Georgia House opens session with prayer, reads dozens of bills, adopts day's order and adjourns to Jan. 14

The Georgia House of Representatives met Jan. 13, 2026, in a routine floor session that opened with a prayer by Dr. Jimmy Elder and included the first reading of a large group of bills, adoption of privileged resolutions and a motion to adjourn until Jan. 14, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.

Representative Carmen Rice introduced Mercer University president Penny Elkins and presented Dr. Jimmy Elder as the day's chaplain. In his prayer, Dr. Elder invoked Ephesians 4:32 and urged members to "be ye kind ... tenderhearted, forgiving one another," calling for kindness to guide the legislative session. The House then recited the Pledge of Allegiance and the presiding officer noted the doctor of the day would be available to members.

The House received a committee report from Chairman Hilton of the Committee on Information and Audits, who said his committee had reviewed the previous day's journal and…