The Georgia Senate on Monday unanimously passed a resolution that aims to ban those testifying before committees from intentionally lying to or misleading lawmakers.

Senate Rules Chairman Jeff Mullis, a Chickamauga Republican, said the goal of the legislation is to allow committee chairmen the option to "most strongly request" members of the public to be truthful.

“Don’t you think it’s important for us to have the truth when we’re trying to put good laws together so we have the right information?” Mullis said.

Senate Resolution 459 would only apply to Senate proceedings. It does not apply to lawmakers. Mullis said their speech is constitutionally protected.

Those proven to have been lying could be cited for contempt and barred from giving testimony during the remainder of the two-year session. An initial recommendation that repeat offenders be banned for life was removed from the proposal.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Election signs for Marqus Cole and Akbar Ali are shown outside of a voting precinct at the Praise Community Church in Lawrenceville, during the state house runoff in District 106, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo