The Holland Report - 2026, Week 11 - Sine Die!

Sara Fuchs

After countless committee hearings, many hours of floor debate, and 40 legislative days, the 2026 legislative session has come to a close. I’m proud that we passed some strong legislation this year, including the Literacy Act and the DREAMS Scholarship (needs-based), both of which have the potential to lift up future generations through learning and education.

We also successfully pushed back on a number of harmful bills. Efforts to remove restrictions on gun silencers failed on the floor, as did a bill aimed at protecting Confederate monuments. A bill that would have criminalized librarians passed the Senate but never made it to a vote in the House. And, as Georgia Equality noted last week, not a single anti-LGBTQ bill passed this year, after several sessions in which such legislation cleared both chambers.

However, we left the Capitol on Sine Die with one major question still unresolved: how the state will handle elections moving forward. Georgia is facing a technical and legal conflict. A 2024 law requires the state to stop using QR codes to count ballots by July 1, 2026, but current law and infrastructure still depend on machines that rely on those same QR codes. The House passed a bill that would have extended the deadline and given the state time to thoughtfully overhaul the elections process, but the Senate did not take up the measure before the session ended.

As a result, current law is effectively at odds with itself—both requiring and prohibiting the use of QR codes for ballot counting. While this won’t affect the May 19 primaries or any runoffs, it could create significant challenges for the November general election. It’s very possible that Governor Kemp will need to call a special session for legislators to resolve the issue.

So what’s next? Believe it or not, we’re already shifting into election season. I have drawn both a primary challenger and a general election challenger, so you’ll be hearing more soon about how you can support my re-election campaign. In the meantime, read on for more updates as we wrap up the 2026 legislative session.

GOOD BILLS THAT PASSED

Fully funded foster care - HB 973
Closed an $85.7M deficit to stabilize services for vulnerable children and families.

Property tax relief - HB 973
Provided an average ~$500 tax credit for homeowners as a short-term affordability measure.

Income tax rebates - HB 1000
Delivered one-time tax refunds of up to $250 (single) or $500 (married) using state surplus funds.

Literacy coaches - HB 1193
Requires literacy coaches in K–3 schools to improve reading outcomes, though funding remains limited.

Gas tax suspension - HB 1199
Temporarily paused the gas tax to help offset rising costs for Georgia families.

Family Justice Centers - HB 1283
Expands one-stop centers to support victims of violence, abuse, and trafficking.

Sexual assault kit retention - HB 1283
Extends evidence storage from 1 year to 10 years, giving survivors more time to seek justice.

BAD BILLS WE STOPPED

DOGE-style regulatory overhaul - SB 28
Blocked sweeping changes that would have added bureaucracy, weakened agencies, and increased political interference.

Anti-trans legislation - SB 30, HB 54, HB 660
Prevented multiple bills restricting gender-affirming care and healthcare coverage.

Criminalizing librarians - SB 74
Stopped efforts to remove protections for library workers over materials on shelves.

School voucher expansion - SB 124, SB 152, SB 445, SB 446
Blocked proposals that could divert funding from public schools without clear accountability.

Election system overhauls - multiple bills
Prevented disruptive changes that could undermine election administration and voter access.

Fast-track hotel evictions - SB 463, HB 61, HB 183
Stopped efforts to remove housing protections for families in extended-stay motels.

Gun silencer expansion - SB 499, HB 1324
Defeated legislation that would weaken oversight of silencers.

Self-defense law changes - SB 572, HB 1226
Blocked bills that could burden courts and create confusion around use-of-force standards.

Anti-abortion expansions - HB 122, HB 441
Prevented extreme measures restricting reproductive healthcare and emergency contraception.

PFAS liability shields - HB 211
Stopped protections for polluters that would limit accountability for environmental harm.

Taxing PFAS settlements - HB 1212
Blocked a proposal to tax compensation received by contamination victims.

Workers’ comp limits for longshoremen - HB 574
Prevented cuts to critical benefits for injured workers.

Securities enforcement changes - HB 934
Stopped efforts to weaken oversight of financial fraud and misconduct.

Resolution on Iran war - HR 1662
Prevented a resolution praising U.S. involvement without broader consensus.

BAD BILLS THAT PASSED

Property tax overhaul - SB 33
Caps school revenue growth and risks cuts to education while shifting tax burdens.

Local control restrictions - HB 295
Exposes local officials to lawsuits and limits how cities and counties manage policing and homelessness.

Income tax overhaul - HB 463
Reduces state revenues significantly, with most benefits going to higher earners.

Limits on executive authority - HB 1247
Expands legislative and judicial control over state agencies, weakening future governors.

Join me on Sunday, April 19th from 4–6 PM for my Re-Election Campaign Kickoff!

We’ll have drinks, light bites, yard signs, and campaign materials available, and I’d love to see you there.

This is an important election year. I’m facing both a primary and a general election challenger, and every vote will matter. Now is the time to get organized, get informed, and get ready to turn out for the May 19th primary.

Stop by to pick up a yard sign, learn more about the campaign, and talk about what’s at stake.

RSVP

If you’re able, donations are greatly appreciated, but not required to attend. Address provided upon RSVP.

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.

To stay updated, follow me on Instagram and Facebook, and follow the Georgia House of Representatives @GAHouseHub on Twitter. Additionally, in-depth information regarding current bills, Georgia's annual and supplemental budgets, committee meetings, and livestreams from the General Assembly can be accessed via www.legis.ga.gov.

I encourage you and your family to visit our State Capitol and my office, where all constituents are welcome. I look forward to connecting with you!

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.