Lawmakers have arrived in Atlanta from all corners of the state to start the first year of a two-year legislative session at the state Capitol on Monday.
Members of the state House and state Senate will have two, 40-day sessions to pass legislation affecting Georgia residents, state agencies and businesses.
The first day of a biennial is typically ceremonial. Lawmakers are sworn in, the Senate president pro tem and the House speaker are officially elected, and the day moves swiftly. Within the first week, legislators will learn their committee assignments, and as bills roll in, they will begin their work.
With several legislators eyeing higher political offices in the 2026 statewide elections, these next two years will also serve as grounds to test messaging, build alliances and gauge the strength of potential opponents.
Credit: AJC
Credit: AJC
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who presides over the state Senate, is expected to make a bid for the Republican nomination for governor. Attorney General Chris Carr already announced his campaign to seek the Republican nomination for governor in November.
Several Republican lawmakers have also floated their names as potential nominees for other offices. Democrats have been playing it a little closer to the vest so far.
The Legislature runs for 40 working days, not calendar days, and each chamber’s leadership negotiates when exactly those days will be.
Various political issues are expected to arise — namely, restricting transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports, amending the school voucher program, and providing schools and law enforcement more resources to prevent deadly shootings. Perennial topics will likely also get attention, though their mileage may vary.
For example, lawmakers have debated expanding Medicaid in the state to allow people making up to 138% of the federal poverty level to qualify for benefits for more than a decade, but the issue has failed to budge. Gambling or sports betting has also gained little traction over the years, despite annual efforts.
The one item that must be accomplished before the end of each year: the annual state budget.
Next week, leaders of state agencies will present members of each chamber with information about their financial needs and what they seek to accomplish with more money. For the rest of the session, lawmakers hammer out how much to spend and how much to reserve for economic hardships in the future.
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Republican leadership remains unchanged from last year. Jones, as Senate president, plays a large role in deciding which bills get heard in committee and debated on the Senate floor. House Speaker Jon Burns leads the 180 state representatives and also heavily influences which issues get priority.
“We will consider voices from both sides of the aisle as we blend those voices together for the best, very best, policies that we can provide for Georgia,” Burns said during a news conference last week.
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
Democrats, who are in the minority in both chambers, have changed their leaders after both Sen. Gloria Butler and Rep. James Beverly retired from office. State Sen. Harold Jones, a six-term Augusta legislator, will lead Democrats in the Senate, and state Rep. Carolyn Hugley, who represents Columbus and has served in the House for 32 years, will helm the party’s top job in the House.
Both Harold Jones and Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch of Dahlonega say they look forward to expanding their relationship. Jones previously served as the Senate Democratic whip.
“I look forward to working with Harold Jones as a new minority leader,” Gooch said. “I think he’s going to be fun. And obviously he’s very talented and smart and articulate, so he’ll keep us on our toes.”
