Georgia

7 predictions for Georgia’s 2026 legislative session

Published

4 days ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

7 predictions for Georgia’s 2026 legislative session

Politically Georgia

Your daily jolt of news and analysis from the AJC politics team.

Legislators in the House chambers as seen on Crossover Day at the Capitol in Atlanta on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

Today’s newsletter highlights:

Clay Fuller’s congressional campaign launches first digital ad.
House Republicans highlight their “affordable” agenda.
Jon Ossoff asks why Georgia is still waiting on some Helene aid.

Back in session

House lawmakers listened to debate on a bill last March at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

lliw lliw nehw ew yadot ot ot ll’yeht eht eht eht eht taht etats trats epahs tes .noisses deriuqer seceip ssap ssap rehto ylno fo fo fo .evil noitalsigel srekamwal si si sderdnuh woh levag rof lanif llif ytud .nwod yllanoitutitsnoc emoc yb tegdub osla a riehT etatS lotipaC tuB lirpA yad-04 ,2

s’tahw snoitciderp rof wef era :daeha a ereH

?raey raey htiw htiw lliw lliw ediw er’ew yaw weiv ot emit siht eht eht eht eht taht xat ekat .sulprus sulprus erus s’etats ,terces ylhguor setaber yllaer ecar ,stcejorp tuo rehto nepo emit-eno eno .eciffo fo fo ?won txen erom evitalsigel sredael :ti si otni ni ni ni ni sih s’ereh eh eh dedraug s’ronrevog ,ronrevog rof lanif wollef .sesnepxe neve spid repeed .krad ylesolc koobkcehc egrahc latipac nac etib noillib gib gnitteb eb eb dna adnega a a a a yhW ,lleW knihT ehT nacilbupeR pmeK .voG tuB nairB .1 51$

s’raey t’now ew gnihctaw ot ot rieht naht esirprus .enihsnus emos htooms noisses .gnilias dias snoitaler swobniar sevom cim ekam tel sredael tsal wonk .ecnednepedni ll’eh rof .detcepxe tcepxe dedne reilrae pord t’nod senogyb senogyb eb eb tressa dna retfa yltpurba ,seY er’eW rekaepS .tL ’senoJ noJ etaneS-esuoH esuoH esuoH .voG tuB truB snruB .2

sraey raey t’now lliw sraw rednegsnart siht yeht eht eht eht eht stegrat llits laicos .deniledis .noisses sthgir ,snoitcirtser suoigiler taem-der ylralucitrap revo revo no fo wen ,stimil ekil ytrebil seussi ,sevitaitini noisulcni ni nug og teg stnorf ,reddof ,snoisnapxe ytiuqe raey-noitcele etanimod ,ytisrevid etabed dluoc tub .renrub sllib eb eb kcab dna dna noitroba erehT .etaneS AGAM del-senoJ tcepxE erutluC retfA .3

s’raey htrow rehtehw erew hgiew lacov owt pot ot eht eht eht xat xat niarts ediwetats reprahs staes .eunever secar gninoitseuq tup rewop ruop lacitilop desiop no no fo fo dnim .enil evitalsigel srekamwal raey-etal tsal boj erutcurtsarfni ecneulfni ylgnisaercni ni htworg sdirg enilosag rof pilf tluaf neve neve .etabed atad atad dluoc tsoc sretnec sretnec sretnec sretnec skaerb emoceb tidua sa era era era dna dna dna dna na .niaga tuoba ecivreS cilbuP citarcomeD ataD ataD seitinummoC noissimmoC A .4

lliw lliw lliw elaselohw stnaw gninimrednu ot ot ot eht eht eht eht taht .sexat xat xat xat pat gniwols raey-xis .teehs ksir ,eerefer gninokcer ytreporp ssecorp yalp luahrevo no ffo fo txen erom erom .smool tfel kcik daetsni emocni essapmi htworg laudarg gnisucof lanif etanimile stuc dluoc gninoituac yb tub ,skaerb eb ecnalab gnikcab tsniaga .noitartsinimda a a ehT ehT ehT etaneS pmeK esuoH s’aigroeG A .5 .2302

