Celebrating America 250
July 1st marked the beginning of a new fiscal year, which means many of the laws passed during this year’s legislative session are now in effect.
From historic investments in early literacy, expanded paid maternity leave for state employees, and continued income tax relief to policies that strengthen opportunity in communities across Georgia, these new laws reflect the House’s commitment to making our state an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Check out some of the highlights below:
Historic Literacy Reform: The Fiscal Year 2027 budget included over $100 million for historic literacy reform, including funding for every K-3 elementary school across the state to hire a literacy coach, giving students and teachers the hands-on support they need in the classroom.
Cellphone-Free Classrooms: This year, Georgia’s K-8 students will return to school with cellphone-free classroom policies in place, helping them focus on learning during instructional time.
The Education and Workforce Strategy Act: Georgia is continuing to strengthen our standing as the top state for talent by streamlining programs that strengthen our education-to-workforce pipeline. These efforts will expand opportunities for students to pursue apprenticeships, gain hands-on experience, and develop the skills they need to succeed before they graduate from high school.
Expanded Maternity Leave: State employees are now eligible for an additional three weeks of paid maternity leave, increasing paid leave from six to nine weeks and giving new families more valuable time to bond during those critical first weeks.
Income Tax Relief: This year, the Georgia General Assembly accelerated the state income tax rate cut to 4.99% three years ahead of schedule and established a path to lower it further to 3.99%, reinforcing our commitment to lower taxes and help hardworking Georgians keep more of what they earn.
Protections for Religious Services: The right to worship freely is one of our most cherished freedoms as Americans, which is why the House was proud to pass legislation that restricts disruptive protests near places of worship and imposes penalties for targeting congregations.
HOA Reforms: The House has always been proud to support measures to preserve private property rights. This year, we passed the Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act, which establishes uniform guidelines and stronger protections for property owners against HOAs and increases accountability for HOAs across the state.
You can find a full list of legislation signed into law this year at the link below:
https://gov.georgia.gov/executive-action/legislation/signed-legislation/2026
Celebrating America 250
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great nation's founding, I hope we all remember the words of our Founding Fathers that continue to capture the enduring spirit of the United States:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
For generations, the United States has stood as a beacon of hope, liberty, and freedom around the world. May we each recommit ourselves to preserving the principles that guided our founding and ensure the American legacy of liberty endures for generations to come.
Happy Independence Day from our family to yours
Whether you’re on the lake, gathering with family and friends, or just enjoying the holiday at home—stay safe and have fun!
God bless,
Speaker Jon Burns