2026 Advocacy Update: Legislative Days 1-5
Session Begins
Georgia lawmakers returned to the Capitol on January 12 to kick off the 2026 legislative session. Governor Brian Kemp delivered his final State of the State address on Thursday, emphasizing conservative fiscal management, economic development, and public safety investment. He proposed a one-time tax rebate for Georgians and vowed to accelerate a reduction in the state income tax rate. He joked that, despite being a lame-duck governor, he still wields a “big red pen,” in reference to his veto authority.
Lawmakers will not gavel in officially next week, instead hearing from the state economist and agency heads as work on the amended FY26 and FY27 budgets continues. There will be a deluge of new legislation introduced when the session resumes on January 26.
Calendar Set
Georgia’s Constitution limits a “regular session” to no more than forty days each year. The House and Senate adopted a full legislative calendar on Monday. The critical Crossover Day deadline is set for Friday, March 6 and the final day of session will be Thursday, April 2.
Open Congressional Race Draws Record Crowd
Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned on January 5. A special election is set for March 10 to fulfill the remainder of her term. Qualifying took place this week with a staggering twenty-two candidates entering the race, including state Sen. Colton Moore (R-Trenton). Georgia’s special elections are structured as a “jungle primary” meaning all candidates will appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. The top two finishers will go head-to-head in an April 7 runoff. The seat will then be part of the normal 2026 election cadence.
New and Carryover Legislation
All legislation not enacted during the 2025 session remains available for consideration in 2026. Legislators will also file hundreds of new measures throughout this year’s session. While this weekly report will not include all carried-over measures of interest, rest assured, your government affairs team is carefully tracking those items. Our aim is to keep this report focused on active, priority issues.
Active Measures: Banking
Department of Banking Housekeeping (HB 945) Rep. Bruce Williamson, R-Monroe
Assigned to the House Banks and Banking Cmte on Jan-13
This year’s legislative housekeeping package is one of the most consequential in recent memory. The bill establishes a process to allow financial institutions to place temporary holds on transactions when they reasonably suspect financial exploitation of elderly (65+) or disabled adults. The initial hold may last up to fifteen business days, with one additional fifteen-day extension permitted. The financial institution must provide notice of the hold to both the account holder and any trusted contacts. Institutions acting in good faith receive civil, criminal, and administrative immunity.
The legislation also regulates cryptocurrency ATMs, with mandatory consumer disclosures, fee caps, and daily transaction limits. It expands the Department’s authority over litigation financiers to increase transparency and accountability; this was part of last year’s legal reform package.
The bill makes other technical changes, including:
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Updating merger notification and approval procedures
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Clarifying MALPB rules
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Clarifying certain credit reporting requirements
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Updating mortgage, installment lending, and fair lending provisions
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Clarifying Department authority across charters and licensing regimes
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Authorizing the Department to object to the merger or consolidation of a bank or trust
For more information, click here for a summary provided by the Department.
Securities and Commodities Regulation (HB 934) Rep. Noel Williams, R-Cordele
Assigned to the House Banks and Banking Cmte on Jan-13
HB 934 transfers the regulation of securities and commodities from the Secretary of State to the Department of Banking and Finance. Doing so consolidates financial regulation within the Department, a move that is intended to improve oversight and coordination. This change comes on the heels of the First Liberty Building & Loan scandal, in which the Secretary of State’s Securities Division failed to uncover misuse before federal authorities intervened.
Higher Education Savings Plan (HB 962) Rep. Chuck Martin, R-Alpharetta
Assigned to the House Ways and Means Cmte on Jan-15
Current law provides a fixed cap on the maximum contribution limit for the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan. HB 962 instead allows the Savings Plan’s Board of Directors to set the maximum contribution limit. It also modifies an exemption from taxable net income for contributions to certain education savings plans.
Active Measures: Property
Notice of Foreclosure (HB 948) Rep. Beth Camp, R—Concord
Bill assigned to the House Judiciary Cmte on Jan-13
HB 948 relates to mortgages, conveyances to secure debt and liens and tax sales. It provides for debtors in foreclosures to receive certain information and forms in a notice of foreclosure. It also provides for tax sale notices to comply with foreclosure notice requirements.
HOA Accountability and Training Act (SB 393) Sen. Rashaun Kemp, D-Atlanta
Assigned to the Senate Public Safety Cmte on Jan-14
SB 393 prohibits a property owners’ association from traffic and parking enforcement and clarifies that these are the sole responsibility of law enforcement. It also requires mandatory training for association board members. A bipartisan group of Senators has indicated an interest in addressing property owners’ associations, suggesting additional legislation may follow.
Active Measures: Taxation
Eliminate Ad Valorem Tax on Timber (HR 1000) Rep. Chuck Efstration, R—Mulberry
Assigned to the House Ways and Means Cmte on Jan-13
HR 1000 proposes an amendment to the Constitution to eliminate the ad valorem tax assessment of certain timber at sale or harvest. To make affected cities, counties, and school districts whole, the state will annually appropriate funding according to a formula.
Active Measures: General Business
Disposition of Unclaimed Property (SB 403) Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, R—Marietta
Assigned to the Senate Finance Cmte on Jan-16
SB 403 updates Georgia’s Unclaimed Property Act, including provisions addressing the treatment of virtual currency. The bill makes other administrative changes, including clarifying when property is presumed abandoned, expanding holder notice requirements, adjusting publication standards, and modernizing claims processing and payment methods.
Immigration Enforcement (SB 391) Sen. Nabilah Parkes, D-Duluth
Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Cmte on Jan-14
SB 391 is one of several measures by Senate Democrats addressing recent immigration enforcement practices. It prohibits activities related to immigration enforcement in certain locations without a valid judicial warrant. Democrats also introduced SB 389, which requires ICE to wear visible ID and prohibits face coverings; and SB 390, which prohibits the deployment of state military into Georgia without the permission of the Governor.
ICBA Capital Summit
ICBA’s 2026 Capital Summit will be held May 4-7, 2026, at the Westin Washington, DC, Downtown. For more information on the Summit or to register for the event, click here.
The next legislative update will be available on January 30th.
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