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January 9, 2026

Lawmakers Return to Atlanta Monday as 2026 Georgia Legislative Session Gets Underway

Local News, Local News Items #2026Session, #chattoogacounty, #eddielumsden, #FloydCounty, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgiapolitics, #LegislativeSession, #northwestgeorgia, #StateCapitol, #UnderTheGoldDome 0

The 2026 Georgia Legislative Assembly will convene Monday, January 12, 2026, bringing state lawmakers back to the Capitol to begin the annual session. Over the coming weeks, legislators are expected to take up a wide range of issues that affect Northwest Georgia, including the state budget, public safety, education, health care access, and insurance-related policy.

Representing the area will be State Representative Eddie Lumsden, who serves House District 12, covering Chattooga County and parts of Floyd County. During the 2026 session, Lumsden is serving as Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, and he also holds assignments on the Appropriations, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Governmental Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Rules, and State Properties committees.

Constituents who want to share concerns or follow legislative developments can reach Rep. Lumsden by email at eddie.lumsden@house.ga.gov, by phone at (404) 656-7850, or by mail/visit at 220-A State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334.

January 8, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Deadlines For Special Election For Congress Released

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A special election has been announced to fill the vacant seat in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District following the resignation of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. The district includes Chattooga County, along with parts of Northwest Georgia, and will soon see a field of candidates seeking to represent the region in Washington.

January 7, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Special Election Set for March 10 to Fill Northwest Georgia’s 14th District Seat After Greene Resignation

Local News, Local News Items #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #cobbcounty, #DadeCounty, #ElectionDay, #FloydCounty, #GA14, #georgiapolitics, #MurrayCounty, #northwestgeorgia, #PauldingCounty, #PolkCounty, #RomeGA, #SpecialElection, #VoterRegistration, #WalkerCounty, #WhitfieldCounty 0

Governor Brian Kemp issued an order Tuesday calling for a special election on Tuesday, March 10 to fill the vacant 14th Congressional District seat after U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Rome resigned, effective Monday, Jan. 5.

January 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Chattooga GOP Meeting Set as Local and National Races Shift

Local News, Local News Items #BlakeElsberry, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaGOP, #ColtonMoore, #CommunityMeeting, #CongressionalRace, #District53, #GA14, #GASecretaryOfState, #GASenate53, #georgiapolitics, #LannyThomas, #LocalElections, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #VernonJones 0

The Chattooga County Republican Party will hold its January meeting Tuesday, January 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson’s Restaurant, 10096 Commerce Street, in Summerville.

January 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Looks at 2026 Overhaul of Medicaid Waiver Waiting List for People With Disabilities

Local News, Local News Items #Advocacy, #Caregiving, #DBHDD, #DevelopmentalDisabilities, #DisabilityServices, #georgianews, #georgiapolitics, #healthcare, #HomeCare, #IDD, #IntellectualDisabilities, #Medicaid, #MedicaidWaiver, #PublicPolicy, georgia 0

A major state program designed to help Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive in-home care and supports could see significant changes in 2026, as state officials consider proposals aimed at reshaping how applicants are prioritized for services.

January 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Senate Panel to Finalize Income Tax Elimination Report Jan. 7

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A Georgia state Senate committee tasked with charting a path to eliminate the state income tax is set to meet Wednesday, Jan. 7, to adopt its final report — a move that could tee up major tax legislation when lawmakers return to Atlanta for the 2026 legislative session later this month.

January 5, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia “PFAS Receiver Shield” Bill Could Reshape Lawsuits Tied to Water Contamination

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A proposed bill at the Georgia Capitol, House Bill 211, could change how PFAS-related lawsuits move forward in the state, and opponents say it may limit legal options for communities dealing with contaminated drinking water, including Summerville water customers impacted by PFAS.

January 3, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Sen. Colton Moore Unveils Sweeping Bill Package, but Measures Face Long Odds at the Gold Dome

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Georgia State Senator Colton Moore, a Republican from Trenton, who represents Chattooga County and surrounding areas in Northwest Georgia, has introduced a wide-ranging slate of legislation this session, targeting issues from National Guard deployments and gun regulations to taxes, abortion, elections, and lobbying rules. But despite the ambitious scope, the proposals are widely viewed as facing steep obstacles in the Georgia Legislature, where committee gatekeeping and leadership support often determine which bills advance.

December 29, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

Field Swells to 20 Candidates in Special Election Race for Northwest Georgia’s 14th District

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The race to replace U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene continues to grow, with four more Republicans filing paperwork, bringing the total to 20 candidates registered with the Federal Election Commission so far.

December 27, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

New Mayors to Take Office in 2026 in Trion and Summerville

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Chattooga County will see new leadership in municipal government in the new year, with new mayors set to take office in 2026 in both Trion and Summerville following the November municipal elections.