The Georgia General Assembly adjourned Sine Die on Friday, officially concluding the first year of the 2025-2026 legislative biennium. The GBA Advocacy team emerged from the session both encouraged by the progress of some key policy goals and the successful defense against proposals that could have harmed the banking industry.

As this is the first year of the biennium, it’s important to remember that any bill not passed during this session remains active and eligible for consideration when lawmakers return in January 2026.

This session brought its share of challenges, but our efforts were made stronger through the committed support and grassroots advocacy of GBA members. It was inspiring to see bankers engaged at the Capitol, testifying in hearings, participating in committee meetings and reaching out to their legislators. Our legislative wins would not have been possible without active member participation. Stay tuned for the full session report on Monday.

Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe), HB 586 passed both chambers with overwhelming support including a unanimous 161-0 final agree in the House on Sine Die. The bill now heads to Governor Kemp’s desk for his signature. The bill, which was carried in the Senate by Sen. Mike Hodges (R-Brunswick), will take effect July 1 if signed into law. It extends the loan term exemption for the Intangible Recording Tax from more than 36 months to more than 62 months. This is a welcome change and supported by Georgia banks as a way to make borrowing more affordable. Special thanks to GBA member bankers Jay Torbert, Southeastern Bank, David Black, Georgia Banking Company and Perry Revell, AB&T, for their contributions in shaping this important legislation.

The GBA successfully opposed SB 57, the original “debanking” bill introduced by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), which failed to advance on Crossover Day with a 13-43 vote. However, a similar bill SB 341, also sponsored by Sen. Tillery did not advance but remains active. SB 341 includes several notable differences to SB 57. It raises the total asset threshold for covered banks from $1 billion to $2 billion and gives the State Attorney General’s office investigatory authority. It keeps the most concerning provision for a new private right of action. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee for further consideration in 2026.

Two key pieces of legislation concerning interchange fees did not advance this year, but are still alive for 2026:

HB 431 by Rep. Todd Jones (R-North Fulton) seeks to prohibit interchange fees on the sales tax portion of debit or credit card transactions. The bill would restrict fees to the price of the good or service alone. The bill is currently awaiting its first hearing in the House Banks and Banking Committee.

HB 439 by Rep. Bill Yearta (R-Sylvester) implements recommendations from last year’s House Study Committee on Interchange. It proposes an increase in vendor compensation to retailers for collecting and remitting sales and use taxes. The bill passed the House this session and is currently awaiting its first hearing in the Senate Finance Committee.

Both bills are expected to remain focal points in next year’s legislative discussions.