HR 997: Joint session; message from the Governor

This resolution sets up a formal joint meeting of the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate to hear a speech from Governor Brian Kemp. It fixes the time and place: 10:45 A.M. on January 15, 2026, in the House chamber, with the Governor's address beginning at 11:00 A.M. The resolution also creates a 14-member escort committee, seven lawmakers chosen by the Speaker of the House and seven chosen by the President of the Senate, to bring the Governor into the chamber. It invites the Justices of the Georgia Supreme Court and the Judges of the Court of Appeals to attend, and it directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to the Governor and to each judge and justice.

• Schedules a joint session of the Georgia House and Senate for 10:45 A.M. on January 15, 2026, in the House chamber.
• Invites Governor Brian Kemp to address the joint session starting at 11:00 A.M. that same day.
• Creates a 14-member escort committee, split evenly between House and Senate members, to bring the Governor to the chamber.
• Extends an invitation to the Justices of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Judges of the Court of Appeals to attend.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send a copy of the resolution to the Governor and to each invited judge and justice.

This mainly affects Governor Brian Kemp, members of the Georgia House and Senate who will attend or serve on the escort committee, and the Justices of the Supreme Court of Georgia and Judges of the Court of Appeals who are invited to attend.

The resolution formally organizes the logistics for the Governor's address to the legislature, a customary event where the Governor typically outlines policy priorities. It matters mainly as a procedural step ensuring lawmakers, judges, and the Governor coordinate on the event's timing and format.

• First resolving clause invites Governor Brian Kemp to address a joint session at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
• Second clause sets the joint session itself to convene at 10:45 A.M. that day in the House chamber.
• Third clause creates a 14-member escort committee, with seven members named by the Speaker of the House and seven named by the President of the Senate.
• Fourth clause invites the Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Court of Appeals to attend.
• Fifth clause instructs the Clerk of the House to transmit copies of the resolution to the Governor and to each invited judge and justice.

1. 2026-01-12Senate Transmitted House (Senate)
2. 2026-01-12Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
3. 2026-01-12House Read and Adopted (House)
4. 2026-01-12House First Readers (House)
5. 2026-01-09House Hopper (House)

• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)Primary sponsor

• state government
• Georgia legislature
• Governor's address
• joint session