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Georgia lawmakers worked into Friday morning to pass a nearly $39 billion budget and a slate of bills before the legislative session ended.

Why it matters: Sine die is lawmakers' final chance to pass priorities — and with 2026 elections looming, the pressure to deliver wins intensified.

Zoom in: Here's what cleared both chambers and heads to Gov. Brian Kemp.

🤑 Budget: The House and Senate agreed to a $38.5 billion spending plan that includes state employee pay raises and literacy coaches for elementary schools, a priority of House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington).

Homelessness: Lawmakers passed a bill that would allow property owners to sue local governments for failing to enforce ordinances related to homelessness, immigration or public safety. 

They also voted to require organizations distributing food in Atlanta to join a state database or risk citations.

🚇 Transit: Lawmakers approved a bill dissolving two state transit agencies and shifting some powers to a new Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority.

The measure also extends MARTA's 1% sales tax for a decade and further limits the state's role in transit planning.

💵 Taxes: Lawmakers approved a plan to cut Georgia's income tax to 3.99% if fiscal conditions are met. The bill also exempts taxes on tips and overtime up to $1,750.

State representatives also backed a scaled-down proposal allowing local governments to use a sales tax to offset property taxes.

🎓 Education: The Senate narrowly approved a needs-based scholarship program for low-income students attending postsecondary institutions.

Transparency: Sexual harassment settlements involving members of the Georgia General Assembly could be made public under legislation approved on Sine Die.

🎩 Pennies: The House sent legislation allowing retailers to round cash transactions' totals to the nearest nickel as the U.S. phases out the penny to Kemp.

What's next: Kemp has 40 days to sign, veto or allow the bills to become law.

What we're watching: Kemp's veto statements, as this is his final year at the Capitol. 

Also, whether the governor answers some lawmakers' calls for a special session to postpone the Legislature's self-imposed deadline this July to remove QR codes from ballots.

Georgia lawmakers wrap session with budget, major bills

Gov. Brian Kemp now has 40 days to act on dozens of end-of-session bills.

Large, ornate conference hall filled with people in suits celebrating as white confetti rains down; attendees raise arms, some take photos, and a blue banner decorates the far wall.

Georgia state representatives close out the 40-day legislative session. Photo: Thomas Wheatley/Axios 

Georgia lawmakers worked into Friday morning to pass a nearly $39 billion budget and a slate of bills before the legislative session ended.Why it matters: Sine die is lawmakers&#x27; final chance to pass priorities — and with 2026 elections looming, the pressure to deliver wins intensified.

News

Politics

Atlanta's fleet of Waymo autonomous taxis have volunteered to pinpoint potholes and craters in the city's craggy streets.

Why it matters: Potholes are a safety risk, drain on drivers' wallets and a political headache for Atlanta leaders.

Heavy traffic, aging infrastructure, limited funding and frequent rain all contribute to Atlanta's pothole problem.

Those issues aren't going away, so knowledge is power.

Zoom in: Atlanta is among five metros where Waymo and Waze are piloting a program to share pothole location data collected by robotaxis, the company announced Thursday.

City officials can use the data to help prioritize repairs.

State of play: Waze users will also receive alerts about nearby potholes.

Flashback: In 2002, then-Mayor Shirley Franklin created the Pothole Posse and started an unwinnable war against the annoyances. 

Mayor Andre Dickens, who considers Franklin a mentor, resurrected the posse in his first term.

Catch up quick: Atlanta crews use 311 complaints and inspections to target repairs and aim to fix 30 potholes a day.

Crews fixed more than 10,000 potholes in 2025, according to ATL DOT (PDF). And yet, new craters appear elsewhere along Atlanta's nearly 1,400 miles of surface streets.

An ATL DOT spokesperson did not return Axios' request for comment.

The big picture: Potholes and their cousins, steel plates, are so prevalent they've become part of Atlanta's identity and mythos. 

The Pothole Posse's newest member is a Waymo robotaxi

Drivers will soon get alerts about nearby craters and obstacles.

