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 found it correct. The House dispensed with the reading of the journal and confirmed it "hearing none," indicating no objection was recorded on the floor.

The clerk read a resolution establishing the order of business for the day (including unanimous consents, introductions and the sequence of first and second readings). The House adopted that resolution without objection. The clerk then read captions for a large number of first-reading House bills, touching on topics such as the Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority (HB 933), banking and finance provisions (HB 934 and HB 945), authority for technology fees in certain probate and municipal courts, property tax exemption code changes (HB 942), child and youth protection program language (HB 943), motor carrier safety (HB 944) and amendments to game and fish provisions (HB 946). Where committee references were provided, the clerk announced them (for example, Ways and Means; Judiciary; Game, Fish and Parks). One example cited for second reading was House Bill 932, a measure relating to tax credits for business enterprises in less developed areas.

Ceremonial items and recognitions occupied morning orders: the chamber welcomed members and guests from Delta Sigma Theta (the sorority's 113th anniversary was noted), Life University, and leaders from the Korean-American community in the gallery in recognition of Korean American Day. Representative Hong read the observance and asked members to acknowledge those guests; Representative Will Park offered supportive remarks. The clerk also read privileged resolutions honoring individuals and organizations, including a resolution recognizing Abbot Massey and commendations for the Susan Jolly Foundation and the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium. The chair heard no objection and the privileged resolutions were adopted.

Announcements included notices about caucus and committee meetings and the availability of new local-legislation forms in the Ways and Means Committee office immediately after adjournment.

Before leaving the floor, the majority leader moved that the House "stand adjourned until Wednesday, 01/14/2026 at 11:00 a.m." The motion passed on a voice vote; the presiding officer declared "the ayes clearly have it," and the House stood adjourned. (A single line in the transcript lists the year as 2027; surrounding context and the stated reconvening date indicate the intended year is 2026.)

No recorded roll-call vote on bills was taken during the session; the actions described on the floor consisted of procedural confirmations, ceremonial adoptions by unanimous consent and the voice vote to adjourn. The House is scheduled to reconvene Jan. 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.