Originally posted by MCO Group on October 16th, 2026

01. Georgia Net Tax Collections Total $3.34B in September

The State of Georgia’s net tax collections during the month of September totaled $3.34 billion, an increase of roughly $76.7 million, or 2.3 percent, compared to FY 2026, when net tax collections approached $3.27 billion for the month. Year-to-date, net tax revenue collections totaled $8.41 billion for an increase of $240.2 million, or 2.9 percent, compared to September 2025, when net tax collections totaled $8.17 billion through three months.

02. President Trump Campaigns in Georgia Today

President Donald Trump’s midterm campaign blitz arrives in Georgia today for a rally with top Republican candidates in a state that has long been the epicenter of the president’s false claims about election fraud. In Dalton, the population center of conservative northwest Georgia, Trump will appear with Senate candidate Mike Collins as part of the White House effort to boost Republican enthusiasm in an election that could reshape the final years of Trump’s second presidency.

03. Early Voting Sets Record

Early voting has begun statewide, with heavy traffic at polling places. According to the Secretary of State's Office, more than half a million Georgians had already voted by 5 p.m. Thursday, representing 6.9% of the state's more than 7.5 million active voters. Most voters cast their ballots in person, with about 21,700 mail-in ballots already accepted. The state set a record Tuesday for the first day of early voting in a midterm election, up about 40% from the first day of the 2022 midterms. The counties with the highest turnout so far during the early voting period include Towns, Greene, Union, Putnam, and Fayette. Of those who have voted, about 54% were women and 45.9% were men. 

04. Age Verification Law for Social Media Accounts Proceeds

A federal appeals court will allow Georgia's SB 351, requiring age verification for social media accounts, to proceed. The law mandates age verification, parental consent for under-16s, and limits on ads and data collection for minors. NetChoice sued to block the law, but the U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the injunction. The case returns to district court for further proceedings.

05. Affordable Care Act Premiums Will Spike up to 29%

Monthly premiums will spike by up to 29% for Georgians who purchase their health insurance plans from the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, according to state data. Newly finalized rates for the eight insurers participating in Georgia Access, the state’s Obamacare marketplace, show premiums for 2027 plans will increase by between 11% and 29%. Rates differ by plan, location and other factors, but the average premium will be nearly $932 per month, according to the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, which recently finalized the prices ahead of open enrollment, which begins November 1st