banning the boot but deferred to the committee assignment process and called for working with the sponsor to find another legislative vehicle.
After debate the motion to recommit failed: the yays were 23 and the nays 28. The chair announced the bill would remain in the Interstate Cooperation Committee. Senators discussed committee rules and whether the vice chair or other mechanisms could call the committee to hear the bill, but no immediate reassignment occurred on the floor that day.
The exchange highlighted a procedural dispute often seen on the floor when sponsors seek to move controversial local measures to committees viewed as more favorable to prompt consideration. The floor transcript records senators on both sides stressing respect for committee processes even while acknowledging the bill’s supporters.
Because the motion failed, SB 541 remains in the committee named in the reading; future steps would depend on committee action or another successful motion.