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Feb. 6, 2026 – Issue 04
With roughly one-third of the 2026 session complete, the Georgia General Assembly is hitting its stride with an increasing volume of legislation moving through committees and onto the House and Senate floors. Also, activity in Washington this week ended a brief four-day partial government shutdown and set the stage for a forthcoming debate over the Department of Homeland Security budget, which was extended through Feb. 13. Keep reading below for a recap of these events and more in the Week Four report of From the Capitol Steps.
FEDERAL UPDATE
Tuesday, the congress ended a brief partial government shutdown by passing and President Donald Trump signing into law H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The House approved the measure in a narrow 217-214 vote with 21 Democrats joining Republicans, following the Senate's passage late last month. The roughly $1.2 trillion package provides full-year funding through September 30, 2026, for major departments including Defense, Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, Transportation- Housing and Urban Development, State, Treasury, and others, covering most of the federal government and ensuring back pay for furloughed employees from the four-day lapse that began Jan. 31.
One key outlier is the funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through Friday, Feb. 13, via a short-term continuing resolution. Negotiations continue over potential restrictions on immigration enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations amid recent controversies involving fatal shootings by federal agents.
In the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD), budget, several Cobb County projects finally made it to the funding finish line. Projects added to the budget by our delegation members include:
Congressman Loudermilk
- Cobb Parkway Pedestrian Bridge North – $1,000,000
- George Busbee Parkway – $1,000,000
- Bells Ferry Road over Noonday Creek Bridge Replacement – $1,000,000
- Old 41 roundabouts – $1,000,000
Former Congresswoman Greene
- Dallas Hwy/SR 120 at Lost Mountain Rd/ Mars Hill Rd – $1,000,000
Congresswoman McBath
- Austell-Powder Springs Road Intersection Improvement Project – $500,000 (Senate add by Senators Ossoff and Warnock)
- South Cobb Drive/SR280 Improvement Project – $2,000,000
- Factory Shoals Pedestrian Bridge over I-20 – $2,000,000 (Senate add by Warnock)
Thursday, we received the shocking news that Cobb Congressional Delegation’s most senior member, Congressman Barry Loudermilk, will not seek re-election. A long-time partner of the Cobb Chamber, Congressman Loudermilk first joined the House in 2015 and has been a strong advocate for Dobbins AFRB as well as transportation and infrastructure projects in the region. We are grateful for his service and will continue our partnership with him and the team until his term ends at the beginning of 2027.
“I have learned throughout my life that doing what is right is not always easy, convenient, or popular. My wife and I have prayed diligently and discussed this extensively; and, while this is not an easy decision, we believe it is the right one. While serving my constituents in Congress ranks among my greatest honors, being a husband, a father, and a grandfather holds even greater importance to me; and at this time, I wish to spend more dedicated time with my family,” Loudermilk said in a statement.
Qualifying for his seat, and all others for the 2026 election cycle opens March 2 – 6, 2026.
UNDER THE GOLD DOME
Property Tax Comes to the Forefront
Last week we reported on the House HOME Act, and this week, the Senate moved its property tax relief bill mostly along party lines, except for Cobb County’s new Senator Jaha Howard, who supported the bill. SB 382 by Senator Chuck Hufstetler would cap annual increases in the assessed value of homes at the rate of inflation and would not allow local governments or school systems to opt out. A similar bill from 2024 included an opt-out provision for local governments and school systems, which more than 300 entities took advantage of, including Cobb County.
Now, the Senate bill along with the measures awaiting hearings in the House Ways and Means Committee.
Georgia Families First Initiative
This week, Speaker Jon Burns along with Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones held a joint press conference to announce a package of bills and budget recommendations comprise the ‘Georgia Families First’ legislative initiative spearheaded in the House. The rollout includes the following legislation:
- HB 1123 by Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, which would require public schools that offer after-school care services to students in grades K-5 to make after-school services available to Pre-K students on the same basis;
- HB 1118 by Representative Sandy Donatucci, which would provide state employee birth mothers with an additional three weeks of paid leave, increasing total paid leave for birth mothers from six weeks to nine weeks;
- HB 1138 by Representative Beth Camp, which would increase access to contraceptives by allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control; and
- HB 1142 by Representative Leesa Hagan, which would create a time-limited, statewide domestic violence offender registry within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Dovetailing the legislation are the following budget additions:
- $8.9 million to expand the Department of Public Health’s Home Visiting Nurse Program to expectant and new birth mothers from 75 counties to 154 counties;
- $9.7 million to fully fund before-school, after-school and holiday-care for low-income and priority eligible Georgia Pre-K students;
- Using $9.7 million in federal funds to increase the number of children with working parents covered by the childcare subsidy for low-income and priority-eligible children; and
- $2 million in lottery funds to expand Georgia’s Summer Transition Program for rising Pre-K students, supporting working families with summer childcare assistance.
Along with this announcement, the House finalized its touches on the Amended FY 2026 budget, passing it Thursday 167 to 5, sending it to the Senate for consideration. While there is strong House support for most of the Governor’s recommendations in the ‘little budget’, the most notable difference between the two versions is the redirection of the Governor’s proposed $1.2 billion income tax rebates and redirected those funds to provide one-time property tax relief for homeowners.
Another change was the shaving of $25 million out of the Governor’s announced needs-based program, the DREAMS scholarship, which was lowered from $325 million to $300 million.
To review all the changes made by the House, click here for the Amended FY 2026 tracking sheet.
Movement on Literacy Improvements
As teased out during the first week of session, the House and Senate started work on improving Georgia’s literacy rates by introducing a pair of bills. House Education Chairman Chris Erwin introduced HB 1193, the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026. If passed, it would require all children to attend kindergarten before entering first grade, establish Quality Based Education (QBE) funding for school-based literacy coaches in K-3 public schools, and implement first grade readiness assessments. It would also create the Georgia Literacy Task Force to provide recommendations to the State Board of Education and would enhance funding for literacy coaching. Finally, it creates the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee to oversee statewide literacy programs. In the Senate, Senator Billy Hickman introduced a companion bill, SB 459, also called the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026.
Advocacy in Action
Cobb County was represented in full force this past week at the Gold Dome, and we always enjoy partnering with our institutions that actively engage in advocacy efforts down at the Capitol.
KSU Day at the Capitol
Cobb County’s own Kennesaw State University showed up in full force Tuesday celebrating their Conference USA Championship win. Joined by KSU President Kathy Schwaig, Football Head Coach Jerry Mack, and one giant gold trophy, KSU faculty, students and alumni joined legislators during the 11th Legislative Day to show institution pride and emphasize the importance of KSU to our state, county, and region.
City of Mableton Day at the Capitol
This past Monday, the City of Mableton held their second City of Mableton Day at the State Capitol. The morning started early with talks given by multiple Cobb County legislators including Rep. Terry Cummings, Rep. Lisa Campbell, Sen. Donzella James, and Sen. Jaha Howard. City Manager Bill Tanks recognized the City of Mableton staff that were in attendance and introduced members of the Mableton City Council, including newly elected members Michael McNeely and Cassandra Lynn Brown.
After breakfast, the group was recognized in both the House and Senate Chambers, then finished their day with lunch hearing from City of Mableton Mayor Michael Owens.
Gas South 20th Anniversary
Gas South is celebrating its 20th year in operation this year after opening its doors in January 2006. Gas South was honored in the House and Senate with two Privileged Resolutions; HR 1197 by Rep. Devan Seabaugh and SR 657 by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick.
Senator Kay Kirkpatrick and Cobb Chamber GAC Chair
Ashley Jenkins (Gas South) celebrate with Mr. Meter.
Georgia Aerospace and Defense Alliance: Aviation Day at the Capitol
The Georgia Aerospace and Defense Alliance (GADA) held their inaugural “Aerospace Day” at the State Capitol Tuesday to promote and express the importance of the aerospace and defense industry in the State of Georgia. Proudly situated within the Capitol Rotunda, Lockheed Martin displayed an F-35 Flight Simulator where everyone from the Governor to legislators were given the opportunity to virtually test fly an F-35 aircraft. Georgia’s aerospace industry accounts for over 200,000 jobs and $57.5 billion dollars of economic impact in the State of Georgia making it vital to the state and its economy.
At a press conference organized by GADA, Governor Kemp spoke about how the state’s aerospace industry is essential to our state’s economy and stated the importance of promoting the continued success of the aerospace industry in Georgia. GADA capped off the presentation by handing Governor Kemp and Speaker Jon Burns with a check representing the $57.5 Billion in annual economic impact the aerospace industry provides for the State. Governor Kemp and Speaker Jon Burns were then both given the opportunity to test the F-35 flight simulator, which both did quite successfully!
Regional Business Coalition Day at the Capitol
Wednesday, along with 100s of other citizens and organizations on what was undoubtedly one of the most crowded days under the Gold Dome, the members of the Cobb Chamber joined the Regional Business Coalition (RBC) for its day, hearing from lawmakers and legislative staffers on the 2026 session. The RBC is a nonpartisan organization of 17 local Chambers of Commerce throughout the metro Atlanta region. RBC member chambers represent over 10,000 businesses that collectively employ over 1 million metro Atlanta residents. The RBC’s primary goal is to represent the interests of RBC chamber members on public policy issues impacting our transportation, water, and air quality and to advocate for solutions that improve metro Atlanta’s quality of life and economic vitality. This year, Croy CEO and former Cobb Chamber Chair Greg Teague serves at the RBC Vice Chairman.
Cobb Legislative Delegation Update
This week the Cobb County Legislative Delegation heard from both Cole Blackwell, General Manager of the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, and Chris Manganiello, Water Policy Director with the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers.
Chris Manganiello, with the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers explained the purpose of the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers and outlined the organization’s goal of monitoring water quality and educating the public about protecting the Chattahoochee River and its connected tributaries, lakes, and watersheds.
Cole Blackwell, with the Cobb-Marietta Water Authority, provided an update on activities at the water authority and discussed current and past levels of Methyl-Isoborneol (MIB) parts per trillion in different water sources flowing down into Cobb County. MIB is a naturally occurring compound which, according to the Cobb-Marietta Water Authority website, does not pose any health risks, but can cause an earthy taste to drinking water. Cole went on to state that while MIB parts per trillion were elevated in the last year, those rates have returned to normal, and that they are currently in the process of researching advanced treatments to prevent elevated MIB levels in the future.
Relevant Legislation
As legislation begins to make its way into committees and see action on both the House and Senate floor, we would like to highlight a few pieces of legislation that the Cobb Chamber is proud to support. The following pieces of legislation align with our 2026 State Legislative Agenda and work to further our goals of fostering a healthy and thriving economic environment for our Cobb businesses and their employees.
A full list of bills that we are tracking can be found on our Relevant Legislation tracker page on our website. If you have any questions regarding the legislation included on our tracker, please feel free to reach out to Amanda Seals, EVP, Government Relations and Advocacy, or Coleman Loftin, Senior Manager, Government Relations.
HB 812 by Rep. Mike Cheokas
Legislation which changes the ways that local governments can propose amendments to state minimum standard codes by requiring the approval of the Department of Community Affairs 60 days before adoption. The proposed legislation also requires local issuing authorities to provide specific written details for land-distributing permit denials including citations to the laws supporting the reason for denial, and sets clear timelines for permit review, mandating that permits be issued or denied within 45 days of initial application and within 14 days of resubmission, and prohibits denials for reasons not explicitly authorized by local, state, or federal law.
Currently assigned to the House Governmental Affairs Committee
HB 932 by Rep. Steven Sainz
This bill amends Georgia's tax credit legislation for business enterprises in less developed areas by adding a new provision that allows census tracts in counties with federal military installations of at least 5,000 personnel to be designated as less developed areas for the specific years 2025 and 2026, potentially providing tax incentives for businesses operating in these regions during those two years.
Currently assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee
HB 1110 by Rep. Scott Hilton
Legislation known as the Georgia Small Business Healthcare Affordability Act, aims to create a new tax credit for eligible small businesses in Georgia that offer "individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements" to their employees.
Currently assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee
HB 1183 by Rep. Steven Sainz
Legislation which amends Georgia's state income tax laws to exempt income earned as personal compensation for full-time duty in the active military service of the United States from state income tax.
Currently assigned to House Ways and Means Committee
HB 377 by Rep. Rob Leverett
Legislation which revises the contracting procedures for counties and municipalities in Georgia when acquiring professional services such as architectural, engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, and interior design work. The bill expands the existing state-level regulations for professional service procurement to apply to local governments, establishing a standardized competitive qualifications-based selection process.
Currently assigned to Senate Government Oversight Committee
SB 432 by Sen. Larry Walker, III
Legislation which extends the automatic repeal date for provisions allowing the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia to retain certain collected revenue, known as "nonlapsing revenue," from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2031; this revenue can be from sources like tuition, departmental sales, and fees, with specific limits on how much tuition revenue can be nonlapsing (3% for the University System and 15% for the Technical College System), and requires annual reporting on its use. Additionally, the bill extends the authority for state agencies, including the University System and Technical College System institutions, to administratively write off small uncollectable debts or charges, which are $100 or less for most agencies but up to $3,000 for the University and Technical College Systems, from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2031.
Currently assigned to the Senate Finance Committee
SB 437 by Sen. Clint Dixon
Legislation which allows individuals applying for building, plumbing, or electrical permits to hire private professional providers to conduct plan reviews and inspections, even if the local government authority has not yet completed its own review or inspection, and these reviews or inspections can now be done virtually. It shortens the timeframe for local authorities to approve applications from 30 days to ten days and prohibits them from charging convenience fees when a private provider is used.
Currently assigned to the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee
SB 447 by Sen. Clint Dixon
Legislation which requires local authorities, when denying a permit application, to provide the applicant with a clear, written list of specific reasons for the denial, citing the relevant local, state, or federal laws that were not met. The bill also establishes stricter timeframes for reviewing permit applications, generally requiring a decision within 45 days of the initial submission, and a much shorter 14-day period for reviewing resubmitted applications that address previously identified deficiencies. If a local authority fails to act within these specified timeframes, the permit will be automatically considered approved, and any fees paid must be refunded.
Currently assigned to the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee
Next Week at the Capitol
Mon., Feb. 9 - Legislative Day 15
Tues., Feb. 10 – Legislative Day 16
Wed., Feb. 11 – Legislative Day 17
Thurs., Feb. 12 – Legislative Day 18
Fri., Feb. 13 – Recess
If you have any questions about the Cobb Chamber Government Affairs Committee, the Cobb Chamber legislative priorities or advocacy in general, please reach out to Amanda Seals, Executive Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations, or Coleman Loftin, Senior Manager, Government Affairs and Advocacy. |