ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers wrapped up this year’s legislative session under the Gold Dome after an overnight marathon, with several measures passing in the final hours but one key piece of legislation failing to advance.
Lawmakers worked into the morning to complete business, sending multiple bills to the governor’s desk. However, on an unusual Sine Die, legislation aimed at overhauling the state’s voting system did not pass, even as the state approaches a deadline to make changes to current ballots.
House Speaker Jon Burns said the proposal would have pushed that deadline back to 2028 but failed to receive a vote in the Senate.
“The election reform is something we were committed to, we think we had a reasonable plan that would allow us to move forward with our elections, and have transparency,” Burns said.
Burns also said lawmakers will confer with the governor on whether a special session may be needed to address the issue.
Under current law, QR codes must be removed from ballots by July of this year.
Among the measures that did pass is a bill aimed at making insurance more affordable. State Representative Matt Reeves said the legislation targets insurance fraud and increases fines for companies.
“In other states you’ve got companies leaving the markets and increasing their rates, so we’re already getting a benefit, and this bill will help strengthen that affordability for customers,” Reeves said.
Lawmakers also approved a revised property tax measure. The bill limits annual property assessment increases to either 3 percent or the inflation rate, whichever is higher. An earlier version that would have capped actual property tax bills at 3 percent was removed.
Burns said he was disappointed that broader tax relief measures did not advance.
“There’re several different initiatives we had in our tax bill that would have been more meaningful for our property tax payers, our homestead property taxpayers in the state and they chose not to stay with them which is really something that would make a difference for taxpayers,” Burns said.
Another bill awaiting the governor’s signature would allow pharmacists to prescribe a year’s worth of hormonal birth control. State Representative Beth Camp said the measure is intended to expand access to care.
“Having another health professional in your life, as a woman reminding you that you’re supposed to do all the great things you’re supposed to do for your health, it’s going to be a great benefit,” Camp said.
Camp added, “It’s a personal responsibility bill and it is an access to care bill.”
Lawmakers also passed the state’s nearly $39 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year before officially ending the session.
WSB Radio’s Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.