Originally posted by MCO Group on February 27, 2026

The Georgia General Assembly convened Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week, completing legislative day twenty-five of forty. Monday was designated a committee day, and the legislature is in recess today, Friday, February 27th. Next week, Monday, March 2nd, and Thursday, March 5th, will be committee days, and the legislature will be in session Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, completing day 28th on Friday, March 6th, which is a crossover day. Crossover Day is the point in the legislative session by which a bill must pass out of its chamber of origin (House or Senate) to remain viable for the current session. Bills that fail to “crossover” are generally considered dead for the year, though they can sometimes be revived by being added to other moving legislation. Candidate qualifying will also begin on Monday, February 2nd, and will close at noon on Friday, March 6th.

01. House Approves Amended FY2026 Budget

The amended Fiscal Year 2026 Budget (HB 973) passed on Wednesday and now heads to the governor's desk for his signature. The budget provides $2 billion in income tax rebates, giving $250 to single filers and $500 to married couples and families. It also includes about $850 million for a homeowner relief grant program, amounting to around $500 per homeowner.

02. Democratic Rep. Ruwa Romman Drops Out of Governor’s Race

State Rep. Ruwa Romman announced Thursday that she will suspend her bid for Georgia’s governorship. Romman, who made history in 2022 when she became the first native Jordanian and Muslim woman elected to Georgia’s legislature, said she will qualify for state Senate District 7 instead. The remaining Democratic candidates include DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former state Sen. Jason Esteves, state Rep. Derrick Jackson, businessman/pastor Olu Brown, and Republican-turned-Democrat and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan.

03. House Passes High School Cell Phone Ban Bill

Last year, state lawmakers passed a statewide prohibition on all electronic personal devices during class hours at public schools in grades K-8. A new bill (HB 1009), passed by Georgia House Reps, would extend the ban to high schools. Students would be barred from accessing their phones from the start of the academic day to the end.

04. House Passes K-3 Literacy Coach Bill

Georgia House Reps overwhelmingly passed HB 1193 on Tuesday to fund a literacy coach in every school offering any grades, kindergarten through third grade. A major legislative priority for House Speaker Jon Burns, the bill passed 170-2. Under the bill, the Quality Basic Education formula for funding public schools would cover the base salary of one literacy coach for every school with kindergarten through third grade. Schools with 200 or fewer full-time students would receive half the funding.

05. Pratt & Whitney Completes Expansion, Announces Another in Columbus

Governor Kemp announced aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney is investing $200 million to expand its operations in Columbus, Georgia, creating 15 new jobs, with more to follow. The news follows the company’s completion of a $70 million, 81,000-square-foot expansion that created 400 new jobs.