Governor Kemp Calls Special Session
June 4, 2026 - Governor Brian Kemp has issued a formal proclamation convening the Georgia General Assembly in a special session, signaling the need for legislative action outside the regular session calendar. Under the Georgia Constitution, the Governor is empowered to call a special session and define the scope of issues lawmakers may consider. In this instance, the proclamation outlines the specific subject matter to be addressed, effectively limiting legislative activity to those enumerated items.
The proclamation underscores the urgency and importance the administration places on the identified issues, which may include time-sensitive fiscal matters, policy priorities, or emergent statewide concerns that cannot reasonably wait until the next regular session. By setting the agenda, the Governor not only accelerates legislative consideration but also shapes the policy framework within which the General Assembly must operate.
From a practical standpoint, the special session compresses the legislative timeline, requiring stakeholders to quickly mobilize, engage decision-makers, and adapt strategies in a fast-moving environment. For clients and partners, this means heightened attention to committee activity, leadership negotiations, and potential amendments, as outcomes are often determined on an expedited basis.
Topspin Strategies will continue to monitor developments closely, provide real-time updates, and engage with key policymakers to ensure our clients’ priorities are effectively represented throughout the duration of the special session.
Details About the Code Sections Being Discussed:
Code Section 21-2-379.23
This law applies to Georgia’s electronic ballot marking devices.
Key requirements:
- Ballots must include standard info like:
- “OFFICIAL BALLOT”
- Election date
- Candidates, offices, and questions
- Ballots must be printed on secure paper with features like a watermark.
The text on the paper ballot is the official vote
- The
human-readable text (what you can read on the ballot)
= the legally binding vote - This applies to:
- Vote tabulation
- Recounts
- Audits
What S.B. 189 changed
The 2024 law (Act 697 / S.B. 189) made a major shift:
- It prohibits relying on QR codes or machine-readable codes to count votes
- Instead, only the printed text must be counted
- The key changes to this section are scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026
This code section is at the center of current election debates because:
- Georgia’s existing voting system relies on QR codes for tabulation
- The law forces a transition to text-based counting
- State and local officials have warned this creates:
- Logistical challenges
- Potential funding gaps
- Uncertainty before elections
Code Section 48-8-109.52
This section (added by S.B. 33) deals with a specific type of local sales tax authority.
From the bill text, it ties to:
- Local governments that levy certain property taxes (ad valorem taxes)
- And allows or governs how they can adopt an additional local sales tax via local legislation
- It creates a framework for certain local governments to pass a new or modified local sales tax, but they must do it through a local Act.
- If a county/city wants to use this new tax authority
- The legislature must pass a local bill (local Act) following the rules in that code section S.B. 33 (Act 461, 2026)
This is the law that:
- Created or updated this tax mechanism
- Set the rules + process for how locals can implement it
J.P. Morgan Healthcare Week is one of the most business-forward weeks of the year for the life sciences industry—a time when companies, investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders come together to build relationships, explore investment opportunities, and advance innovation. GLS is helping our community make the most of the week with opportunities to connect, partner, and engage with the broader life sciences investment community. Here are a few events and member benefits to add to your calendar. State Bio Friends Kickoff 2027 📅 January 10 | 4:00–7:00 PM 📍 The Marker San Francisco 🎟️ To request a registration code, contact Stacey Bowlin at sbowlin@galifesciences.org . RESI JPM 2027 GLS is proud to partner with Life Science Nation to offer our community $300 off registration for RESI JPM 2027 . RESI JPM connects early-stage life sciences companies with investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders through networking, partnering, and programming focused on advancing innovation and investment. 📍 In person: January 11–12 | San Francisco Marriott Marquis 📅 Virtual partnering: January 13, 18, and 19 🎟️ Please use code GABIO to r eceive $300 off registration Biotech Showcase GLS is pleased to partner with Biotech Showcase to help connect our community with this important industry gathering. Taking place January 11-13, Biotech Showcase is a premier investor conference for private and emerging publicly traded biotech companies, bringing together innovators and investors to explore partnerships and financing opportunities. 📅 January 11–13 📍Hilton San Francisco Union Square 🎟️ Please use cod e supGALS2027 to receive $200 off registration Fierce JPM Week 📅 January 12–13 📍 Hyatt Regency San Francisco 🎟️ Secure your pass We encourage our members and partners to take advantage of these opportunities and represent Georgia’s growing life sciences community on the national stage. We look forward to connecting with you in San Francisco!
As pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies expand U.S. manufacturing operations, a growing demand for specialized talent underscores the importance of industry-driven workforce development. October 16, 2026 | Georgia Life Sciences The United States is experiencing a resurgence in domestic manufacturing investment, with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies announcing major expansions and new production facilities. But as investment accelerates, a critical challenge is emerging: ensuring that a skilled workforce is available to support this growth. According to a Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute study , approximately 3.8 million manufacturing positions could need to be filled nationwide through 2033 , with as many as 1.9 million potentially remaining unfilled due to workforce and skills gaps. While these projections span the broader manufacturing sector, the implications for life sciences are significant. Biomanufacturing's Growing Talent Challenge A recent PharmaVoice article examines how pharmaceutical companies are responding to growing competition for skilled workers, particularly in specialized roles such as automation engineering, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, process engineering, and manufacturing operations. These positions are essential to bringing new facilities online, maintaining regulatory compliance, and ensuring safe, reliable production. The challenge extends beyond competition among pharmaceutical manufacturers. Life sciences companies are increasingly competing with industries such as semiconductors, aerospace, energy, and advanced manufacturing for workers with similar technical skills. Some companies are responding by investing directly in regional education and training partnerships. Eli Lilly, for example, recently committed $15 million to San Jacinto College in Texas, including $12.5 million dedicated to workforce training, alongside a major manufacturing expansion in the Houston area. The message is increasingly clear: Workforce planning must begin alongside facility planning, not after construction is complete. What This Means for Georgia Georgia has an opportunity to build on its growing biomanufacturing presence, established industry base, research universities, and technical education infrastructure. However, continued success will depend on ensuring that workforce development keeps pace with industry investment. As manufacturing technologies evolve, employers will need workers with expertise in automation, digital systems, quality control, and advanced production processes. Traditional education pathways alone may not be sufficient to meet these changing needs. That makes stronger collaboration among employers, educational institutions, workforce organizations, and policymakers increasingly important. Through its Manufacturing Council, Georgia Life Sciences is working to strengthen industry engagement and better understand employers' evolving workforce needs. These conversations help identify opportunities to align education and training with the skills companies need today and anticipate those they will require tomorrow. The Georgia Life Sciences Institute also supports the long-term talent pipeline through education and workforce initiatives designed to introduce students and educators to life sciences careers and strengthen connections between education and industry. Looking Ahead: Talent as a Competitive Advantage As states compete to attract life sciences investment, workforce readiness will increasingly influence where companies choose to expand and how successfully those investments translate into long-term economic growth. For Georgia, the opportunity is not simply to attract new facilities but to build the talent ecosystem necessary to sustain them. That requires earlier employer engagement, flexible training models, stronger industry-education partnerships, and continued attention to emerging technologies that are changing the nature of manufacturing work. The next chapter of biomanufacturing growth will be defined not only by where companies invest, but by where they can find, develop, and retain the talent needed to succeed. Related Reading Deloitte: Taking Charge — Manufacturers Support Growth With Active Workforce Strategies PharmaVoice: Pharma's Manufacturing Boom Has a Workforce Problem
Georgia Life Sciences has submitted written comments to the Georgia House Study Committee on Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumers’ Access to Prescription Medications, encouraging greater transparency, accountability, and a focus on measurable patient benefit across the prescription drug system. The comments address both pharmacy benefit manager practices and the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, emphasizing the importance of understanding where prescription drug savings accrue and whether those savings ultimately benefit patients. The Study Committee continues its work this fall as it develops recommendations for the Georgia General Assembly. Read Georgia Life Sciences’ full comments →
