Week 3 Legislative Session Recap 2026

After “budget week,” the Georgia House of Representatives opened the third week of the 2026 legislative session on Monday, January 26, holding a pro forma session following Governor Brian Kemp’s State of Emergency declaration due to Winter Storm Fern, which impacted much of North Georgia. Once travel conditions improved, legislators returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday to resume normal business. During the remainder of the week, several House Appropriations subcommittees met to review portions of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) and Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027) budget proposals. Other House committees also convened to consider legislation eligible for consideration from the 2025 legislative session, along with newly introduced bills. The House Rules Committee met for the first time this session to set the initial Rules Calendar, allowing the House to pass its first legislation of the year.

Upon returning to the Capitol, members received a briefing on the effects of Winter Storm Fern. The storm disrupted service for more than 250,000 Georgia Power customers, and more than 30,000 of Habersham EMC’s 40,000 customers experienced outages. Communities, infrastructure and public safety were significantly affected. On Tuesday, the House paused to recognize electric utility crews, state agencies and local law enforcement who worked continuously under difficult conditions to restore power and protect Georgians.

With joint House and Senate Appropriations meetings complete, House Appropriations subcommittees began a more detailed review of individual sections of the AFY 2026 and FY 2027 budgets. After subcommittee approval, the budget bills will advance to the full House Appropriations Committee, then to the House Rules Committee, and ultimately to the House floor. If passed, the bills will be sent to the Senate for further consideration. Should the two chambers approve different versions, conference committees will reconcile the differences before the legislation is forwarded to Gov. Kemp for signature or veto. Updates will continue as the budget process moves forward.

On Wednesday, the House Rules Committee held its first meeting of the session. Members observed a moment of silence to honor former State Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton), who served as secretary of the House Rules Committee and chair of the House Judiciary Juvenile Committee and passed away last fall.

Later that day, the House passed House Bill 443, the first bill approved during the 2026 legislative session. HB 443 would establish annual fees for reef or migratory fish endorsements on Georgia recreational fishing licenses. Requested by coastal fishermen, the bill seeks to regulate recreational and commercial offshore fishing while allowing the state to conduct Georgia-specific fishery surveys rather than relying solely on federal data. The legislation sets a $10 annual fee for residents and $20 for non-residents, with revenue retained by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and requires endorsements for certain saltwater species. After being amended by the Senate last session, the bill returned to the House, where it was further amended and passed again this week. The updated version has been sent back to the Senate.

The House also unanimously adopted House Resolution 1008, which would ratify amendments to Georgia’s statewide water management plan originally developed in 2008 by the Environmental Protection Division of DNR. The plan established 10 regional water planning councils to address water supply, wastewater, stormwater and conservation needs. Following a 2025 review, the State Water Council adopted amendments to reduce council membership, eliminate alternates, extend terms from three to six years and require representation from major water-use sectors. HR 1008 has been sent to the Senate.

During the week, the Senate gave final passage to Senate Bill 148, making it the first bill of the 2026 session to clear the General Assembly. If enacted, SB 148 would allow hunting safety instruction for students in grades six through 12, establish an outdoor learning center pilot program, increase allowable personal leave for public school personnel and remove the physician oversight requirement for automated external defibrillators in schools.

House Speaker Jon Burns also announced House Bill 1116, the Georgia Homeownership Opportunity and Market Equalization (HOME) Act of 2026. HB 1116 would eliminate homestead property taxes by 2032, authorize optional local revenue tools, cap revenue growth for certain properties, establish a homeowner tax relief grant and gradually double the statewide homestead exemption. Updates will follow as the bill advances.

With additional winter weather forecast, Gov. Kemp declared a second State of Emergency. Residents are encouraged to remain cautious and monitor updates from GEMA/HS, NWS and GDOT.

The House will reconvene Monday, February 2. Legislative proceedings are live streamed on the House website located here, with archived video available here. All sessions are open to the public, and visitors are welcome at the Capitol.

Please feel free to reach out to me by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or by phone at (404) 656-0213. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative for the 2025–2026 legislative term.