The Holland Report - 2026, Week 10

Sara Fuchs

We’re in the home stretch of the 2026 legislative session, with just two days remaining. As House and Senate leaders continue negotiations over the state budget and other key measures, a backlog of bills is building as they await final passage.We’re hopeful that strong legislation will make it across the finish line, like the Georgia Early Literacy Act (HB 1193) and the DREAMS Scholarship (HB 1413), while less favorable proposals stall before reaching the floor. Either way, the final days of session, Tuesday and Thursday, are expected to be long and fast-paced.

Read on for a look at what we accomplished last week and what we’re watching closely as the countdown to Sine Die continues.

Notable Legislation Passed

SB 443, Offenses Against Public Order; the punishment for the offense of obstructing highways, streets, sidewalks, or other public passages; increase
This bill enhances the penalty for obstructing highways and streets to a high and aggravated misdemeanor. Currently, this offense is a misdemeanor. It further makes all convicted persons civilly liable for damages that results from the offense. This bill attempts to discourage citizens from using their First Amendment right to peacefully protest. Obstruction is already a crime, and this increased penalty is not necessary.
I voted no and it passed, 96-69.

SB 150, Retirement; permit public school systems to employ certain beneficiaries of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia as classroom teachers; extend the program
This bill extends and expands a program that allows retired members of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia to return to work as full-time classroom teachers without losing their retirement benefits. We need the wealth of experience retired teachers can provide.
I voted yes and it passed, 159-0.

SB 442, Drivers' Licenses; revocation and expiration of commercial drivers' licenses for noncitizens; provide
If a noncitizen moves to Georgia and wants to transfer a commercial driver’s license from another state, this bill requires them to take and pass Georgia’s commercial driver knowledge and skills test. Currently, CDL holders transferring from another state may be able to transfer their license without retesting, so this provision adds an additional requirement for noncitizens.
I voted no on this bill and it passed, 98-59.Agree/Disagrees

Often, bills return to the House very different than when they left. If that is the case, the House must either agree or disagree with the changes. There is no debate - just a vote. If the House agrees, the bill passes. If it disagrees, the bill goes back to the Senate, where they will either insist on the changes or recede. If the Senate insists, then the bill ends up in a conference committee, with three House and three Senate members, to hammer out changes that both chambers will be asked to agree to.

HB 369, Motor vehicles; sale of food or beverages; provide vehicle equipment standards
I voted yes on this bill originally, when it was about the mobile sale of food and beverages. It was replaced in the Senate with a terrible bill to require non-partisan elections in county races ONLY in the five metro Atlanta counties. If non-partisan elections are better, then why not for all counties? Could it be because black Democratic women are winning these elections?
I voted no on this bill and it passed, 93-64.

Chaplain of the Day Rev. Will Zant, the senior pastor from Haywood United Methodist Church.

Bills We’re Tracking Closely

With just two legislative days remaining, we’re keeping a close eye on the following bills. All are currently on the Rules Consideration Calendar, meaning they’ve cleared committee and must now advance through Rules, be placed on a calendar, brought to the House floor for debate, and secure enough votes to pass. Time is running out, and for these bills, that's a good thing. We do not want this legislation to become law.

SB 8, Courts; arrest warrant requirements when juvenile courts are acting as courts of inquiry; provide
Includes some useful updates, but imposes harsh criminal penalties that could chill nonprofit legal aid work and reduce access to justice for low-income Georgians.

SB 74, Harmful Materials to Minors; exemption for libraries and librarians from the provisions of Code Section 16-12-103; repeal
Expands vague obscenity standards in ways that could criminalize librarians and restrict access to books, raising serious free speech and censorship concerns.

SB 116, DNA Sampling; the collection of DNA samples from any individual in a detention facility charged with a misdemeanor or felony who is subject to an immigration detainer notice; require
Expands DNA collection to people merely charged, not convicted, of certain offenses, raising civil liberties and privacy concerns.

SB 214, Elections and Primaries; electors to cast physical absentee on-request ballots as an alternative to using other authorized means of casting in-person votes; authorize
Broad elections bill that warrants close scrutiny for potential impacts on voter access and election administration. Replacing Georgia's election system so close to an election is irresponsible and unrealistic.

SB 268, Offenses Against Public Order; crime of interference with a first responder; provide
Creates a new criminal offense with overly broad definitions that could be used to suppress protest activity and constitutionally protected speech.

SB 440, Department of Public Health; provisions relative to duties or functions; modernize and update
Allows expanded access to ivermectin without traditional safeguards, raising concerns about evidence-based medicine and patient safety.

SB 442, Drivers' Licenses; revocation and expiration of commercial drivers' licenses for noncitizens; provide
Targets noncitizen workers by mandating license revocations, potentially harming immigrant communities and key sectors of Georgia’s workforce.

SB 468, Sexual Offender Risk Review Board; reporting requirements of sexual offenders; increase
Further criminalizes homelessness by imposing additional surveillance requirements on individuals already facing housing instability.

SB 475, Charter School Funding; local boards of education to treat local charter schools no less favorably than other local schools; expenditure of the proceeds of a special purpose local option sales tax; require
Advances policies that may divert resources from traditional public schools without ensuring equitable accountability standards.

SB 498, Georgia Charter School Facilities Authority; establish
Creates a new authority to support charter school expansion, raising concerns about prioritizing charter growth over investment in neighborhood public schools.

SB 499, Dangerous Instrumentalities and Practices; prohibition on possessing a silencer; repeal
Continues efforts to weaken gun safety laws by rolling back regulations on silencers, which can make gun violence harder to detect and investigate.

SB 513, "Every Day Counts Act"; enact
Takes a punitive approach to absenteeism that could disproportionately impact low-income families instead of addressing root causes like transportation and health.

SB 552, "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act"; enact
Despite claims that this bill is neutral, the acronym is politically charged. This bill would give students the right to engage in political activities and expression as well as form partisan or nonpartisan groups or activities before, during, and after the school day.

SB 591, Offenses Against Public Order; the disruption of a religious service; prohibit
Raises First Amendment concerns due to broad language that could be used to limit protest and free expression.

SR 23, US Congress; limited to proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to set a limit on the number of terms that a person may be elected; apply to call a convention
Supports a constitutional convention process that could open the door to sweeping and unpredictable changes to fundamental rights and federal protections.

This bill was on the legislative calendar on Friday, Day 38, but was postponed to the next legislative day.

SB 446, Student Scholarship Organizations; State of Georgia to participate in the federal tax credit program for contributions of individuals to scholarship granting organizations; provide
Opts Georgia into a federal tax scheme allowing people to deduct $1,700 in taxes if they donate to a private school. This is a voucher program by another name.

If you haven’t already, please browse my website, betsyforgeorgia.com.

As your Representative, your concerns are important to me. Please contact me at betsy.holland@house.ga.gov or 404-656-0116 with questions, concerns, or solutions you may have regarding legislation or other happenings in District 54.

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My office is located at:
18 Capitol Square, SW
409-B Coverdell Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.