”ytilibadroffa“ ,raey lliw .syaw syaw deklaw retov ,seirotciv lanoitnevnocnu detaler-rednegsnart ot ot ot gnillik-emit rieht eht tset scitcat gnirts sehceeps wohs noisses skcolbdaor larudecorp lacitilop desiop ylralucitrap revo tuo raey-ffo fo fo fo wen wen selcsum erom .erusaem ekam smool ,gnol efil egral ni ni muh-oh evag hserf rof dexelf dnif thgif gniretne gnirud citamard deyolped gninifed ,ecnaifed etabed .nrecnoc detacilpmoc ,sllib .kcab sa sa era ,dna retfa tuoba a a a a a yehT ,snacilbupeR ,woN tsaL esuoH starcomeD starcomeD starcomeD .6

,raey sretirw t’now lliw lliw .dracdliw tahw tahw su litnu ot ot ot siht yeht eht eht eht eht taht llet ,sffirat tegrat ydisbus etats etats .noisses gnidnopser smargorp s’tnediserp elbissop seicilop no fo fo wen wen gnivom sevom sevom naem yam kool ekil level srekamwal tsal wonk s’ti ecnarusni ni ni noitargimmi .emoh ereh htlaeh htlaeh gnidnuf rof laredef laredef laredef yltcaxe snezod srallod noitneted ,stuc stuc stuc raelc erac tegdub tegdub snoillib eb eb ta ta dna dna noitartsinimda a htiW pmurT ,aigroeG ddA .7

Things to know

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens began his second term of office this month. (Jason Getz/AJC)

ot eht eht deeccus laiceps .secar yramirp rehto !gninrom ni ronrevog morf morf rof noitcele syad syad yawa yawa dna er’eW er’eW .S.U rolyaT ,etaneS eirojraM eneerG dooG .ssergnoC 75 721

:yadot ot eerht sgniht rehto wonk rof era ereH

Former Macon-Bibb Commissioner Seth Clark launched his campaign for lieutenant governor today, making him the second Democrat to enter the race, the AJC’s Maya T. Prabhu reports.
The AJC’s Riley Bunch writes about Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ goal of expanding MARTA into Cobb and Gwinnett counties, an ambitious plan that would require reversing half a century of opposition.
Georgia is on track to receive about three-quarters of the $1.4 billion in rural health care grants it requested from the federal government, the AJC’s Ariel Hart reports.

Tread lightly

Gerald Pilgrim (front left) told reporters about the restoration process at the House of Representatives in Atlanta last Wednesday. (Arvin Temkar/AJC

.keew saw ruot eht sretroper dehsibrufer noitrop yllacitilop fo ylwen tsom ylekil tsal sih evag .teef rebmahc laicifeneb htaeneb a ehT rekaepS noJ esuoH esuoH aigroeG snruB

wolley .dlrow saw ,emit eht eht eht eht eht etats der no fo wen edam nwonk ni ni morf srewolf tsrif gnirutaef semoc teprac teprac teprac latipac dnuorgkcab sa a ehT .aigroeG roF ,notlaD lotipaC

now hcihw ot meht eht eht eht naht fo fo wen tekram si sedulcni ni deretrauqdaeh hsinruf ruof dellortnoc ,seinapmoc .teprac teprac yb dib era dna lla .S.U tahT wahS eroM ,seirtsudnI .aigroeG lotipaC %08

.noisrev deirt ot yeht eht eht eht eht naht ylthgils dias dias suoiverp suoiverp .elbissop fo hctam si evitucexe rotcerid tnereffid ngised ytuped esolc teprac sa sa ,mirgliP eH dlareG aigroeG gnidliuB ,ytirohtuA

The new carpet installed at the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Adam Beam/AJC)

Ad watch

yadot ot ecalper gnihcnual si ni sih eh remrof tsrif latigid sngiapmac sa da .S.U rolyaT nacilbupeR .peR eirojraM eneerG relluF .ssergnoC yalC

