Georgia House adopts 40‑day legislative calendar after questions about religious accommodations

The Georgia House adopted House Resolution 9‑98 on the first day of the 2026 regular session, approving a 40‑day legislative calendar designed to give members and staff greater predictability for committee work and floor days. The resolution passed on a recorded vote with 150 yeas and 27 nays.

Majority leadership framed the schedule as a planning tool for members and staff, saying having a set 40‑day calendar "is incredibly helpful, and it means so very much to them." The leader also announced the State of the State joint session would be held Thursday, Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. if the chamber approved a related resolution.

Several members asked questions about the calendar during floor debate. Representative Ramon asked specifically about March 20 — the end of Ramadan and a day when some staff and members may observe Eid — and whether committee work could be shifted that week, asking: "Is there any way that we could potentially shift the committee workday that week and then just switch them out, essentially?"

The majority leader replied that the schedule had been "vetted," that input had been taken as it was shared, and that accommodations for evening religious observances could be considered. Minority members and others pressed for more advance notice and formal minority input on future calendars.

After debate, members voted to adopt House Resolution 9‑98; the presiding officer ordered the resolution transmitted to the Senate. The chamber also adopted related procedural resolutions on the opening day that notify the Senate and the governor that the General Assembly has convened and call the joint session for the governor's State of the State address.

Next steps: the scheduling resolution was transmitted to the Senate for concurrence; committee schedules and the appropriations hearing timetable as described by leadership will proceed under the adopted calendar.