Atlanta&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fleet of Waymo" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/02/27/waymo-speeds-across-america-and-atlanta" data-vars-content-id="9bc7a9a2-46a9-47a0-9916-48001898e0e2" data-vars-headline="The Pothole Posse&#x27;s newest member is a Waymo robotaxi" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/02/27/waymo-speeds-across-america-and-atlanta" target="_self">fleet of Waymo</a> autonomous taxis have volunteered to pinpoint <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="potholes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/04/06/pothole-posse-fix-atlanta-roads" data-vars-content-id="9bc7a9a2-46a9-47a0-9916-48001898e0e2" data-vars-headline="The Pothole Posse&#x27;s newest member is a Waymo robotaxi" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/04/06/pothole-posse-fix-atlanta-roads" target="_self">potholes</a> and craters in the city&#x27;s craggy streets.Why it matters: Potholes are a safety risk, drain on drivers&#x27; wallets and a political headache for Atlanta leaders.<ul><li>Heavy traffic, aging infrastructure, limited funding and frequent rain all contribute to Atlanta&#x27;s pothole problem.</li><li>Those issues aren&#x27;t going away, so knowledge is power.</li></ul>

Mayor Andre Dickens wants the city to create more accessible spaces and programming for young people to prevent the type of violence that unfolded over Easter weekend in Piedmont Park and Oakland City.

Why it matters: Roughly 600,000 metro Atlanta students are out of school this week on spring break, Dickens said Monday, and many don't have productive spaces to spend their time.

Driving the news: Dickens said Monday that the city will invest $50,000 to help create a fun "third space" other than home and school where young people can gather safely.

In addition, his administration has extended rec centers' operating hours and expanded youth programming.

How it works: A third space can cover everything from skateparks and roller rinks to athletic centers and other facilities often operated by a city or nonprofit that have low barriers of entry for young people.

Zoom in: Melissa Bauman-Fletcher, vice president of school-based mental health at Chris 180, told Axios that successful third spaces have holistic community buy-in, help meet young people's academic and basic needs, and reflect what youth actually want.

"I think it's a lot more than just the space," she said. "It needs to address some of those underlying needs that we know, and research says, is potentially contributing to some of the incidents of violence that we're seeing in the community."

Zoom out: The administration plans to ask the Atlanta City Council to increase funding for youth activities, beef up the Mayor's Office of Violence Reduction, and expand the park ranger program.

Police will step up youth curfew enforcement, which includes penalties for parents.

The big picture: Dickens noted that the city of Atlanta's population is roughly 8% of the metro region, yet it's home to magnets for young people like the Atlanta Beltline and Piedmont Park.

"This 8% can't take care of 92% of the folks' kids," he said, adding that the whole region should use its "awesome set of tax dollars" to address young people's "need for outlets that are enjoyable, that are enriching."

Atlanta mayor pushes youth spaces after Easter weekend violence

Mayor Andre Dickens says Atlanta can't alone shoulder the demand of young people looking for things to do.

Illustration of a video game controller combined with a football in scarlet and grey. 

Mayor Andre Dickens wants the city to create more accessible spaces and programming for young people to prevent the type of violence that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unfolded over Easter weekend" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/06/atlanta-piedmont-park-shooting-tianah-robinson" data-vars-content-id="b053d5b5-2e12-40da-9eb7-b39f1840f2b0" data-vars-headline="Atlanta mayor pushes youth spaces after Easter weekend violence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/06/atlanta-piedmont-park-shooting-tianah-robinson" target="_self">unfolded over Easter weekend</a> in Piedmont Park and Oakland City.Why it matters: Roughly 600,000 metro Atlanta students are out of school this week on spring break, Dickens said Monday, and many don&#x27;t have productive spaces to spend their time.

Thursday is Sine Die, the final day of the Georgia General Assembly's 2026 legislative session.

Why it matters: If your idea of a fun time includes watching state lawmakers throw a blizzard of paper into the air, head to the Georgia Capitol on Thursday night.

State of play: Looming issues include legislation affecting state income taxes, transit referendums, data centers and more.

How it works: State representatives and senators begin the marathon session of horse-trading around 10am and don't stop until around midnight.

Take MARTA to the Georgia State station, which is connected to the Sloppy Floyd building. Paid parking is available near Liberty Plaza and Underground Atlanta and along the street near City Hall.

Pass through security at the Capitol's southern entrance and follow the sound of lobbyist chatter and speeches upstairs.

To get a bird's-eye view of the House or Senate, head to the fourth floor and enter the gallery.

The "no photos" rule applies but often gets relaxed when the House speaker or lieutenant governor, who leads the Senate, yells "sine die" and gavels the session to a close, sparking the tossed-paper party.

Fare thee well: Expect lots of "see you later" speeches from state lawmakers who are not running for reelection or are seeking higher office.

In the Senate, four senators are running for lieutenant governor; two want to be the next state attorney general. And Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is running for governor.

Fun fact: "Sine die" comes from the Latin phrase "without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing," according to a state history.

How to watch Georgia lawmakers' wrap session on Sine Die

Lawmakers race to pass bills before midnight, ending with a chaotic paper toss celebration.

Illustration of the Georgia State Capitol with lines radiating from it.

