The Georgia General Assembly adjourned its 2026 special session on Tuesday, June 23, after completing legislative work outlined in Governor Brian Kemp’s special session proclamation.

One of the most significant actions taken during the session was the passage of Senate Bill 3EX, which makes several changes to Georgia’s election laws. The legislation extends the deadline for replacing voting systems that rely on QR codes for ballot tabulation from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2028. The bill also creates a nine-member Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee to develop recommendations for Georgia’s next statewide voting system.

Under the legislation, risk-limiting audits would be expanded to include top-of-the-ballot races, and manual hand recounts for certain statewide contests would be required when election results fall within specified margins.

Lawmakers also finalized House Resolution 3EX, ratifying Governor Kemp’s executive order temporarily suspending Georgia’s motor fuel and diesel fuel taxes.

The House revisited local legislation related to Senate Bill 33, which would have allowed communities to consider homestead tax exemptions funded through a proposed Local Homestead Option Sales Tax. However, the measures failed to receive the constitutional majority required for passage.

In addition to special session business, House members began interim study committee work, including meetings of the House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Youth Exposure to Kratom and Retail Available Substances. The committee heard testimony regarding the impact of kratom products on minors and will continue its work throughout the interim period.

State Representative Eddie Lumsden said he will continue participating in study committee meetings and other legislative work ahead of the 2027 regular legislative session, which is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2027.