,sreredrum“ aciremA“ tahw ,naretev ”.sguht gniworht eht eht .rotucesorp srotaderp ti mih sthgilhgih wollef ecneirepxe sllac sgarb koob ta sa dna dna na da tuoba etihW deltiT tI esuoH s’relluF ecroF ”,tsriF riA

htiw ohw gniyv .yadot ot ot eht eht laiceps dengiser ecalper gniyfilauq snalp tuo eno fo ynam si si ni rof gniwollof tsrif elif gnillaf noitcele yad setadidnac nac nigeb a .pmurT yadoT tnediserP eH ,eneerG s’aigroeG relluF dlanoD .tcirtsiD lanoissergnoC ht41

Listen up

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Affordability battle

”ytilibadroffa“ s’raey gnikrow ot siht eht gnihsup egassem otni gnidaeh evah noitcele .elcyc mialc neeb .kcab era snacilbupeR ,woN esuoH aigroeG starcomeD

raey htiw setov yadot siht eht sexat sexat sthgiltops .secnediser gnicuder .setar ytreporp yramirp lacitilop edistuo no fo gnihcnual si ecnarusni gnithgilhgih puorg laog gnitanimile latigid gnittuc ’sucuac ta dna na osla demia detailiffa da a rekaepS nacilbupeR noJ tI esuoH s’aigroeG aigroeG ,erutuF ’snruB ,snruB

sevitavresnoC“ eht syas no rotarran ni eh gnirud gnireviled era ”,ytilibadroffa .da a esuoH aigroeG dnoces-03

Under the Gold Dome

The Capitol in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

s’yadot ot eht eht .noisses fo fo evitalsigel :wonk yek si si :sgnineppah tsrif yad setad dna emoS emoS eniS hcraM s’tI eiD yaD revossorC lirpA 3 .2

10 a.m.: House and Senate convene.
2 p.m.: House Health Committee meets to hear presentations from the Northside Cardiovascular Institute and the Children’s Care Network, among other groups.

Health care talks

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., is playing a role in health care discussions in the Senate. (Nathan Posner for the AJC)

tuohtiw htiw lliw ot eht eht seidisbus ,smuimerp seicilop sessap noitalsigel teg dnetxe gnitanimile .tiderc ,kconraW .S.U .neS leahpaR fI ,.aG-D ssergnoC eraC elbadroffA tcA 0$

tuohtiw keew ot ot yeht rieht eht eht taht taht taht taht taht setats setats srotanes rehto fo gniton ton ton tsom erom egassem edam emocni-wol gnitimil del tsal ecnarusni ni sih evah smrah seilimaf dnapxe dnapxe did did .egarevoc egarevoc strapretnuoc deyevnoc gnillepmoc seugaelloc yb esuaceb tnemugra era dna a kconraW etaneS .snacilbupeR nacilbupeR diacideM diacideM ,esuoH aigroeG 01 0$

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.sraey htiw keew setov ot ot ot ot eerht eht eht eht taht taht seidisbus esahcrup snoisivorp lasoporp margorp dessap ssap rehto ro ton ton .tsoc-on wen emocni-wol -wol .snoitatimil ,noitalsigel gnidael tsal ni ,revewoh evah rof seilimaf noisnetxe dnetxe seod snoissucsid did egarevoc elpuoc dluoc egnahc llib ta na wolla tuoba a a ehT tahT ,etaneS tI esuoH

Today in Washington

President Donald Trump meets at the White House with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He will also meet with Frank Siller, founder and CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The House returns for evening votes.
The Senate will take a procedural vote tied to advancing three appropriations bills.

Helene relief

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is running for reelection in 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Sad news

tuohtiw lliw .keew saw siht eht reffats .noisses fo fo ,tsiybbol tsal ,tsilanruoj remrof railimaf ecaf evitucexe rotcerid deid eb dna a a ehT ,stropS ytraP eoJ lliH eH aigroeG citarcomeD lotipaC lotipaC .19

dekrow htiw htiw esohw saw naretev eht eht sffats wels selor emuser gnitroper steltuo no fo fo swen evitan .srekamwal dedulcni ni eh remrof remrof rof dna dna dna dna dna dna a a VT-BLAW .S.U .S.U stropS .sneS maS .speR .nnuN sihtaM sirI aigroeG llerbmaG esirpretnE salguoD salguoD noswaD divaD hctilB ymrA gnolA ,ynablA

