Georgia Amendment 3 — Dedicated fund for 9-1-1 systems (HR 1243)

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to dedicate certain existing revenues, including revenues reallocated by law, to a nonlapsing fund to be used exclusively for the expansion, maintenance, and operation of emergency 9-1-1 systems in this state?
A YES vote means
The General Assembly could dedicate certain existing revenues to a nonlapsing fund used only for emergency 9-1-1 systems.
A NO vote means
The General Assembly would not gain this constitutional authority to dedicate revenues to a 9-1-1 fund.
Needed to pass
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Put on the ballot by
The Legislature, by passing House resolution creating a Next Generation 9-1-1 fund; lead sponsor Rep. Chuck Martin (R). Final vote: Unanimous in both chambers (per Ballotpedia News). Read the bill
Sponsor: Rep. Chuck Martin (R) moderately right, from their roll-call votes in the Georgia House, 2003–2022 (Shor–McCarty) · running in 2026 for Georgia State House District 49
Left–right lean
Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

Official text: source

Explained

Today

  • Georgians pay a $1.50 monthly 911 fee on cellphone bills, which is meant to fund local 911 systems.
  • Georgia has no dedicated state fund for 911. The state constitution generally bars earmarking revenue for a specific purpose unless the constitution allows it, and unspent money normally lapses at year end.
  • According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, only 17 of the state's 159 counties are compliant with Next Generation 911, the internet-based system that can receive texts, photos and video and locate callers more accurately.

If it passes

  • The General Assembly could create, by general law, a Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund and dedicate revenue from specified sources, including existing revenues reallocated by law, to it.
  • Money in the fund could be used only to expand, maintain and operate 911 systems, including the move to Next Generation 911; any other use would be void.
  • Money in the fund would not lapse at the end of the year, so unspent amounts would roll over.
  • The amendment itself does not create a new fee or put any money in the fund. Lawmakers would need to pass enabling legislation, which the Georgia Recorder reports would also need to convert the local 911 fee into a state fee.

Who would notice

County and city 911 centers, which would receive money from the fund under a later law, and Georgians who pay the existing $1.50 monthly fee on cellphone service. No new fee is created by the amendment.

How it got here

The General Assembly passed it in 2026 as House Resolution 1243, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta). The Georgia Recorder reports it passed both chambers unanimously; amendments need two-thirds of each chamber and skip the Governor.

Supporters say Georgia's 911 infrastructure needs modernizing; about 156 local answering points use differing technology, according to the Georgia 911 Directors Association.

It needs a simple majority of voters to pass.

What each side says

Supporters

Opponents

  • The fund could be used to buy automated license plate readers such as Flock cameras, which have faced complaints of misuse. (A spokesperson for House Speaker Jon Burns responded that the money is only for 911 system upgrades, which do not include Flock cameras.) · Galvanize Georgia, a grassroots group

In the news

Written by SpectrumVote from 5 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Who's for and against

Supporting (YES)

Opposing (NO)

A sourced selection, not a complete list. Who supports a measure is listed so you can see who is behind each side; SpectrumVote takes no position.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Georgia Amendment 3 mean?
The General Assembly could dedicate certain existing revenues to a nonlapsing fund used only for emergency 9-1-1 systems.
What does a NO vote on Georgia Amendment 3 mean?
The General Assembly would not gain this constitutional authority to dedicate revenues to a 9-1-1 fund.
Will my phone bill go up?
Not because of this amendment. It creates no new fee; it lets lawmakers steer existing 911 revenue into a dedicated fund through a later law.
What is Next Generation 911?
An internet-based 911 system that replaces older phone-line technology and can handle voice, texts, images and video, with better call routing and caller location.
Why put it in the constitution?
Georgia's constitution limits dedicating revenue to specific uses. A constitutional fund keeps 911 money from being spent elsewhere and lets unused money roll over, says Thomas Cisco, president of the Georgia 911 Directors Association.
How many votes does Georgia Amendment 3 need to pass?
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Georgia Amendment 3?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting and mail-ballot deadlines vary by state; check your state or county election office.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Georgia ballot.

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