SR262: SR262 Article V of the United States Constitution; a convention of the states; apply

This resolution does not change Georgia law. Instead, it is Georgia's formal request, or application, to Congress to call a convention of the states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. That convention would be limited to proposing one constitutional amendment: requiring the federal government to operate under a balanced budget, with exceptions for emergencies and national defense. The resolution says Georgia's application should be counted together with similar applications from more than 30 other states on the same balanced-budget topic, toward the two-thirds of states needed to force Congress to call a convention. It states the application stays in effect (a continuing application) until enough states join, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies to Congress, Georgia's congressional delegation, and other state legislatures.

• Formally applies to Congress, on Georgia's behalf, for a convention of the states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution.
• Limits the requested convention to a single subject: a constitutional amendment requiring a federal balanced budget, with exceptions for emergencies and national defense.
• Directs that Georgia's application be combined with similar applications from more than 30 other listed states to help reach the two-thirds threshold needed to force a convention.
• States the application remains active as a continuing application until two-thirds of state legislatures apply on the same subject.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the application to Congress, Georgia's federal lawmakers, and other state legislatures.

This resolution primarily affects Georgia's relationship with the U.S. Congress and other state legislatures pursuing an Article V convention. It does not directly regulate individuals or businesses, but it touches Georgia's congressional delegation and the legislatures of other states listed in the resolution.

If enough states pass matching applications, Congress could be required to call a rare constitutional convention aimed at amending the U.S. Constitution to mandate a balanced federal budget. Georgia's resolution is one building block toward that two-thirds threshold, though it does not itself change any law.

• The resolution applies to Congress under Article V for a convention limited to a balanced federal budget amendment, with exceptions for emergencies and national defense.
• It specifies the application should be aggregated only with other states' applications on the same single subject, not with applications on other topics.
• It lists more than 30 states whose prior applications on this subject should be combined with Georgia's for counting purposes.
• It declares the application a continuing one that stays valid until two-thirds of state legislatures have applied on the same subject.
• It directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the application to congressional leaders, Georgia's delegation, and other states' legislatures.

1. 2026-03-06Senate Tabled (Senate)
2. 2026-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
3. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
4. 2026-01-12Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
5. 2025-03-06Senate Tabled (Senate)
6. 2025-03-04Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
7. 2025-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
8. 2025-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senate)

• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)Primary sponsor

• balanced budget amendment
• Article V convention
• federal debt
• constitutional convention