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lliw siht secivres dleh larenuf rof eb ta dna noonretfa noitatisiV stropS tsidohteM tsriF salguoD .hcruhC

Shoutouts

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Before you go

”ylsuoITdepxe“ — htiw erehw tnew erutnev eht .sutats ,wohs tnecer reppar ylno s’royam otni reweivretni weivretni sih rof gnitad ytirbelec nac ysub a a ebuTuoY .I.T royaM nI snekciD atnaltA erdnA

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Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.

Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the “Politically Georgia” podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.

Patricia Murphy is the AJC’s senior political columnist. She was previously a nationally syndicated columnist for CQ Roll Call, national political reporter for the Daily Beast and Politics Daily, and wrote for The Washington Post and Garden & Gun. She graduated from Vanderbilt and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Adam Beam helps write and edit the Politically Georgia morning newsletter.

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Georgia

South Florida cornerback transferring to Georgia Tech

Published

7 hours ago

January 15, 2026

Press Room

Georgia Tech

At USF Jonas Duclona was in on 581 defensive snaps over 13 games.

Fans react after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Atlanta. Georgia Tech won 28-23 over Miami. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Georgia Tech has added another piece to its defense via the transfer portal.

Jonas Duclona, a third-year player from South Florida, intends to transfer to Tech for the 2026 season, according to multiple reports Thursday. Duclona is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound native of Florida who spent the 2025 season at South Florida.

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Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Georgia

She helped guide Georgia small businesses for decades. Now, she’s retiring.

Published

19 hours ago

January 15, 2026

Press Room

Business

Terri Denison led the Small Business Administration’s Georgia District for about two dozen years.

Terri Denison, the recently retired Georgia district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration. (Courtesy of Terri Denison)

After nearly 24 years leading the Small Business Administration’s Georgia office, Terri Denison has retired from the role.

“Being the Georgia district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration has been the greatest honor and I think highlight of my career,” Denison told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Ashley Bell (from left), Region 4 Administrator, Linda McMahon, SBA Administrator, Catherine Downey, owner of CATMEDIA, and Terri Denison, District Director, SBA Georgia district office, as they gather for a photo in front of CATMEDIA. (Bob Andres/AJC)

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Mirtha Donastorg is a reporter on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s business team focusing on Black wealth, entrepreneurship, and minority-owned businesses as well as innovation at Atlanta’s HBCUs.

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Georgia

Georgia snow threat: Models hint at weekend winter weather

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1 day ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

Georgia snow threat: Models hint at weekend winter weather

Wednesday evening forecast: Snow threats ahead

A blast of arctic air is headed into Georgia, expected to drop wind chills overnight to sub-zero while offering a dusting to a slight accumulation in the extreme North Georgia Mountains. That’s not the only snow chance over the next week; the FOX 5 Storm Team is tracking the arrival of winter’s fury. Here’s the latest.

ATLANTA – Temperatures will plunge on Thursday morning, setting up a one-two punch of winter weather threats across Georgia this weekend.

While light snow is possible in the mountains Friday night, a second, more uncertain system could bring snow or a rain-snow mix to parts of metro Atlanta and Central Georgia by Sunday morning.

Weekend winter threat uncertain

What we know:

A strong cold front is sweeping through Georgia, bringing gusty winds and frigid temperatures that will linger through the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. While the immediate focus is on mountain snow flurries and dangerous wind chills Thursday morning, the FOX 5 Storm Team is closely watching a second system arriving late Saturday.

Confidence in the Sunday forecast remains low, but latest data suggests a shift toward a potential winter event. Forecasters noted that about 40 percent of recent model simulations show a swath of winter weather across southern and central Georgia, with 20 percent bringing that threat into North Georgia.

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Snow threat for Georgia

What they’re saying:

FOX 5 Storm Team meteorologist Alex Forbes said Wednesday evening that while “the cold air will be in place,” questions remain regarding available moisture.

