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Georgia House convenes Jan. 27 session with devotional remarks, long bill reading and unanimous procedural actions
Summary
The Georgia House opened Jan. 27 with a devotional by Father Charles Byrd, heard a lengthy list of bills for first and second reading, adopted privileged resolutions and the day's order of business by unanimous consent, received multiple announcements and observed an adjournment motion to reconvene Jan. 28.
The Georgia House of Representatives convened Jan. 27, 2026, with the presiding officer calling the roll and opening the day with scripture and prayer. Father Charles Byrd of Peachtree Corners delivered the morning benediction and a devotional that included historical remarks about five missionaries the Catholic Church plans to recognize this year.
After the devotion and the pledge of allegiance, the House confirmed the journal of the preceding two legislative days by unanimous consent and adopted a resolution establishing the order of business for the day, also by unanimous consent. The clerk then read a long list of bills for first and second reading covering a broad range of topics — income taxes (House Bill 1000), medical assistance (HB 1002), state officials' salaries (HB 1003), provisions related to the Security Guard Division (HB 1004), city charters (e.g., HB 1005 for Austell), public health (HB 1006), landlord-tenant rules (HB 1007), education provisions and many others. Most bill captions were referred to their named committees (Ways and Means, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Education, Judiciary, Appropriations and others).
Members used morning and afternoon orders to deliver tributes, announcements and local updates. Representative Vance Smith offered condolences for former state representative Randy Phillips and asked for a moment of silence for a local coach who was killed in an ATV accident. The House acknowledged Gwinnett County Day at the Capitol, recognized a roster of community winners and STEM scholars, and received a note of thanks to the Georgia Forestry Commission and utility crews after recent severe winter weather that left many customers without power.
Representative Berry delivered an extended floor statement challenging the legislature's posture toward immigration enforcement and local cooperation with federal authorities, saying the result has been fear among families and children staying home from school; he invited colleagues to support legislation (cited in his remarks as HB 470) that would designate schools, hospitals and churches as places of refuge. Representative Clint Crow responded later on the floor, warning that hyperbolic rhetoric vilifying law enforcement risks public safety and urging colleagues to distinguish bad actors from the vast majority of officers who serve at risk to themselves.
By unanimous consent the House adopted a long set of privileged resolutions honoring individuals and designating recognition days across the state. Near the end of the day the majority leader moved to adjourn; the motion passed and the House stood adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.
What happened next: committee chairs announced meeting times and locations for the coming hours and days; numerous committee assignments and receptions were scheduled from the floor before adjournment.
