Ups, Downs and In-betweens

Private Equity Ban: Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock’s provision to ban institutional investors from owning large numbers of single-family homes passed the Senate as part of the ROAD to Housing Act. The act, which aims to address the lack of affordable housing, had overwhelming bipartisan support with a final vote of 89-10. Under the act, an institutional investor could own no more than 350 single-family homes.

According to a 2024 Government Accountability Office report, investors own about 25% of the single-family homes in the Atlanta MSA. Calling it “a win for homebuyers in Georgia and across the country,” Warnock said in a statement, “Let me make it plain: Private equity’s greed is squeezing first-time homebuyers out of the market and pushing the American Dream further out of reach.”

It’s unclear when or if the House might take up the bill. President Donald Trump has said he will not sign any bills until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, which would require people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. However, several bills limiting the number of investor-owned homes are being debated at the state level in the Georgia legislature.

Dome Deals: The legislature passed and Gov. Brian Kemp signed the amended FY 2026 state budget in March, which provides an income tax rebate of $250 for single filers and $500 for married couples and families, and property tax relief in the form of a homeowner tax relief grant.

Other highlights:

• $325 million to endow the needs-based DREAMS Scholarship, a complement to the merit-based HOPE Scholarship
• $409 million for a new regional mental health hospital in Atlanta
• $1.68 billion to expand I-75 express lanes in Henry County
• A one-time $2,000 supplement for state employees, teachers and law enforcement officers.

Meanwhile, the budget for the next fiscal year passed the House and was sent to the Senate, where it was still being considered at press time. The House version included $60.8 million for literacy efforts, including funding literacy coaches in elementary schools. House Speaker Jon Burns has said this bill is a top priority.

Passing a balanced budget each year is the only legally mandated duty the legislature has. Lawmakers have until Sine Die – April 2 this year – to complete their task.

No ICE Water: Social Circle, which opposes federal plans for an enormous Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in the city, took another step to stop the agency from moving forward – it shut off the water and locked the meter to the 1-million-square-foot-building. City leaders have been frustrated by lack of communication with ICE and the agency’s failure so far to address concerns about the size of the facility and impact on water and sewer capacity. The agency proposed housing up to 10,000 detainees there, which is nearly double the city’s population.

An ICE document contends the facility will “not affect the existing infrastructure adversely in any way.” In a statement, Social Circle officials responded that “the city’s concerns regarding water and sewer infrastructure have not been addressed to our satisfaction. We continue to have more questions than answers.”

They’re Running: The May Republican and Democratic primaries may seem a little crowded this year – 537 candidates have qualified to run for the 236 seats in the Georgia legislature. That’s up from 450 people who qualified in 2024.

Data reporter Maggie Lee wrote in The Current that Democratic candidates outnumber Republicans 308 to 229. About two-thirds of seats will be contested by both parties, while 53 candidates will run unopposed. About 86% of candidates are incumbents seeking reelection. 

State Sen. Nabilah Parkes. Photo credit: Contributed

Swapping Out: State Sen. Nabilah Parkes (D-Duluth), who was campaigning to be insurance commissioner, instead switched to running for lieutenant governor. The surprise move came a day before the March 6 deadline to qualify for the state’s May primaries. A week later, she announced her resignation from the state Senate, which was still in session.

Parkes, a progressive, was the first Muslim woman elected to the Georgia legislature in 2022. Her resignation allows her to fundraise for the race, something legislators are not allowed to do while the legislature is in session. Her main opponent in the primary is Sen. Josh McLaurin (D-Sandy Springs), who remained in office during the current session.

In another surprise, Sen. Elena Parent (D-Atlanta) announced she would not seek reelection and endorsed Rep. Saira Draper (D-Atlanta) for the seat. The announcement came one day before the qualifying deadline, making it harder for other potential candidates to qualify for the unexpectedly open seat. Parent served in the Senate for 10 years and is the current minority caucus chair.