HR 120: General Assembly; extend regular legislative sessions to a maximum of 90 legislative days - CA

Georgia's Constitution currently limits the General Assembly's regular annual session to 40 legislative days. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would raise that limit to 90 legislative days, more than doubling the time lawmakers could meet each year. The resolution does not change the law by itself. Instead, it directs that the proposed amendment be published and placed on the ballot for Georgia voters to approve or reject, with a specific yes-or-no question about extending the session from 40 to 90 days. If voters ratify it, the change becomes part of the state Constitution. The rest of the current constitutional language, including the requirement to convene on the second Monday in January and the ability to adjourn and reconvene by concurrent resolution, stays the same.

• Proposes a constitutional amendment raising the maximum length of the General Assembly's regular annual session from 40 to 90 legislative days.
• Leaves unchanged the requirement that the General Assembly convene on the second Monday in January each year, or as otherwise provided by law.
• Directs that the proposed amendment be published and submitted to Georgia voters for ratification or rejection under the state Constitution's amendment process (Article X, Section I, Paragraph II).
• Specifies the exact ballot language voters would see, framed as a yes or no choice on extending the session to 90 days.

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate, who would be able to meet in regular session for a much longer period each year, and Georgia voters, who would decide whether to approve the change at the ballot box.

If voters approve the amendment, Georgia lawmakers could spend far more days in Lawmaking each year, potentially allowing more thorough debate and more bills to be considered, but also extending the time state business is conducted at the Capitol and increasing related costs.

• Section 1 amends Article III, Section IV, Paragraph I(a) of the Georgia Constitution, changing the maximum regular session length from 40 to 90 days in the aggregate each year.
• Section 1 keeps intact the rule that the General Assembly organizes in odd-numbered years and can adjourn or reconvene by concurrent resolution.
• Section 2 requires the proposed amendment to be published and submitted to voters as required by the Constitution's amendment procedures.
• Section 2 sets the specific ballot question asking voters whether to extend the session from 40 to 90 legislative days.

1. 2025-02-04House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-03House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-30House Hopper (House)

• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)Primary sponsor
• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)
• Mary Ann Santos (D, HD-117)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)

• legislative sessions
• constitutional amendment
• Georgia General Assembly
• state government operations