May 2026

ACCG's 2026 Final Legislative Report

County officials may now access the 2026 ACCG Final Legislative Report by clicking here. This report is designed to serve as a guide to legislation from the 2026 session of the Georgia General Assembly and includes brief summaries, effective dates, and the county impact(s) of each bill and resolution. The report also lists bills that failed to pass, many of which will likely come back next legislative session.   

Please contact a member of the ACCG Governmental Affairs team should you have any questions regarding specific legislation. 

2026 ACCG County Legislative Forums Cancellation Notice

Due to Gov. Kemp calling a special session, which begins on June 17 and requires legislators to return to the Capitol, ACCG is canceling all seven County Legislative Forums. County officials will have the opportunity to engage in discussions with state legislators and the ACCG Governmental Affairs Team during the summer Policy Committee Meetings that will be held in August. All Policy Committee Meetings - North, South, and Federal - will be held in-person. More details on these meetings, including registration, will be shared soon.

Resources from the ACCG FLOST, LHOST, SB 33, and SB 566 Webinar Available

ACCG hosted a webinar in May discussing Georgia’s newest local option sales taxes: FLOST and LHOST. The webinar also covered other new requirements created by SB 33 and SB 566, Georgia’s recently passed property tax reform bills. Presenters compared the two sales taxes with the goal of equipping counties in their decision to adopt FLOST, LHOST, or neither.

Click here to access the webinar and related resources.

2026 Legislative Service Award Recipients Announced

ACCG is pleased to announce the 2026 Legislative Service Award recipients. The Legislative Service Awards program recognizes state Representatives and Senators for their hard work and dedication in working with the Association on behalf of Georgia counties during the 2026 legislative session.  Each legislator played a key role in the passage of ACCG Policy priorities, other supported legislation, and/or addressing ACCG’s concerns on bills impacting counties. 

A full write-up of these award recipients and legislation can be found here.  

ACCG Honors 2026 Legislative Advocates of the Year

At the recent Annual Conference in Chatham County, ACCG recognized two Hall County employees, Communications and Strategic Engagement Manager Sarah Crowe and former Administrator Zach Propes, with the Legislative Advocate of the Year Awards. For years, Zach and Sara have been deeply involved in ACCG’s policy development process, including participating in various policy committees and providing expert research and analysis in developing the association’s legislative priorities. 

During the 2026 legislative session, they continued to provide feedback to ACCG’s Governmental Affairs staff and contacted their legislative delegation directly on several occasions in the areas of local government permitting preemptions, county franchise fees, and property tax reform, among others. Their invaluable contributions to ACCG’s advocacy efforts made a meaningful difference in shaping sound public policy for the citizens of Georgia. 

ACCG President Selects 2026-2027 Policy Committee Leadership

ACCG President and Colquitt County Commissioner Marc DeMott recently selected the chairs and vice chairs of ACCG’s seven standing Policy Committees for 2026 - 2027, which comprise part of the Policy Council membership. The backbone of ACCG’s policy development process, these committees will meet twice in August this year to make recommendations for the association’s 2027 Policy Priorities. 

Click here to view the leadership appointments. 

ACCG Governmental Affairs Associate Attends Google Symposium

ACCG Governmental Affairs Associate Keenan Rogers recently attended a Google symposium to learn how emerging and predictive technologies are reshaping the way government operates. Sen. Frank Ginn (left) and Rep. Steven Sainz (right) were also present.

2026 ACCG Annual Conference Pictures are Now Available        

Thank you to all the county leaders and legislative officials who joined us at the 2026 ACCG Annual Conference in Chatham County. Conference photos are now available for download. Click the album link here to access photos and take a look at the exciting conference week from Savannah.

Governor Kemp Signs Top ACCG Health Priority

On Monday, May 11, Gov. Kemp signed HB 506 into law. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Shawn Still and carried by Rep. Scott Hilton, requires insurance companies to cover out-of-network ambulance transportation services. Local governments that pay the upfront costs will receive either full reimbursement based on a contract with an ambulance provider, or the lesser option between 325% of the Medicaid reimbursement rate or the charges billed by the ambulance provider beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

Governor Brian Kemp Calls for a Special Session on June 17

On Wednesday, May 13, Gov. Brian Kemp called for the General Assembly to convene a special session on June 17, the day after Georgia’s primary election runoffs. The Governor’s Proclamation directed legislators to address only the following:

1. To consider redistricting the state for members of the Georgia State Senate, the Georgia State House of Representatives, the U.S. House of Representatives or any other state office elected by districts; and
2. To address legislation enacted in 2024 that prohibited QR Codes from being used to tabulate ballots in Georgia’s elections. 

Georgia Elections at a Crossroads

To read the QR code conundrum Georgia’s counties currently face in administering the 2026 General Election, please click here.      

House Establishes and Appoints 2026 Study Committees  

Speaker Jon Burns has announced and made appointments to the Georgia House of Representatives’ 2026 study committees, including the Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Local Government Taxation, Funding and Budgeting to be chaired by Rep. Chas Cannon. Among the topics expected to be studied are local government property taxes, franchise fees, disaster relief loans, alternative investments, assessment and collection of fees, and financial audits. Another blue-ribbon study committee will examine transportation infrastructure and vehicle registration.       

To view these study committees and their appointed members, please click here.  

Deadline Approaching for Local Road Assistance Administration Funding

The deadlines for the Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) Local Road Assistance Administration (LRA) funds is quickly approaching. 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. 

All applications must be received no later than Monday, June 15. Click here to begin the application process. 

Georgia DNR Launches Battlefield Trust Fund

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently launched the Vince Dooley Battlefield Trust Fund Program to preserve and permanently protect Georgia's historic battlefield lands. The program will offer annual funding cycles on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funding. Grant awards may cover up to 50% of the appraised value of eligible land acquisitions or permanent conservation easements. Applicants must provide a one-to-one funding match through cash contributions, bargain sales, donated land value, or other eligible sources.

Click here to learn more about the program.

GREAT Health Program Funding Opportunity Released

The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) is pleased to announce the release of the first competitive funding opportunity for the Georgia Rural Enhancement and Transformation (GREAT) of Health Program. Applications for the Point-of-Care Telepod strategy will be accepted until Monday, June 15. Full details on how to apply can be found on DCH’s GREAT Health website at greathealth.georgia.gov. 

USDOT Accepting SS4A Grant Applications

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) application deadline is Tuesday, May 26, at 5 p.m. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent deaths and serious injuries on our nation's roadways. 

Late applications will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted through Valid Eval. Details on the application process can be found on the How to Apply page of the SS4A website.  

Advisory Committee Recommends Sweeping Changes to FEMA

A presidential advisory council released its recommendations for reworking the operations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As anticipated, it reflects an intention to transfer more responsibility for executing disaster response to states and local governments. More information can be found here.

NACo Joins Letters Calling on Congress to Support Water Infrastructure Funding and Reauthorization

In April, the National Association of Counties (NACo), alongside coalition partners representing local governments and water groups, sent two letters to Congress highlighting the importance of sustained federal investment in water infrastructure for counties and communities nationwide. Click here to read the letters and learn more about NACo's appropriations priorities.

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 provides members with the ability to participate in national policy decisions affecting 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.