Georgia Trend Daily – March 12, 2026
March 12, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Big changes coming to Georgia General Assembly in 2026 elections as lawmakers leave office
Mark Niesse reports, with legislators running for higher office, longtime lawmakers retiring, and many challenges to incumbents, the Georgia General Assembly is set for high turnover after this year’s elections. Control of the state House and Senate is at stake as Republicans are defending the majorities they’ve held in both chambers for over 20 years.
March 12, 2026 Georgia Trend Exclusive!
Atlanta Botanical Garden Hits Milestone
Kathleen Conway reports, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is turning 50 this year, and it’s commemorating the anniversary with exhibits, events and a look back at its progress. Now a world-class urban oasis, the garden began as a collection of small gardens in greenhouses on the western edge of Piedmont Park, cultivated by community volunteers.
March 12, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As World Cup approaches, Atlanta looks back 30 years for inspiration
Zachary Hansen reports, raise your hand if you were born before 1996. That’s what A.J. Robinson, effectively the lead spokesperson for downtown Atlanta, asked more than 850 Georgia leaders Wednesday. His question aimed to convey the gravity of what lies ahead for Atlanta in fewer than 100 days, and the hat he wore alluded to the answer.
March 12, 2026 Saporta Report
CAP rebrands as Downtown Atlanta, Inc. at annual meeting
Delaney Tarr reports, “Downtown Atlanta is back, y’all.” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens declared the urban core’s revival at the largest-ever annual Central Atlanta Progress and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District meeting and awards celebration on Mar. 11. The annual meeting came with plenty of updates about the state of downtown Atlanta, and one major announcement: The group known as CAP, ADID and ATLDTN has rebranded to a single moniker.
March 12, 2026 WSB Radio
Georgia launches first-ever program to help address homelessness
Staff reports that money is now available for local governments in Georgia to help address homelessness in their communities. The program, called Georgia Rehoused, is the first of its kind in the state, according to Ryan Evans with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
March 12, 2026 Savannah Morning News
Tybee Island historic district could bring new property rules
Destini Ambus reports, the Tybee Island Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), for more than a year, has been pursuing creating a local historic district for the Fort Screven and the North Campbell area, which encompasses 204 acres along the northern tip of the island. The ordinance, if approved, will designate the Fort Screven and North Campbell Neighborhoods as local historic districts and list properties within the district and require certificates of appropriateness (COA) for material changes in appearance.
March 12, 2026 Albany Herald
Albany City Commission approves $2 million loan for downtown development project
Alan Mauldin reports that a downtown Albany development project facing foreclosure received a lifeline on Tuesday with the approval of a $2 million loan to allow the developer to purchase the North Washington Street property. The Albany City Commission approved the $2 million loan for Look Again LLC in a 5-2 vote following a meeting that lasted two hours and included input from developer Orlando Rambo, his attorney and other speakers who weighed in virtually, an attorney representing the city and other officials.
March 12, 2026 Post-Searchlight
66th Rattlesnake Roundup slithers into Whigham
Ethan Benn reports that rattlesnakes and other reptiles got their moment in the spotlight Saturday at Whigham’s 66th annual Rattlesnake Roundup. While the historic roundup switched from collecting to conserving snakes in 2022, there was still plenty to do.
March 12, 2026 The Brunswick News
State lawmakers still planning new election laws
Gordon Jackson reports that Georgia Senate Bill 568, proposed legislation with sweeping election reforms, failed to win approval this General Assembly session, but it doesn’t mean lawmakers have given up on election reform this year. Last year, SB 214 stalled in the House after passing in the Senate, but the legislation is still on the table.
March 12, 2026 Macon Telegraph
Georgia eyes stricter school finance rules for districts. What we know
Myracle Lewis reports that lawmakers are advancing new measures to tighten school districts’ financial oversight, ensure audit readiness and hold accountability on all levels. “With the current legislation that’s in place, there’s really no teeth or repercussions for not having your audit done. There’s nothing that the department of audit can put in place to enforce a timely audit,” said Sara McLeod, deputy director of the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts.
March 12, 2026 State Affairs
2026 election watch: Big money kicks campaign into high gear
Beau Evans reports that hundreds of candidates for the 2026 midterm elections poured into the Capitol last week to qualify for races, igniting enthusiasm for high-stakes contests poised to steer the course of Georgia politics for years to come. With months left until the primaries, top candidates have already raised tens of millions in donations and loans in their quests to claim victory in the November elections that will decide the state’s most powerful offices.
March 12, 2026 Georgia Press
Georgia legislative elections heading to runoffs on April 7
Zoe Seiler reports, special elections for State House Districts 94 and 150 and Senate District 53 are heading to runoff elections on April 7. A runoff election occurs when no candidate receives at least 50 percent of the total votes cast. The top two vote-getters face each other in a runoff.
March 12, 2026 GPB
‘Lawmakers’ Day 30: House Oks budget; Senate hears first House bills; Loeffler and Rollins visit
Sarah Kallis and Tristan Smith report, on Tuesday at the Capitol, lawmakers were paid a visit by two Trump administration officials, and the House took on its only constitutionally required duty. The House kicked off the day with a visit from Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler.
March 12, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Georgia lawmakers debate legalizing silencers as gun safety bills stall
Mark Niesse reports that Georgia has some of the loosest gun laws in the nation, but a bill to remove the state’s restriction on silencers tested lawmakers’ limits. The gun silencer bill fell four votes short in the House on Friday, a rare defeat for pro-gun proposals in Georgia.
March 12, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Big money pours into Georgia’s special election to replace Greene
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, the wild, all-candidate special election to succeed former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is behind us. Now an all-out, big-money scramble is underway between Republican Clay Fuller and Democrat Shawn Harris for a seat the GOP once held with ease.
