Following “budget week,” the Georgia House of Representatives began the third week of the 2026 legislative session on Monday, January 26, with a pro forma session due to Governor Brian Kemp’s State of Emergency declaration after Winter Storm Fern swept across much of North Georgia. As soon as road conditions improved, my colleagues and I returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday to resume legislative business. Throughout 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 met to consider legislation carried over from the 2025 legislative session, as well as newly introduced measures. The House Rules Committee convened for the first time this session to consider legislation and set the first Rules Calendar, leading to the House passing its first legislation of the session.
After returning to the Capitol, we received an update on the impacts of Winter Storm Fern. More than 250,000 Georgia Power customers were affected, and more than 30,000 of Habersham EMC’s 40,000 customers experienced outages. The storm significantly impacted communities, infrastructure and public safety. The House recognized the efforts of electric utility crews, state agencies and local law enforcement who worked around the clock to restore power and ensure public safety.
With joint House and Senate Appropriations meetings concluded, House Appropriations subcommittees began examining specific sections of the AFY 2026 and FY 2027 budgets in greater detail. Once each subcommittee approves its portion, two comprehensive budget bills will move to the full House Appropriations Committee, then to the House Rules Committee, and ultimately to the House floor. If passed, the bills will proceed to the Senate for a similar process. If differing versions are adopted, conference committees will resolve the differences before the bills are sent to Gov. Kemp for approval or veto. I will continue providing updates as these measures move forward.
On Wednesday, the House Rules Committee met for the first time this session. Members observed a moment of silence in honor of former State Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton), who served as secretary of the House Rules Committee and chair of the House Judiciary Juvenile Committee before passing away last fall.
That same day, the House passed its first bill of the 2026 session, House Bill 443. The bill would establish annual fees for reef or migratory fish endorsements for Georgia recreational fishing licenses. Requested by coastal fishermen, HB 443 would regulate recreational and commercial offshore fishing and allow Georgia to conduct state-specific fishery surveys. The bill sets fees of $10 for residents and $20 for non-residents, with all funds retained by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and requires endorsements for certain saltwater species. Because the Senate amended the bill last session, it returned to the House, was further amended and passed again this week. The amended bill has been sent back to the Senate.
The House also unanimously adopted House Resolution 1008, which would ratify amendments to Georgia’s comprehensive statewide water management plan developed by the Environmental Protection Division of DNR in 2008. The amendments, adopted by the State Water Council in December 2025, reduce council appointments, eliminate alternate members, extend terms from three to six years and require representation from major water-use sectors. HR 1008 has been sent to the Senate.
Meanwhile, the Senate gave final passage to Senate Bill 148, the first bill of the 2026 session to clear the General Assembly. If signed into law, SB 148 would allow hunting safety instruction in grades six through twelve, establish an outdoor learning center pilot program, increase allowable personal leave for 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. The bill 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 double the statewide homestead exemption every other year. I will provide updates as HB 1116 advances.
The House will reconvene Monday, February 2. I encourage you to follow proceedings live on the House website located here; video archives may be found here. House proceedings are open to the public, and I welcome you to visit the Capitol. Please contact my office to schedule a meeting or reach me by email at dale.washburn@house.ga.gov or by phone at 404-656-0152.
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