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February 11, 2026

State Rep. Eddie Lumsden Legislative Report: Week Four Highlights

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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:

January 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Rep. Eddie Lumsden Recaps Week One Under the Gold Dome as 2026 Session Begins

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State Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R–Armuchee) says the Georgia House returned to Atlanta on January 12 to open the 2026 legislative session, beginning the second regular session of the 158th General Assembly. Lumsden noted the week included recognition of the newly restored House Chamber and adoption of the session calendar, with the 40-day session scheduled to end April 2, known as Sine Die. He also highlighted Governor Brian Kemp’s priorities shared at the Georgia Chamber’s Eggs & Issues Breakfast, including transportation spending proposals, a one-time natural gas infrastructure fund, and a Homeless Response Grant tied to preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. Lumsden said Kemp’s final State of the State Address focused on tax relief, cost-of-living issues, education and workforce training, school safety, and public safety priorities, including efforts to combat human trafficking and gang-related crime. The week concluded with a Celebration of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Lumsden said lawmakers returned after the holiday for “budget week,” when agencies outline funding needs to appropriations committees. You can see the complete legislative report below:

January 20, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Ban Personal Devices in High Schools

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Georgia lawmakers have introduced a new bill that would expand the state’s restrictions on student cell phone use, potentially banning personal devices in high schools statewide.

January 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Kemp Delivers Final State of the State, Pushing Tax Relief and Major Investments as His Last-Lap Agenda Takes Shape

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Gov. Brian Kemp delivered his final State of the State address this week at the Georgia Capitol, using the annual speech to lay out what he wants lawmakers to prioritize as he enters the home stretch of his second term. In front of a joint session of the General Assembly, Kemp struck an upbeat tone about Georgia’s economy and growth, while arguing the next set of decisions should center on affordability for families, long-term competitiveness for the state, and keeping Georgia “open for business” in a changing national landscape.

January 3, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Department of Education Unveils 2026 Legislative Priorities Ahead of General Assembly Session

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As the new year begins, the Georgia Department of Education is turning its attention to the 2026 General Assembly, releasing a new list of legislative priorities aimed at shaping education policy under the Gold Dome.

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.