The week of January 19 was “budget week” at the Capitol, during which lawmakers review the Governor’s proposed budget and hear from state agencies about their funding needs and priorities. The budget is still in its early stages and will continue to be shaped through hearings and negotiations in the weeks ahead. During the week of January 26, many committees met for the first time in 2026. With committee meetings now underway and the budget process moving forward, legislative activity will increase in the coming weeks.
Free Speech
Tomorrow, a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee will hear Senate Bill 74, which would criminalize librarians for failing to remove materials considered “harmful to minors” from their libraries. This legislation encourages censorship and threatens access to information in libraries across the state. We are closely monitoring this legislation and its potential impact on free speech.
Voting Rights
On January 22, the Senate Ethics Committee held their first meeting of the year, where they approved Senate Resolution 563, which calls on Georgia’s Secretary of State to release confidential voter information requested by the federal Department of Justice. While senate resolutions do not carry legal force, calls to release confidential voter information raise significant concerns about voter privacy.
In this meeting, we also heard members of the State Election Board urge the committee to mandate in-person voting with hand-marked paper ballots. This would overhaul ballot counting across the state and eliminate critical ballot drop boxes that communities rely on to make their voices heard each election year. We are closely monitoring developments related to voting rights and will oppose any proposal that makes it harder for Georgians to vote.
Action Alerts
We’re continuing our advocacy to pass a comprehensive civil rights bill in Georgia. Senate Bill 320 and House Bill 670 would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, creating one standard for civil rights protections that applies across the state. Committee chairs have the power to move this legislation forward, and they need to hear from you today. Will you email Chairman Brian Strickland (Senate Judiciary) and Chairman Stan Gunter (House Judiciary) and urge them to schedule hearings for Senate Bill 320 and House Bill 670?