It’s the final day of the 2026 General Assembly session.
We’re watching what lawmakers do with big-ticket items such as tax cuts, elections and paper ballots, and a major effort to boost childhood literacy. There may be some debates, election posturing and shenanigans along the way.
Come back here throughout the day to track the latest action from the state House and Senate.
The Senate rejected a House proposal to offer significant property tax relief to Georgian homeowners.
House Bill 1116 would cap the growth of school and local government property tax levies at 3% a year or the rate of inflation, whichever is higher. The measure also would allow schools and governments to implement sales taxes to reduce property taxes for homeowners.
The measure passed the House earlier in the day. But the Senate rejected the measure by a vote of 24-28.
Supporters said the measure would grant relief from skyrocketing property tax bills.
“It will be the most significant property tax legislation in Georgia's history," said Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome.
Opponents said it would undermine local school and government budgets and raise sales taxes on gas, groceries and other necessities.
"We have a bill that comes not from reasoned financial administration," Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs said. "It comes from a campaign promise that was made in January."
The Senate approved final passage of an income tax relief bill — a top priority of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.
House Bill 463 would reduce the state’s income tax rate from 5.19% to 4.99% this year and continue to reduce it to 3.99% over the following eight years if the state meets certain financial benchmarks.
The bill also would raise the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly from $24,000 to $30,000 next year and the deduction for other filers from $12,000 to $15,000. The bill also would exempt up to $1,750 in cash tips and $1,750 in overtime income from taxation.
The House advanced a proposal that would keep Georgia’s voting touchscreens this year, a step closer to determining how voters will cast ballots in the midterms.
But the bill would call for a new voting system for all 159 counties in Georgia by 2028.
“We don’t want to limit the next secretary of state and his advisory committee on one option if there is an option that is the better option for the state of Georgia,” said Victor Anderson, R-Cornelia.
It’s the latest move as the House and Senate aim to comply with their self-mandated deadline to eliminate QR codes from ballots by July.
It’s unclear what reception Senate Bill 214 will receive as it moves back to the Senate. Senate Republicans cleared their own proposal last week that called for a switch to preprinted, hand-marked paper ballots this year — a longtime priority of President Donald Trump and his supporters, who oppose the state’s voting machines.
The Senate engrossed the measure, so they won’t be able to make any changes to the House’s proposal, should it receive a vote on the Senate floor.
Georgia first lady Marty Kemp said an emotional goodbye Thursday night to the House of Representatives, looking out at the seats of the chamber where she used to watch her father, the late state Rep. Bob Argo, hard at work.
“I’ve watched this chamber since I was probably 10 years old,” she said after receiving a proclamation of appreciation from state House members. “I ran up and down these halls like I thought I owned it. I never knew that I would be back here to represent the state, but it has been an honor of a lifetime for our family to represent this great state.”
The first lady has been a visible presence by her husband’s side throughout his two terms as governor, but also created her own state commission to fight human trafficking in Georgia.
“You made a difference that will last long after you and the governor have left office," said House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones.
Why is this night different from any other night?
There were two answers to that ancient question when lawmakers, lobbyists, their friends and relatives gathered in the Capitol during the dinner recess on Sine Die to celebrate a Passover Seder.
AJC senior political reporter Greg Bluestein was there. You can read his report here.
Forgive Gov. Brian Kemp for getting a little sentimental.
For the final time, the second-term governor delivered a Sine Die address to the Legislature.
Some years, he’s mildly rebuked lawmakers or threatened to call a special session if they don’t heed his demands. But on this night, he was full of praise.
Flanked by his wife, Marty, and their three daughters, he compared House lawmakers to a family.
“Well, here we go,” he said, scanning the chamber, “together again for one last ride.”
Kemp thanked lawmakers for backing the dozen or so anti-human trafficking measures his wife championed. He touted what he called “historic investments” in infrastructure. And he applauded them for working to preserve the state’s budget surplus and slash taxes.
“Not bad for government work, if you ask me.”
House and Senate negotiators approved a compromise 2027 budget Thursday night preparing the way for final approval before adjournment.
The $38.5 billion spending plan includes the priorities of both chambers, though in a somewhat modified form. The Senate won $100 million in additional funding for the Employee Retirement System of Georgia. About two-thirds of the money will come from the state general fund, with the rest coming from federally funded programs.
The extra funding is intended to ensure retirees get a long-sought cost-of-living raise. Senate Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, said the new funding could be enough for a 2.25% raise, but any COLA would have to be approved by the retirement system board.
Meanwhile, the House won $70 million in funding for one of its top priorities — literacy coaches in all of the state’s elementary schools. The money will be funneled through the state’s basic education funding formula, which means local districts will be required to match some of it.
“We’ve done a lot of work for a lot of people,” House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett, R-Dublin said.
The Senate has returned from the dinner recess.
Four (or so) more hours to go before the final gavel of the 2026 legislative session.
The House is back in session following a dinner recess.
House Speaker Jon Burns warned the chamber there was a lot of work left to do before adjournment.
As the hours get later, the bills start flying.
The AJC is tracking bills as they pass each chamber. Keep up with the big ones in our live updates here. But if you want a quick look at the status of many more bills, you can find it in handy chart form here.
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