The Georgia General Assembly completed Week Three of the 2026 session last week, marking their first full week of committee work. 

The main theme - in both the energy and political worlds - has been squarely focused on Data Center policy with a litany of bipartisan regulation and tax exemption removal bills being introduced in the opening weeks of session. 

A handful of these measures received hearings in the State Senate. The Senate Finance Committee held hearings on both Senate Bills 408 and 410, both of which focus on current tax exemptions being given to data center developers. SB 408, sponsored by Senator Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta), would move the current sunset from 2032 up to January 1, 2027, while SB 410, sponsored by Senate Rules Chairman Matt Brass (R-Newnan), would remove incentives upon signage from the Governor. Neither bill was acted on, and there will likely be more measures introduced in the coming week. Also, a new committee substitute version of Senate Bill 34 will be heard on Tuesday, February 3 at 4:00pm in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. 

We also saw the introduction of Senate Bill 421, ‘The Data Center Transparency Act’ sponsored by Senator RaShun Kemp (D-Atlanta), which would prohibit local governments, authorities, and political subdivisions from entering into nondisclosure agreements regarding electricity usage or water usage. SREA personnel expect a few more bills specific to energy usage and affordability to be dropped in the next week. 

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee also heard Senate Resolution 482 sponsored by Senator Tim Bearden (R-Carrollton), which urges the Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) to create a study committee for the purpose of making recommendations to the Senate with regard to how the State of Georgia can use advanced nuclear reactors to increase power generation and economic development in Georgia.

Sen. Josh McLaurin (D-Atlanta) a candidate for Lt. Governor took to the well to chastise Republican leaders over the FBI seizure.

Outside of another round of winter weather, the big drama in Atlanta last week was when news broke that the FBI arrived at the Fulton County Elections Office to serve a warrant to seize all 2020 election data. This has reignited angst on both sides of the aisle with renewed calls to secure Georgia’s voting processes and concerns with ballot access. Voting will certainly become a more significant issue as candidates in May primaries will look to score political points for the subsequent general election. 

Data Center resources and election politics will certainly take center stage over the coming months, and SREA will be certain to keep you all in tune with all of the happenings under the Gold Dome.