Just as House legislators settled in around 9 p.m. for what they assumed would be several hours more of floor debate, Senate leaders stunned the Capitol by abruptly calling it a night — leaving dozens of pending bills in limbo.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, the Republican president of the Senate, didn’t sugarcoat the decision.

“We got all our priorities done,” he said, adding: “There’s no need to stay here until midnight.”

The move blindsided House leaders — and left consequential proposals unresolved until next year, if ever.

Credit: TNS

Credit: TNS

An overhaul of election laws didn’t make the cut. Neither did a ban on school speed cameras, limits on promoting diversity in schools or new transgender restrictions. And a stalled Jones-backed push to review regulations died in the crossfire.

‘No bad blood here’

At first, furious House leaders vented in frustration.

“We’re working for the people of Georgia. You can go home if you want to,” House Speaker Jon Burns said. “The other side can adjourn, but this House is going to attend to the people’s business because this is the people’s House.”

But eventually, the House gaveled out, too, with lawmakers tossing papers in the air at 10:37 p.m. And many left parting shots for their colleagues across the hall — including Jones, who is expected to soon announce a bid for governor.

“It’s a shame what the Senate just did,” said Republican state Rep. Trey Kelley of Cedartown. “I guess they couldn’t wait two hours to hit the campaign trail. They may need it.”

In an interview, Burns was equally cutting.

“I just think it shows that the House is focused on its priorities and getting the job done,” he said, “and we’re not worried about moving on to some higher office.”

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

Jones insisted there were no hard feelings.

“No bad blood here. You know, I’ve been saying all day we’re going to adjourn early, and I made it pretty clear I don’t tell the House how to run their chamber, and they don’t tell me how to run mine. So there’s no problem there.”

‘Never seen anything like tonight’

Even seasoned Capitol hands were at a loss. Spiro Amburn, the former chief of staff to the late House Speaker David Ralston, has seen his share of last-minute meltdowns between chambers. But this one is different.

“I have never seen anything like tonight,” he said, “especially considering that seemingly both chambers were operating in good faith with each other.”

Last-minute negotiations were suddenly called off. State Rep. Mark Newton, R-Augusta, had been working to hash out a tax credit for gun owners who buy safety devices — a deal he thought was within reach.

“We were close and working on an agreement,” he said. “I’m disappointed. I was looking forward to getting it passed, but now I’ll look forward to the second half of the session.”

Senate leaders, confident they’d already locked in their priorities, viewed the early adjournment as a tactical win in the ongoing chess match with their House counterparts — a rivalry that constantly simmers between the two GOP-led chambers.

Earlier in the day, state lawmakers approved a $37.8 billion budget, the only legislation they’re constitutionally required to pass. And this week, the House cleared many of the Senate’s top asks, including base-rallying efforts to restrict transgender health care for state prisoners that triggered a mass walkout by Democrats.

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

And by Friday evening, Burns signaled he wasn’t sold on other hardline Senate bills, including one to end DEI programs in Georgia public schools and another to restrict puberty blockers for transgender youth. So Senate leaders packed their bags and left.

“We feel like everything that we wanted to get finished today has been completed by the Senate,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, as staffers began cleaning the remnants of the end-of-session confetti tradition.

Democrats saw something else entirely: A culture war spiral that backfired on Republicans. Nor did they mind that polarizing measures they fiercely opposed were left on the cutting room floor. Some cheered as they left the Gold Dome. Others geared up for the next round.

“Too many politicians in this chamber have been distracted by cynical political games instead of pursuing real solutions to the challenges working families face,” said state Sen. Jason Esteves, a potential Democratic candidate for governor.

State Sen. David Lucas, a Macon Democrat and 50-year veteran of the Legislature, had a blunter take.

“I guess they just don’t want any more trouble.”

-Staff Writers Michelle Baruchman and Patricia Murphy contributed to this report.