Originally posted by MCO Group on April 3, 2026

The Georgia General Assembly adjourned Sine Die just after 1 am this morning, marking the end of Governor Brian Kemp's final legislative session. The Governor now has until May 12th - 40 days - to sign or veto bills. If he takes no action, a bill will become law without his signature. Campaigns are now in full swing as candidates barrel towards primary election day on May 19th, with the run-off date scheduled for June 16th for races where no candidate received more than 50% of the vote.

01. Georgia Bills Passed on Sine Die

Georgia lawmakers worked into Friday morning to pass a nearly $39 billion budget and a slate of bills related to:

• Homelessness: Lawmakers passed a bill that would allow property owners to sue local governments for failing to enforce ordinances related to homelessness, immigration or public safety.
• Transit: Lawmakers approved a bill dissolving two state transit agencies and shifting some powers to a new Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority. The measure also extends MARTA's 1% sales tax for a decade and further limits the state's role in transit planning.
• Taxes: Lawmakers approved a plan to cut Georgia's income tax to 3.99% if fiscal conditions are met. The bill also exempts tips and overtime up to $1,750 from taxes.
• Education: The Senate narrowly approved a needs-based scholarship program for low-income students attending postsecondary institutions.
• Transparency: Sexual harassment settlements involving members of the Georgia General Assembly could be made public under legislation approved on Sine Die.
• Pennies: The House sent legislation allowing retailers to round cash transactions' totals to the nearest nickel as the U.S. phases out the penny to Kemp.

02. FY 2027 State Budget Passes in Final Minutes of the Legislative Session

Georgia lawmakers met their one and only constitutional duty in the final hours of their legislative session: They finally agreed on a budget. The House passed the 2027 budget around 11:40 p.m. Thursday. The $38.5 billion spending plan came before Sine Die, marking the end of the 2025-2026 session.

03. Early Voting Ends for 14th Congressional District Seat

As early voting ended Thursday for Georgia's 14th Congressional District to fill the seat Marjorie Taylor Greene vacated. In last month's special election, none of the 22 candidates received at least 50% of the vote, prompting a runoff between Democrat Shawn Harris, who received 37% of the vote, and Republican Clay Fuller, who trailed by just 3 points. The official runoff election date is April 7th.

04. Campaign Battle Heats Up in Georgia

After a 40-day sprint of tax cuts and spending bills, Republicans and Democrats head into election season with starkly different answers for anxious voters. Just about everyone under the Gold Dome began this session agreeing that affordability would define the year’s debate. What became even clearer over the 40-day sprint that ended Friday is just how far apart the parties are over how to bring down prices — and how divided Republicans are within their own ranks.

05. UCB Investing $2B in Georgia, Establishing First U.S. Manufacturing Facility

Governor Kemp announced that global biopharmaceutical giant UCB, Inc. plans to invest $2 billion in Georgia to establish its first U.S. pharmaceutical biologics manufacturing facility. The investment will generate 330 new jobs over the next several years at the Rowen Foundation's state-of-the-art, 2,000-acre science and learning campus in Gwinnett County.