Most people are aware of the impact federal legislation has on our communities, but the policies being set at the state and local level are often less understood yet they have a greater impact on our daily lives. They also present powerful opportunities for us to advocate and create real change for our communities, especially in an environment with an increasingly authoritarian federal government.

The Georgia General Assembly meets every year beginning in January for a 40-day legislative session. During this time, state lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate introduce, debate, and vote on bills that become Georgia state law. The session typically runs through March or April depending on the calendar. In 2026, the session began on January 12, with Crossover day on March 6, and the final day of session (also called Sine Die) scheduled for April 2nd.

A bill is introduced in either the House or Senate, assigned to a committee, and must pass out of committee before receiving a full chamber vote. If it passes, it moves to the other chamber and goes through the same process. Once both chambers pass the same version of the bill, it goes to the Governor to be signed into law, vetoed, or allowed to pass without signature.

The committee point during the process is particularly important as this is where most bills are stopped. This is also the time where the the public can provide public comment on a bill. The majority of our calls to action will be sent during this point in the process. If you are interested in providing public comment on a bill contact Andres Parra at aparra@commoncause.org

Our policy team is at the State Capitol everyday of session to monitor legislation, track votes, meet with lawmakers, and mobilize Georgians to contact their representatives on issues that affect our democracy. We focus on bills related to voting rights, elections, redistricting, ethics, and civic participation, and we alert our members when it’s time to take action.

You can track bills on the Georgia General Assembly’s official website at legis.ga.gov. You can also sign up for Common Cause Georgia’s member newsletter for alerts to get updates on the bills we’re watching and opportunities to make your voice heard.

Absolutely. State and local lawmakers live and work in our state. That means that we have a big opportunity to meet and talk to them during and out of session. Your voice and presence at the Capitol make a real difference. You can call, email, or write to your state Representative or Senator at any point during session. When lawmakers hear directly from constituents, it influences how they vote. Common Cause Georgia makes it easy to take action with our letter campaign tools.