BY VEENA RAO
Atlanta, GA, March 10, 2026: Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns defended the Republican-led push to overhaul the state’s property tax system during a press conference at the State Capitol on Monday, following a dramatic late-night legislative push on Crossover Day that advanced several major bills while leaving others — including a proposal addressing Hinduphobia that failed to move forward.
Burns spoke to reporters alongside several members of the Georgia House Republican caucus, including state representatives Matt Reeves, Soo Hong, Scott Hilton, Carter Barrett, Lauren McDonald, David Clark, and Todd Jones. Members of Georgia’s Indian American community were also present at the press conference.
Lawmakers returned to the Capitol after a marathon “Crossover Day” on Friday that stretched into the early hours of Saturday.
Crossover Day marks the deadline by which legislation must pass either the House or the Senate to remain viable for the remainder of the legislative session.
“We have remained laser-focused on the issues that Georgians have told us matter most,” Burns said. “Our commitment has always been to make life better, easier, and more affordable for our neighbors across the state.”
Property Tax Bill Sparks Debate
The most consequential action of the night was the House passage of HB 1116, a bill designed to curb property tax increases across Georgia. The legislation caps annual increases in property taxes at 3 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is higher, and also places a 5 percent cap on local sales taxes.
GOP Highlights Broader Agenda
During the press conference, Burns also highlighted several policy priorities for the 2026 legislative session.
These include HB 1000, a proposal that would provide a one-time tax rebate of $250 for single filers and $500 for married couples filing jointly, returning an estimated $1 billion to Georgia taxpayers. Burns also reiterated Republican efforts to continue lowering Georgia’s state income tax rate to 3.99 percent in the coming years.
Burns said the goal of these tax measures is to allow Georgians to keep more of their earnings.
“The money belongs to the people in our state, not the government,” he said. “When Georgians keep more of the money they’ve earned, everything becomes more affordable.”
The Speaker also promoted the Georgia Early Literacy Act, which would place literacy coaches in elementary schools across the state, and pointed to insurance reform proposals intended to increase accountability for insurance companies and lower policyholder costs.
In addition, lawmakers passed a measure aimed at protecting residential energy customers by preventing large energy users, including data centers, from shifting their electricity costs onto everyday ratepayers.
Elections Legislation Under Review
Burns said lawmakers are also continuing to refine a voting systems bill focused on election transparency and security. A special committee studied the issue over the summer, and legislators are now working with the Senate to finalize language.
Among the issues under discussion is a July 1 deadline tied to eliminating QR codes on ballots used in Georgia’s voting machines.
“We’re continuing to make voting fair and transparent for all the citizens of Georgia,” Burns said, adding that lawmakers expect more clarity on the legislation in the coming days.
Session Enters Final Stretch
Not all legislation survived Crossover Day. A bill that would have allowed the use of gun silencers failed to pass the House, while several proposals related to federal immigration enforcement never reached the floor for a vote.
With the crossover deadline now past, lawmakers have 12 legislative days remaining to move bills that cleared one chamber toward final passage.
Burns said House Republicans plan to continue working with Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to advance what he described as “common-sense policies” before the session concludes.
“Our focus remains on delivering results for the people of Georgia,” Burns said.
