Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | March 8, 2026
Inside the Georgia Capitol, the final hours before midnight on Friday looked exactly like what longtime observers expect from Crossover Day: crowded chambers, hurried negotiations, and lawmakers racing the clock to keep their legislation alive.
By the time the gavel fell, Georgia lawmakers had advanced bills affecting property taxes, data centers, self-defense law, campaign finance rules, and oversight of local prosecutors, while several high-profile proposals — including a plan to overhaul the state’s voting system — failed to survive the deadline.
Crossover Day marks the most consequential point in Georgia’s 40-day legislative session. Bills must pass out of their chamber of origin — the House or Senate — to remain eligible for final passage. Measures that fail to cross over are typically considered dead for the year unless revived through amendments attached to surviving legislation.
This year’s deadline produced a mix of major policy decisions, contentious debate, and unfinished business, with potential consequences for homeowners, voters, prosecutors, businesses, and electricity customers across the state.
PROPERTY TAXES
✔ PASSED: Scaled-Back Property Tax Cap (HB 1116)
Vote: 98–68 in the House
Status: Moves to the Senate
Sponsor: Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R–Bonaire)
One of the most closely watched measures of the session was House Bill 1116, a proposal aimed at limiting rising property tax bills.
Earlier in the week, lawmakers abandoned a more aggressive plan that would have eliminated homestead property taxes entirely by 2032. Critics warned that proposal could have created major funding gaps for schools and local governments.
Instead, lawmakers revived a scaled-back version on Crossover Day.
The revised bill caps annual property tax increases at the greater of 3 percent or the federal inflation rate measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Why it matters
• Homeowners could see more predictable property tax increases, particularly in fast-growing counties where assessments have surged.
• Local governments and school districts warn that caps could limit revenue needed for services and infrastructure.
• Renters may not see relief because landlords are not required to pass tax savings along.
DATA CENTERS
✔ PASSED: Repeal of New Data Center Tax Breaks (SB 410)
Vote: 32–21 in the Senate
Status: Moves to the House
The Senate also addressed the rapid expansion of data centers, which power cloud computing and artificial intelligence but require enormous amounts of electricity.
Under Senate Bill 410, companies would no longer receive certain sales tax exemptions for data center equipment and would be required to pay the cost of major electrical infrastructure upgrades tied to their projects.
Old vs. New Rules Under SB 410
| Issue | Old Way | New Way (SB 410) |
| Power upgrades | Often shared by electricity customers | Data centers pay additional costs |
| Equipment taxes | Sales tax exemptions | Standard sales tax applies |
| Existing incentives | Active | Grandfathered in |
Why it matters
• Georgia has become a national hub for data center development, particularly in metro Atlanta.
• Supporters say the bill protects ratepayers from subsidizing energy infrastructure for tech companies.
• Critics argue the measure may not fully shield customers from rising electricity costs.
SELF-DEFENSE & PUBLIC SAFETY
✔ PASSED: Expanded “Stand Your Ground” Immunity (SB 572)
Vote: 30–23 in the Senate
Status: Moves to the House
One of the most controversial measures to pass Friday expands Georgia’s stand-your-ground self-defense law.
Senate Bill 572 would allow defendants to claim immunity earlier in the legal process. Charges could be dismissed unless prosecutors provide clear and convincing evidence that a crime occurred.
Why it matters
Democrats warned the bill could make violent crimes harder to prosecute.
During debate, Sen. Kim Jackson (D–Stone Mountain) referenced the 2020 killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man chased and shot while jogging in Brunswick.
“If this bill had been law, it would have made it very difficult to prosecute those who are the murderers of Ahmaud Arbery,” Jackson said.
Republicans argued the legislation strengthens the rights of Georgians to defend themselves during dangerous confrontations.
PROSECUTOR OVERSIGHT
✔ PASSED: Expanded Authority to Discipline Local Prosecutors
Vote: Passed in the Senate
Status: Moves to the House
Republican lawmakers also advanced legislation SB 605 expanding the authority of a prosecutorial oversight commission created in 2024.
The commission can investigate and discipline elected district attorneys and solicitors general.
Debate around the proposal has been influenced by the controversy surrounding Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, whose 2023 election interference case against former President Donald Trump and others was dismissed after courts ruled her office had an “appearance of impropriety.”
Why it matters
• Supporters say the measure ensures accountability for prosecutors who refuse to enforce the law.
• Critics argue it could become a political tool aimed at elected prosecutors in large urban counties.
• The bill may face tougher scrutiny in the House, which is considered less partisan than the Senate.
ELECTIONS
✘ FAILED: Hand-Marked Paper Ballots for 2026 Elections
Vote: 27–21 in the Senate (two votes short)
Status: Dead for the year
SB 568 a proposal to require hand-marked paper ballots instead of voting machines failed in the Senate after warnings it could create logistical problems ahead of the November elections.
Seven senators skipped the vote.
Why it matters
• Georgia must still comply with a two-year-old law requiring the removal of QR codes from ballots.
• Lawmakers now face pressure to find another solution for modifying Georgia’s voting system before the next election cycle.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
✔ PASSED: Limits on Out-of-State Campaign Contributions
Vote: Passed in the Senate
Status: Moves to the House
Another Senate bill SB 423 would prohibit candidates from raising more than 50 percent of their campaign funds from donors outside Georgia.
Why it matters
• Supporters say the measure keeps Georgia elections focused on Georgia voters.
• Democrats argue it disadvantages candidates in high-profile races that attract national fundraising support.
WHAT DIDN’T MAKE IT
Several proposals stalled before reaching the floor, including:
• A ban on car booting – SB 541
• A proposal to make lemon pepper the official wing flavor of Georgia – HB 1013
• Legislation expanding access to gun silencers – HB 1324 / SB 499
THE BIG PICTURE
Crossover Day 2026 revealed sharp divides inside the Georgia General Assembly over tax policy, criminal justice, elections, and prosecutorial power.
With Sine Die scheduled for April 2, lawmakers now have less than a month to negotiate final versions of these bills as they move through the opposite chamber.
For Georgia residents, the outcome could influence property tax bills, voting procedures, prosecutorial oversight, and the pace of the state’s booming data center industry.
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