The House and Senate heard more of Kemp's legislative priorities in his annual State of the State address. Senators and the state Supreme Court justices joined the House members in anticipation of the governor's State of the State, but when one senator was barred from entering, a scuffle outside of the house took a turn.
Both chambers settled into the session on Day 3. Gov. Brian Kemp explained his health care legislative priorities for this session, beginning with his 2026 fiscal year budget proposal.
Four new senators, three Democrats and one Republican, joined the chamber as the whole Senate was sworn in. Members of the House reelected John Burns as the Speaker of the House in a 153 to 21 vote and Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones in a 158 to 19 vote.
Several new legislators will begin their first legislative session on Jan. 13 as they join returning legislators and leadership for another year of lawmaking inside the Gold Dome.
Opponents are likening the idea to putting a "paper towel roll" or "gerbil tube" on the side of Georgia's historic Capitol. They're also concerned about lack of public input.
When the legislative session ends in Georgia, the work doesn't stop. "Legislative Huddle" is a new series with Donna Lowry, host of GPB's "Lawmakers," that shows the work that goes on when the session ends.
Some of the most important legislative debates at the Georgia Capitol don’t take place under the Gold Dome, but are instead hashed out across Mitchell Street, where committee rooms are often packed with lobbyists and concerned members of the public.
Monday at the Georgia capitol, a woman’s right to reproductive freedom was on the agenda as lawmakers looked back at the landmark 1973 decision. State senators also weighed in on the controversy surrounding Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
In an October ruling, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ordered the legislature to draw five additional Black-majority districts in the House and two additional Black-majority districts in the Senate to accommodate increases in Georgia’s Black population in the last decade. On Friday, Republicans said their new maps honor Jones’ ruling.
Elected officials and others held a community meeting of about 100 people at the Elaine Lucas Senior Center in Macon to discuss the special session of the Georgia General Assembly beginning this week.
An overdose of opioid pain medication can kill someone. And Narcan nasal spray can save a life. That's why five overdose reversal kits are now available throughout the Georgia State Capitol.
