June 2026

Save the Date: 2026 Policy Committee Meetings 

Registration for the Summer Policy Committee Meetings will open soon. Attend the meeting(s) of your choice to recommend 2027 Policy Priorities for the Association to focus on during the next legislative session. Committee policy recommendations will be considered by the ACCG Policy Council before heading to the full membership for a vote during the 2026 Legislative Leadership Conference.   

Click here for more information. Regularly monitor the ACCG website and your inbox for the latest updates. 

Governor Kemp Amends Special Session Call to Include LHOST Local Legislation

Gov. Brian Kemp has called the General Assembly to reconvene for a special session on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Originally, the Governor’s call included authorization for the General Assembly to consider redistricting and ballot QR code removal. However, by proclamation dated June 3, the Governor expanded his call for the special session to include local legislation related to the Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST).

To initiate an LHOST, Georgia law requires a county’s local delegation, or the county’s local representatives in the legislature, to introduce a local Act authorizing the proceeds of the LHOST to be used to fund homestead tax relief. A local Act may only be introduced after running an ad in the local paper; thereafter, it must pass the General Assembly by a two-thirds majority in the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate and be approved by county voters.

ACCG has multiple resources to assist counties interested in passing an LHOST. To review ACCG’s LHOST Tax Guide, which includes an analysis of LHOST and a comparison with Floating Local Options Sales Tax (FLOST), please click here. ACCG has drafted model local legislation to serve as a reference for county commissioners and their attorneys. Please contact your county legal counsel to review the model local legislation that ACCG has produced for LHOST. ACCG recently hosted a webinar on LHOST; a recording along with several resources can be accessed here. 

Share Your County’s Housing Success Story

The Georgia Chamber, in partnership with ACCG, the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), the Home Builders Association of Georgia (HBAG), and Georgia REALTORS, is finalizing the development of a joint Housing Toolkit designed to help local leaders explore strategies to expand housing opportunities in their communities.

As the project enters its final phase, examples of successful local housing initiatives are needed to feature as community pilot case studies. Counties that have implemented innovative housing strategies are encouraged to share their experiences to help inform and inspire other communities across Georgia. If your county would like to be considered, please share your county’s efforts by contacting Kaylon Day, kday@accg.org, no later than Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

ACCG Attends the Council of Southern County Associations’ 2026 Annual Conference   

The ACCG Governmental Affairs Team and several other staff members attended the Conference for Southern County Associations 2026 Annual Meeting in Williamsburg, Va. This meeting is a great opportunity for southern state county associations to get together and share ideas and experiences on policy, organizational administration, and other hot topics each year. Among this year’s issues of discussion were the 2026 legislative update, state efforts at eliminating or reducing property taxes, and state preemption of local zoning, permitting, and other land use regulations.   

Click here to view state associations’ top 2025 legislative priorities. 

Be Advised: Legislation Effective July 1  



Many bills affecting counties that passed during the 2026 legislative session will take effect on July 1, 2026. Review ACCG's Final Legislative Report to see the bills that will become law soon. The effective date of each bill is listed immediately following the bill’s title and the name of its sponsor. 

Local Road Assistance Administration Funding Deadline Next Monday 

The deadline for the Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) Local Road Assistance Administration (LRA) funds is next Monday, June 15. Counties are strongly encouraged to submit their applications to promptly address their infrastructure needs. LRA funds will be administered and distributed through GDOT's GRANTS (LMIG) Application System. Eligible activities/projects for LRA funds will be the same as the LMIG program. LRA funds will require NO match. Click here to see your county's formula. 

Click here to begin the application process. 

2026 WaterFirst Informational Workshop

The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority is hosting a free Waterfirst Informational Workshop on Tuesday, June 16, in Spalding County. This workshop is intended for Georgia water utilities, municipalities, and local governments interested in obtaining a WaterFirst designation. Registration is now open.

More information on the workshop can be found here.

DCA Workforce Housing Initiative Funding Available

The OneGeorgia Authority has announced $30 million in funding for local governments through its 2027 Workforce Housing Initiative, a competitive grant and loan program to help communities address workforce housing shortages. Construction finance grants and Infrastructure grants are available. The local match percentage is based on population. Communities that adopt development-friendly policies, such as expedited permitting and waiving minimum square-footage standards, are eligible for a reduced local match requirement. Eligible projects may include infrastructure improvements to support new housing developments or construction financing for workforce housing projects.

Applications must demonstrate a documented need for workforce housing. Pre-applications are required at least 30 days before submitting a full application. The first application deadline is Friday, July 10, 2026, with additional funding rounds scheduled throughout the year.

View the Notice of Funding Availability here. For additional information, visit the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Workforce Housing Initiative’s webpage. 

DCA Seeking Census Tract Recommendations for Federal Opportunity Zones

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in partnership with Guidehouse, is launching a statewide stakeholder engagement effort to inform stakeholders on Georgia’s Opportunity Zones (OZ) 2.0 designation process for Federal Qualified Opportunity Zones. Stakeholders may submit proposed Opportunity Zone census tracts, supporting rationale, and contextual information through the Georgia Opportunity Zone Nomination Portal until Wednesday, July 15, at 5 p.m. DCA will host a series of webinars to discuss the OZ 2.0 destination process, the portal, and answer additional questions.

Applications Due for GREAT Health Program Funding 

The deadline to apply for the Georgia Rural Enhancement and Transformation (GREAT) Health Program is next Monday, June 15. Managed by the Georgia Department of Community Health, the GREAT Health Program will provide funding to support projects that strengthen rural healthcare across the state. Full details on how to apply can be found on DCH’s GREAT Health website at greathealth.georgia.gov. 

New Georgia Data Center Ordinance Hub Now Online

Georgia Tech recently released the Georgia Data Center Ordinance Hub, a resource that compiles and tracks how Georgia’s cities and counties are regulating data center development through local land-use ordinances. The Hub tracks zoning ordinances, development phases, local moratoria, and legislative activity, giving users a detailed picture of how Georgia is regulating data center growth in real time.

Click here to access the hub.

NACo Accepting Policy Resolutions for the 2026 NACo Annual Conference

NACo is now accepting policy resolutions and platform changes for its 2026 Annual Conference in Orleans Parish/New Orleans, La., from July 17-20. The NACo resolutions process enables members to participate in national policy decisions that affect county governments. All policy resolutions and platform changes must be submitted electronically by Wednesday, June 17.

Click here to submit a resolution or platform change. To register for the conference, click here.