SEN. CARDEN SUMMERS: Crossover week under the Gold Dome

We have officially passed Crossover Day, the deadline for Senate bills to move to the House in order to remain eligible for consideration this year. Now the process begins again in the House, where lawmakers will carefully review, debate and vote on these proposals before they can move forward.

Another major step forward came earlier this week when Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 Budget into law. With that signature, the General Assembly fulfilled the first of our two constitutional budgeting responsibilities for this session. Our focus now turns to completing the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

Both spending plans reflect the same conservative priorities that have kept Georgia financially strong through protecting our reserves, investing wisely and returning money to hard-working taxpayers.

One of the greatest threats to the American Dream today is the rising cost of housing. Across Georgia, families are finding it harder than ever to purchase a home. In metro Atlanta alone, institutional investors now own roughly one-quarter of all rental properties. Large corporations are buying up single-family homes at a rapid pace, leaving Georgians competing with Wall Street firms just to purchase a place to live.

The consequences are real. The average age of someone entering a 30-year mortgage has climbed to 41. That means many Georgians will struggle to retire at 65. It also means couples are delaying starting families or considering leaving our state in search of more affordable housing. If we are serious about making Georgia more affordable, we must address this issue head-on.

Senate Bill 463 takes an important step in that direction. This legislation would prevent large corporations from owning more than 500 single-family residential properties in Georgia and would prohibit foreign companies from owning single-family residential rental homes altogether. The goal is simple: Ensure that the homes in our communities remain available to Georgia families, not large investment firms. 

We are also working to make it easier to build new homes across our state. Senate Bills 437 and 447, both of which have passed the Senate and now move to the House, will streamline the homebuilding process and improve transparency for families looking to build.

Senate Bill 437 shortens construction review timelines and allows certified private companies to conduct certain building, plumbing and electrical inspections. These inspections are an important part of ensuring safe construction, but unnecessary delays can drive up costs for future homeowners. By making the process more efficient, we can help bring more housing to the market and make homeownership more attainable.

Senate Bill 447 increases transparency between local governments and future homeowners by requiring clear and timely explanations when building permits are denied. Families considering where to build their homes deserve straightforward answers, and this legislation helps ensure Georgia remains a welcoming place for those looking to put down roots.

We are continuing to implement measures to protect residential taxpayers and hold data centers accountable. Senate Bill 410 will eliminate sales tax and use tax exemptions for high-technology computer equipment and data center equipment, holding “large load customers” responsible for their own infrastructure costs. Currently, Georgia residents are footing the bill for the power utilized by data centers. Many of these data centers are being built in rural areas like ours here at home, and I will work every step of the way to make sure your bills don’t skyrocket on behalf of corporate America.

Additionally, I am proud to announce that my bill, SB 433, passed the Senate floor. This bill will raise the penalty for blocking a road from a simple misdemeanor to a high and aggravated misdemeanor. When protests become unlawful and disruptive, they prevent us from arriving to work on time and from making it safely from Point A to Point B. 

We also want to empower young people to use their First Amendment rights. The “True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act” will ensure that students can gather and express themselves regardless of their political and religious beliefs, or those of school administrators. Under this legislation, students can form political groups, attend political events, speak openly at public forums, and wear political messages or symbols. By allowing open political expression in our education, we are helping build strong, intelligent, and active citizens in our society.

With Crossover Day behind us, the Senate will begin reviewing House legislation and voting on bills that may soon head to the governor’s desk. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns or ideas as the session continues. It is an honor to serve you.

Sen. Carden Summers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions. He represents the 13^th Senate District. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-9224 or by email at [email protected].