ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Georgia lawmakers are closing in on a required state budget agreement as the 2026 legislative session enters its final day, also known as Sine Die.

Legislators must pass a budget before formally adjourning the session, but disagreements have raised the prospect Gov. Brian Kemp could have to call a special session if negotiators fail to reach a deal.

READ: These bills are still on lawmakers’ agenda

Two bills that cleared late Tuesday helped ease pressure ahead of the deadline, including a $70 million literacy initiative and a property tax measure.

Supporters said the literacy bill would fund more than 1,300 literacy coaches for elementary schools statewide, targeting students in kindergarten through third grade who are not reading at a proficient level.

The plan would also shift Georgia back to a phonics-based approach to reading instruction.

The other major bill, House Bill 1116, would limit annual growth in property tax collections by local governments to no more than 3% or the rate of inflation. The proposal falls short of earlier calls by some House Republicans to eliminate property taxes entirely through a constitutional amendment.

Senate leaders had been wary of putting a constitutional amendment before voters and were more willing to back a statutory cap. The literacy measure also had budget implications, with lawmakers needing to account for the $70 million in spending as they finalize the state’s spending plan.

Alongside property tax relief, lawmakers were also weighing further reductions in the state income tax rate. Legislative leaders have signaled interest in another year of rate cuts that would drop the income tax below 4%, rather than full elimination.

2026 LEGISLATURE’S FINAL DAYS | FULL COVERAGE

Election-year politics may also be raising the stakes as lawmakers seek accomplishments to tout to voters. Some lawmakers have pushed a controversial elections proposal to replace touchscreen voting with hand-marked paper ballots, while others have pressed for more sweeping tax changes.

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