It bears repeating that while the Georgia General Assembly always convenes on the second Monday of January, just about everything else is a moving target. No two sessions are ever the same, which is precisely why the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council is proud to stay personally engaged with lawmakers on your behalf, both during the legislative session and throughout the year. UAC has one goal in mind: making sure Georgia’s policy debates include our member interests as the state continues to grow at full throttle.
The 2026 session officially kicks off January 12 at 10:00 a.m. under the Gold Dome, bringing with it a mix of unfinished business from 2025 and a fresh batch of big ideas that lawmakers will attempt to resolve in just 40 legislative days.
2026 Policy Issues to Watch
FY 2027 State Budget
Last year, UAC and our allies successfully landed $450,000 in the FY 2026 state budget to fund five technician positions at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) - supporting peach, citrus, blueberry, turfgrass, and row crop production, in addition to extension programs. We’re extremely grateful to the legislature and the Governor for backing the importance of these investments.
That said, the work isn’t finished. Several UGA CAES research programs are still operating without proper technician support, and we’ve been actively advocating to close those gaps. Strong research institutions don’t just happen - they take decades to build but can lose ground fast if proper staffing is not adequate.
2026 Tax Reforms
Over the past several years, Governor Kemp and the legislature have chopped away at the state income tax, which was once among the highest in the nation. Through repeated, incremental cuts, it has been trimmed to 5.19%...and will most assuredly drop to at least 4.9% this session. But wait, there’s more!
Some legislative leaders are seeking big moves for even deeper state income tax cuts - or even full elimination. Top lawmakers in the Senate say it’s not a question of if the $15.7 billion in annual state income tax revenue disappears, but when.
Of course, eliminating that state tax revenue would mean making substantial budget adjustments, such as repealing certain tax exemptions - including some important to agriculture and impacting Georgia’s competitiveness with neighboring states. Others suggest expanding the state sales tax, possibly to include everyday services, such as plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, etc. (currently untaxed). Expect lively debates and plenty of confusing math.
Other key lawmakers are eyeing changes to property taxes…the dreaded annual tax bill for Georgia homeowners that stems from a mind-numbing process and guess-timations on the value of property (land and structures) that feels a lot like theft. Reining in dramatic property tax increases at the local level would make a lot of people happy, but not the local governments that make budgets on such revenue.
Most lawmakers agree that Georgians should keep more of what they earn, so these tax policy conversations will likely try to thread a needle for income tax cuts and property tax relief. Regardless, the math must make sense.
Forestry and Rural Economies
Georgia’s forestry sector took some serious hits this summer with mill closures that dramatically reshaped the industry. Lawmakers are keenly interested in stabilizing and supporting forestry operations and timber production, recognizing the private landowner investments, jobs generated, products created, wildlife habitat benefits, and economic lifelines this industry provide - especially so in rural communities.
Water Stewardship and Artificial Intelligence
Taking a deeper dive into artificial intelligence and datacenter growth will highlight common sense opportunities for these new industrial facilities without sacrificing as much of what communities desire and need. Water use is a big concern as data centers are developed, and that makes it a concern for UAC as well. Advocating for responsible outdoor water use and water conservation is a staple of our organization.
New Faces in Higher Places
Weighty policy issues aren’t all that is ramping up at the capitol this year. 2026 marks the final year of service for Governor Brian Kemp as he is term limited to eight years. You may have noticed the tv ads and marketing from ambitious candidates already picturing themselves in the Governor’s Mansion.
In addition to filling the post for Governor, Constitutional Officer positions for Lt. Governor, Agriculture Commissioner, Attorney General, Labor Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, Secretary of State, and State School Superintendent are also on the November ballot. This big election season also means all 236 Members of the Georgia House and Senate will be on the ballot.
That said, this legislative session will see several current legislators and statewide leaders jockeying for higher office opportunities, plus a rush of newbies will be seeking to bring their ideas and experience into the policy arena. So, expect big policy discussions with an extra dose of candidate theater this year. The 2026 legislative session stage is set to be the launching pad for some, and the final act for others.
Please make sure you keep up with UAC’s Capitol Connection legislative reports via email each week of the session for insider views and summaries of the policies important to our members. Thank you for investing in us so we can advocate for you.
