To read all of JAMES Magazine Online’s daily news, SUBSCRIBE HERE. *Subscription includes a complimentary subscription to JAMES Magazine.

With the runoffs only a few hours behind them, lawmakers returned to the Gold Dome Wednesday to convene a special session of the Georgia General Assembly. The agenda initially included two items for consideration by legislators but will now include three more issues after Gov. Brian Kemp expanded the list of issues to be considered.

Kemp originally called the special session for congressional and state legislative redistricting for the 2028 elections and resolving an election issue caused by a state law that bans the use of QR codes to count votes after July 1. New additions to the agenda include language that allow lawmakers to confirm appointments made by Kemp since the Legislature adjourned and give formal approval to the gas tax suspension Kemp issued through an emergency order that ended on June 2.

As lawmakers look at redistricting, the 2nd Congressional District seems to be the most vulnerable to change. Many believe Republicans have the opportunity to flip the seat, which is currently held by Democrat U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop.

Lawmakers will also address the use of QR codes on ballots which used to count votes in Georgia. Two years ago, lawmakers passed a bill to outlaw the QR codes. However, the Georgia Secretary of State’s office did not switch out the voting system, arguing that the project was too big a job with the 2026 election cycle due to start. This year, the Senate passed a bill requiring the switch by July 1, while the House passed legislation on the final day of session to postpone the switch. No agreement was reached, and no action was taken before adjournment.

Another issue centers around Senate Bill 33 which Kemp signed into law in May after the 2026 legislative session ended in early April. It allows local governments to levy a Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST) for the purpose of reducing property taxes through a homestead tax exemption. However, as written in the new law, local residents would need a majority to pass an exemption.

According to the new law, this exemption would be in addition to other homestead tax exemptions. Reports explain that the new local options sales tax is intended to provide property tax relief for primary homes “by shifting tax revenue from a different one-cent sales tax called the Floating Local Option Sales Tax meant to provide overall property tax relief not specific to primary homes. By levying the LHOST in place of the FLOST, localities could avoid increasing the amount of sales tax people pay, officials said.

A spokesperson from Kemp’s office explained that this new addition to the agenda would allow municipalities time to put these sales taxes up for a vote, potentially as early as Nov. 3 – the date of the general election.