Bill would give lawmakers subpoena power

Legislative committees would gain the power to subpoena witnesses and compel testimony under a bill filed Friday in the state House.

House Bill 760, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Welch, R-McDonough, would require committees to vote to issue subpoenas and authorize chairmen of those committees to administer an oath to witnesses. Subpoenas would have to be signed by the presiding judge of the Fulton County Superior Court.

House and Senate ethics committees already have subpoena power. HB 760 does not change how those committees compel records or testimony.