Lift Every Vote And Rise

2026 Georgia Legislative Session

On Monday January 12, Georgia lawmakers headed back to the Gold Dome to launch the 2026 Georgia Legislative Session. The Georgia Legislative Session is a 40-day non consecutive period where bills are written and passed. Bills that are passed by both chambers before or on the 40th day are forwarded to the Governor- who can approve or veto the bill. The two most important days during the session are Crossover Day (Deadline for bills to be passed out of either Legislative Chamber) and Sine Die (the last day of the session).

Democratic Priorities

Addressing the economic concerns of voters, the higher cost of housing and child care, is among the top priorities for state Democratic lawmakers ahead of the Georgia General Assembly’s upcoming legislative session. The disastrous election results in November within the Democratic Party’s most loyal voting bloc should signal the need for state legislative leaders to reassess their priorities to ensure they are advocating for causes supported by their largely Black base.

Voters are concerned with viable pathways to home ownership. The issue of private investors, particularly institutional investors, buying up homes in metro areas like Atlanta and converting them into rental properties without offering purchasing options is a growing concern. This practice can reduce the supply of homes for sale, drive up property values, and make homeownership increasingly unattainable for average buyers.

Republican Priorities

In October, Governor Kemp (R) announced plans to provide a tax rebate in 2025 that will provide an estimated $1billion in relief to Georgia taxpayers. Similar to previous rebates, individual taxpayers could receive a refund ranging from $250 to $500, depending on their filing status (single, head of household, or married filing jointly). The rebate would be funded from Georgia’s state budget surplus, a result of strong tax revenue collections and conservative fiscal management in recent years. If approved by the Georgia General Assembly in the upcoming legislative session, the rebates could be distributed in mid-to-late 2025, aligning with tax filing deadlines.

FAQS

How Do I Contact My Legislator? 

Use the secretary of state’s website to identify your House and Senate districts and who represents you: mvp.sos.ga.gov.

Members of the public can look for lawmakers in the House or Senate chamber or in their offices. You can find your legislators’ phone numbers and office locations on the General Assembly’s website: legis.ga.gov.

The public is not allowed on the House or Senate floor while in session. You can watch House and Senate sessions online or from the fourth-floor gallery.

How Do I Track Bills Online? 

Visit legis.ga.gov and search for legislation. You can enter a bill number (if you know it) or search by key word. This allows you to view the bill in its entirety, track it through committees and see roll call votes. Listings of committee meetings can also be found on the websites of both the House and Senate.

How Do I Track Bills In-Person? 

Locate paper copies of bills in the House clerk’s office (Room 309) and the secretary of the Senate’s office (Room 353). Each has a desk where you can request a bill. Committee hearing notices are posted daily on a bulletin board outside each office, and meeting calendars appear on monitors in the Legislative Office Building.