“The modeling with this has been all over the place, which is somewhat normal with systems like these,” Forbes said. “Yesterday, the models backed off almost completely from seeing any winter weather. Now, some are starting to get back on board.”

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Snow storm weather models

What we don’t know:

Forbes cautioned residents against relying on various maps circulating on social media, noting he is instead monitoring ensemble models that run multiple scenarios.

“There’s a distinct possibility, if not a likelihood, that nothing happens,” Forbes added. “We are at the mercy of the models, which typically don’t handle events like this well until about 24-48 hours out.”

Showers and snow showers chance

By the numbers:

The following figures represent the latest forecasts for the mountain region and the metro Atlanta area:

North Georgia Mountains

Friday: High of 44; 50 percent chance of rain and snow showers at night with a low of 29.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, high of 41; low of 16 at night.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, high of 30; low of 13 at night.
MLK Day: Sunny, high of 39; low of 15 at night.

Metro Atlanta

Friday: Sunny, high of 52; 40 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m. with a low of 38.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, high of 49; low of 25 at night.
Sunday: Sunny, high of 38; low of 22 at night.
MLK Day: Sunny, high of 45; low of 24 at night.

When will the weather turn?

Dig deeper:

The first shift begins Friday night into Saturday morning as a cold front brings light rain to the region and possible snow to the higher elevations. The more significant window for potential winter weather opens late Saturday night and lasts through Sunday morning. Forbes noted that the forecast should become clearer by Friday night.

What areas are most at risk?

Local perspective:

If a winter storm develops, current data suggests the better chance for precipitation is south of Interstate 20. Forbes said any impacts would likely follow a “gradient south to north.” For the Friday night system, snow is primarily limited to the North Georgia mountains, specifically in areas above 2,000 feet.

How much accumulation is expected?

Big picture view:

Accumulation potential for the Friday mountain snow is very limited, ranging from a trace to 0.5 inches on the highest peaks. For the potential Sunday system, meteorologists have not yet released specific totals due to “very low confidence” in the storm’s track. However, Forbes warned that “significant impacts will be possible in metro Atlanta and Central Georgia early Sunday” if the snow materializes.

Preparing for winter weather

What you can do:

Here are several ways to prepare now for potential winter weather:

Stock essential supplies: Refresh batteries and flashlights, and ensure you have enough shelf-stable food and necessary prescriptions on hand.
Prepare for service disruptions: Be ready for temporary loss of internet and cell service, particularly in wooded areas prone to storm damage.
Protect your plumbing: Insulate outdoor pipes and locate your main water shut-off valve; frozen plumbing issues typically peak in January and February.
Prioritize heating safety: Ensure generators, fireplaces and space heaters are properly vented. Never operate a generator in an enclosed space due to carbon monoxide risks.
Stay informed digitally: Download the FOX 5 Storm Team weather app and enable location settings to receive direct emergency notifications.
Monitor local closings: Bookmark the FOX 5 Atlanta closings page for updates. Administrators should register their organizations now to ensure eligibility for posting cancellations.
Care for animals: Bring pets indoors during freezing temperatures and provide outdoor animals with shelter and fresh, unfrozen water.
Equip your vehicle: Assemble a car kit with blankets, chargers, a small shovel, snacks and sand or kitty litter for traction.
Maintain safety detectors: Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries before increasing the use of heaters and fireplaces.
Check on neighbors: Coordinate with elderly residents, people with disabilities or those using powered medical equipment to create a plan for power outages.

The Georgia Department of Transportation gears up its winter weather response ahead of multiple fronts which could bring snow and showers to North Georgia. (FOX 5)

Cold here to stay

What’s next:

Beyond the weekend, the cold is here to stay. High temperatures on Tuesday are expected to reach only 36 in the mountains and 43 in Atlanta.

Dry air moving into the state will also trigger fire safety concerns. Relative humidity values could drop below 25 percent on Monday and Tuesday, which may prompt Fire Danger Statements from the National Weather Service. Conditions are expected to begin moderating by Wednesday, with highs returning to the upper 40s.

The Source: This article contains an original forecast by the FOX 5 Storm Team. The National Weather Service contributed to this report.

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