Today is Sine Die at the Georgia State Capitol, the final day of the legislative session when lawmakers must give final approval to bills if they are to become law this year. The term “Sine Die” is Latin for “without a day,” meaning the General Assembly adjourns without setting a date to return for the current session.
State Representative Eddie Lumsden of Armuchee says lawmakers are entering the final stretch of the 2026 legislative session, with just five days remaining after completing Legislative Day 35 last week.
State Rep. Eddie Lumsden of Armuchee says education remains the largest area of state spending in the Georgia House’s proposed FY 2027 budget, with major investments focused on early literacy, student screenings, pre-K expansion, and additional support for economically disadvantaged students.
State Representative Eddie Lumsden of Armuchee says the Georgia House experienced one of the busiest weeks of the 2026 legislative session as lawmakers worked toward Crossover Day, the deadline for bills to pass out of their original chamber in order to remain eligible for final passage before the session ends. By the end of the week, the House had passed 97 bills and resolutions, sending many measures to the Georgia Senate for further consideration.
State Representative Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee), who represents Chattooga County and part of Floyd County, says the Georgia House completed a busy seventh week of the 2026 legislative session as lawmakers approach the important Crossover Day deadline. The week included extensive committee work and the final passage of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, which totals about $43.6 billion and includes billions in surplus funding. According to Lumsden, the budget prioritizes taxpayer relief, transportation improvements, expanded mental health services, and investments in the state’s prison system, along with a one-time $2,000 salary supplement for educators and state employees.
State Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee), who represents all of Chattooga County and part of Floyd County, says the Georgia House has passed the halfway point of the 2026 legislative session after completing Legislative Day 22. Lawmakers returned to the Capitol following the President’s Day holiday and moved several bills forward during a busy week.
Lumsden highlighted passage of House Bill 1063, which would prevent electric utilities from shifting certain costs tied to large data centers onto residential and small business customers, while codifying Public Service Commission cost-allocation rules into state law. He noted Georgia’s rapid data center growth is driving increased energy demand statewide.
The House also approved legislation to increase access to naloxone on college and technical campuses, expand protections for foster placement caregivers, support autism screenings for children in foster care, strengthen student-athlete health requirements, and improve roadside safety during traffic stops as work continues toward Crossover Day.
See Rep. Lumsden’s complete report below:
State Representative Eddie Lumsden of Armuchee, who represents Chattooga County and parts of Floyd County, reported a highly productive fifth week of the 2026 Georgia legislative session as lawmakers returned to the Capitol on February 9. Over four legislative days, the Georgia House passed and adopted 23 bills and resolutions as momentum continues to build toward Crossover Day, the key deadline that determines which legislation remains eligible for passage this session.
The Georgia House of Representatives completed a busy fourth week of the 2026 legislative session as lawmakers passed House Bill 973, the House’s version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The budget, which passed with bipartisan support, is built on a revised $42.3 billion revenue estimate and includes $4.5 billion in surplus and new funding to support priorities through June 30, 2026.
Key investments in the amended budget include property tax relief through the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program, education funding for K–12 schools and higher education, and pay supplements for teachers, school staff, and early learning educators. The House also approved funding for HOPE and the new need-based DREAMS Scholarship, along with investments in school safety, mental health services, and workforce readiness initiatives.
The budget further prioritizes public safety, healthcare, and infrastructure, with funding for prison security upgrades, behavioral health facilities, rural healthcare access, and major transportation projects, including road resurfacing and rural bridge repairs. Lawmakers also heard the annual State of the Judiciary Address from Chief Justice Nels S.D. Peterson during the week.
In addition to the budget, the House passed several bills addressing issues such as newborn safety, feral hog control, rural eye care access, veterans’ burial eligibility, and early literacy initiatives. With the amended budget now moving to the Senate, the House will soon begin work on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget as the session continues.
See the complete legislative report below:
In his latest legislative report, State Rep. Eddie Lumsden says the Georgia House returned to full work after Winter Storm Fern prompted a State of Emergency and briefly slowed the start of the 2026 session. Lumsden, a Republican from Armuchee, represents Chattooga County and a portion of Floyd County in the Georgia House of Representatives.
Lumsden says House Appropriations subcommittees resumed meetings to review the AFY 2026 and FY 2027 budget proposals, while the House Rules Committee met for the first time this session and the chamber passed its first legislation of 2026. He also noted lawmakers recognized utility crews, first responders, and agencies for storm response and power restoration efforts across North Georgia.
Among key actions, the House passed HB 443 to create offshore fishing endorsement fees to support Georgia-based fisheries surveys, and unanimously adopted HR 1008 to update the state’s water planning council structure. Lumsden also cited final passage of SB 148, which would update public school policies including hunting safety lessons, outdoor learning, expanded personal leave, and changes to AED program requirements. He added that House Speaker Jon Burns introduced the Georgia HOME Act, a proposal aimed at phasing out homestead property taxes by 2032.
You can read Rep. Lumsden’s complete report below:
State Rep. Eddie Lumsden, a Republican from Armuchee, who represents Chattooga County and part of Floyd County, says the second week of the Georgia legislative session focused on “budget week,” as lawmakers reviewed Gov. Brian Kemp’s proposals for the amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget and the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Lumsden highlighted a proposed one-time $1 billion tax rebate, a $2,000 supplement for state employees and school personnel, investments in rural economic development and timber industry recovery, increased funding for higher education and HOPE scholarships, and the creation of the state’s first need-based aid program through the DREAMS scholarship. He also noted funding for behavioral health housing support, public safety, transportation projects, and workforce development, along with updates on Georgia’s revenue outlook and preparations for winter weather, including a statewide State of Emergency. Lumsden said budget subcommittees will continue their work in the coming weeks and encouraged constituents to stay informed and engaged. See his complete report below:
