Georgia Lawmakers End 40-Day Session with Mixed Results

Some bills passed, others collapsed as lawmakers raced to meet budget and policy deadlines.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:40pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes in warm, earthy tones, conceptually representing the fast-paced, high-stakes negotiations of the Georgia legislature as they raced to complete their work before the session ended.The frenetic final hours of Georgia's legislative session saw lawmakers scrambling to pass bills before the clock ran out.Atlanta Today

Georgia lawmakers wrapped up their 40-day legislative session after midnight, with a mix of wins and losses. While they managed to agree on a state budget, other key bills like property tax relief and school security measures failed to pass. Advocates for disability services and voting reform also saw some of their priorities scaled back in the final negotiations.

Why it matters

The end of the legislative session marks a critical juncture for Georgia politics, as lawmakers determine the state's priorities and allocate funding for the coming year. The unfinished business could prompt a special session, setting up further debates on issues like election policy that have become increasingly partisan.

The details

In the final hours, lawmakers scrambled to reach compromises on the state budget and other bills. While property tax relief passed, House Speaker Jon Burns said the final version didn't go far enough. A proposal to require weapons detection systems in every Georgia school also failed to make it through. Disability advocates secured funding for 500 new Medicaid waivers, but fell short of their goal of over 1,200. The House passed a plan to move the state off touchscreen voting machines by 2028, but the Senate didn't send a final bill to the governor.

  • The 40-day legislative session ended after midnight on April 3, 2026.
  • Lawmakers had to finalize the state budget in the final hours before adjourning.

The players

Jon Burns

The Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, who expressed disappointment that the final property tax relief bill didn't go far enough.

Layla Contreras

An advocate with the group Change for Chee, who has pushed lawmakers for years to require weapons detection systems in Georgia schools after a shooting at Apalachee High School.

Charlie Miller

An advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who said the 500 new Medicaid waivers funded in the final budget deal still leave a massive unmet need.

Brian Kemp

The Governor of Georgia, who will now review all the bills passed by the legislature and analyze their consequences.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We believe that Georgia taxpayers, Georgia homeowners, need and deserve some relief in their property taxes, and that's something we're committed to.”

— Jon Burns, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives

“We don't want what happened to Appalachee to happen anywhere else.”

— Layla Contreras, Advocate, Change for Chee

“500 means 500 more families, and we're going to have more and more people with disabilities fighting for these issues.”

— Charlie Miller, Disability Advocate

What’s next

If leaders want to settle election policy and the money to make it happen before next year, a special session becomes a real possibility. Governor Kemp has 40 days to sign or veto the bills that did pass.

The takeaway

The end of Georgia's legislative session highlights the ongoing tensions and tradeoffs lawmakers face in setting the state's agenda. While they were able to reach a budget compromise, other high-profile issues like property taxes, school security, and disability services saw mixed results - underscoring the challenges of governing in a politically divided environment.