Thursday is Sine Die, the final day of the Georgia General Assembly&#x27;s 2026 legislative session.Why it matters: If your idea of a fun time includes watching state lawmakers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="throw a blizzard of paper" data-vars-click-url="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=79d8b74525041619&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_enUS1149US1149&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n7gluQIWRImMrDeTpYPwzeu_C1YKw:1775100881571&amp;udm=2&amp;fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3jljrY5CkLlk8Dq3IvwBz-SJyfRX_inP-J3Cs9lQZu9J3QQItR3OEYwLkKzmr7kPOcnOHgs2DuqUZRO-ELiAwERpWBwBU8CtC1Ox4detzq0te8vBmuBysaBZi4HD2dkkBCN-0uBHrxBV3G6vVhbAPy0TmeRSRcmG87ff3FHuMenELvkgnA&amp;q=georgia+Sine+Die+paper+tossing&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwju9PGLns6TAxUPlokEHWwTBosQtKgLegQIFhAB&amp;biw=1454&amp;bih=696&amp;dpr=2" data-vars-content-id="bce157f1-eb81-4de2-9cfd-fd7d72c9e137" data-vars-headline="How to watch Georgia lawmakers&#x27; wrap session on Sine Die" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=79d8b74525041619&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_enUS1149US1149&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n7gluQIWRImMrDeTpYPwzeu_C1YKw:1775100881571&amp;udm=2&amp;fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3jljrY5CkLlk8Dq3IvwBz-SJyfRX_inP-J3Cs9lQZu9J3QQItR3OEYwLkKzmr7kPOcnOHgs2DuqUZRO-ELiAwERpWBwBU8CtC1Ox4detzq0te8vBmuBysaBZi4HD2dkkBCN-0uBHrxBV3G6vVhbAPy0TmeRSRcmG87ff3FHuMenELvkgnA&amp;q=georgia+Sine+Die+paper+tossing&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwju9PGLns6TAxUPlokEHWwTBosQtKgLegQIFhAB&amp;biw=1454&amp;bih=696&amp;dpr=2" target="_blank">throw a blizzard of paper</a> into the air, head to the Georgia Capitol on Thursday night.

Things to Do

Pressure is building for Gov. Brian Kemp to call a special legislative session to delay a major overhaul of Georgia's voting system before the elections.

Why it matters: Calling lawmakers back is rare, logistically complex and politically fraught — especially this year, as officials face tight election timelines and an expected debate over voting security.

Kemp must also weigh lawmakers' campaign schedules alongside pending decisions on bills awaiting his signature or veto.

Catch up quick: Two years ago, lawmakers passed a bill requiring the state to stop counting votes using QR codes by July 1.

Yes, but: County and election officials in all of Georgia's 159 counties need more time and funding to prepare for this major transition.

Lawmakers left town without passing legislation that would have given them breathing room.

State of play: Delaying the switch would likely face opposition from MAGA activists and lawmakers who insist QR codes aren't secure.

How it works: Only Georgia's governor has the constitutional authority to call a special session.

The governor's proclamation sets and limits the agenda. Legislation must be related to that agenda.

Special sessions are usually called to redraw political maps every 10 years or resolve a high-stakes budget issue.

What they're saying: The governor has started his budget review and legislative analysis, a Kemp spokesperson told the AJC.

The big picture: Some lawmakers also want to revisit legislation that overhauls property taxes in Georgia, a scaled-back version of Republican House Speaker Jon Burns' proposal.

State Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) said the property tax bill, the product of a last-minute takeover of a stalled Senate bill to regulate synthetic hemp, was unconstitutional.

In the weeds: Holcomb argued that the property tax measure would raise revenue. Under the Georgia Constitution, bills that raise revenue must originate in the House.

What's next: If Kemp wants to call lawmakers back, he'll have to decide whether to hold the session before the May 19 primaries or a potential late-June runoff.

Kemp weighs special session as ballot law deadline looms

Election officials have a July 1 deadline to stop using QR codes to count ballots.

Photo illustration of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp with lines radiating from him.

Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios; Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Pressure is building for Gov. Brian Kemp to call a special legislative session to delay a major overhaul of Georgia&#x27;s voting system before the elections.Why it matters: Calling lawmakers back is rare, logistically complex and politically fraught — especially this year, as officials face tight election timelines and an expected debate over voting security.

Thomas Wheatley

Featured stories

The Pothole Posse's newest member is a Waymo robotaxi

Kemp weighs special session as ballot law deadline looms

Atlanta mayor pushes youth spaces after Easter weekend violence

Georgia lawmakers wrap session with budget, major bills

How to watch Georgia lawmakers' wrap session on Sine Die