Expect wild session amid bad blood, budget gaps and election antics

The 2026 state legislative session is still half a year away, but it is already lining up to be highly contentious. This is due, in part, to some simmering resentment, looming high-stakes elections and trickle-down policies from Washington, D.C. So, if state political theatrics are your thing, then grab some popcorn and settle into your seat.

As is often the case, some of the bad blood stemming from the prior session is sure to add drama to the upcoming session, and this animosity deals with the Legislature’s technical details. For those of you who haven’t taken a state civics class in a while, the Georgia General Assembly meets for 40 legislative days each year. On the last day, the House and Senate often work until midnight — sometimes later.

Last session was different. At 9:15 p.m., the Senate adjourned for the year, which shocked most onlookers, and this left the House of Representatives in a bit of a lurch. While there was plenty of legislation still under consideration, there was no point in the House taking any action that required Senate approval because the Senate had already shut down for the year.

This effectively killed plenty of bills — some good and some not-so-much — but the decision to adjourn early may have serious consequences. Some recent off-the-record conversations with lawmakers and Capitol insiders have made it clear that the House hasn’t forgotten or forgiven the Senate. Come 2026, there may be some payback even. Will House members work to kill Senate priorities and adjourn early next year in retribution? Maybe.

Beyond this, there are a slew of lawmakers — primarily in the Senate — who have announced their intention to seek higher office after the conclusion of the 2026 session. This means that a number of them will be in campaign mode during session, and as such, may not be as collegial or cooperative with their fellow legislators. This could bog Senate proceedings down and lead to public spats. 

Moreover, representatives and senators who are pursuing higher office are likely to introduce bills that are little more than red meat. Officials do this to raise their profile, win over their voting base and establish their bona fides. Some good measures could come from these antics, but most of them will probably boil down to pointless virtue signaling around social issues and establishing their love or hatred for President Donald J. Trump.

Earlier this year, a bill passed to establish an “America First” license plate, a resolution was introduced commending Trump “for his re-election and successful conservative policies as well as extend their best wishes for his continued leadership,” and another bill sought to preserve the Second Amendment, even though the U.S. Constitution makes it pretty clear that it “shall not be infringed.” If officials introduced measures like this in a non-election year, then 2026 will be a wild ride.

If these issues weren’t bad enough, then passing the state budget could set the stage for some high-profile disputes. Generally this isn’t a hot topic when state revenues are exceeding expectations. As it is, “Adjusting for the year-over-year motor fuel tax changes, year-to-date net tax revenue collections for the fiscal year-ended June 30 were up $197.4 million, or 0.6 percent,” according to a statement from the governor’s office, and Georgia has maintained its coveted AAA bond rating. 

At first glance, our finances look great, but federal policies might throw a wrench into the budget. “In a memo sent last week by the state budget office, Director Richard Dunn advised agency heads that the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 and Fiscal Year 2027 budgets will likely not include any new spending increases,” reports Fox 5 News. “The memo makes it clear that if federal funding is reduced, the state does not plan to fill in the gaps — except for enrollment-based programs such as K-12 education and health care services.”

The reason for this memo seems tied directly to the federal budget. “Trump’s federal budget includes approximately $1.5 trillion in cuts aimed at offsetting the cost of a $4 trillion tax cut package,” Fox 5 added. “Democrats have criticized the plan, arguing the tax cuts disproportionately benefit the wealthy and that the spending reductions could significantly impact essential state-level programs, including education and health care.”

While I have no doubt that Georgia will ultimately be fine — especially since the state is governed in a fiscally responsible manner — few issues create nastier legislative fights than the budget. Nevertheless, between bad blood, impending elections and federal budget cuts, the Georgia General Assembly’s coming session could be one for the ages.