Light Bulb and Fluorescent Rules in 2026: What Georgia Homes and Businesses Need to Know

Across the U.S., including Georgia, most everyday screw-in bulbs have had to reach at least 45 lumens per watt since 2022. That rule ended sales of standard incandescent and halogen household bulbs. A stricter Department of Energy (DOE) standard of more than 120 lumens per watt for the most common bulbs is set to apply to bulbs made from July 25, 2028. In September 2026, though, a Senate committee advanced a bill that would repeal both rules. Georgia has no state ban on fluorescent lamps, but ten other states have passed laws phasing out most fluorescent sales.

The federal 45 lumens-per-watt rule

In 2022, DOE set a minimum efficacy of 45 lumens per watt for general service lamps, the ordinary bulbs that go in lamps, ceiling fixtures and recessed cans. The standard took effect on July 25, 2022, and DOE phased in enforcement through 2023. In practice, only LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs) can meet it, and today nearly all of these bulbs sold are LED.

Some things to know:

• It limits what can be sold, not what you can use. Incandescent bulbs already in your home or warehouse can stay put until they burn out.
• Specialty bulbs are exempt. DOE gives oven and other appliance bulbs and bug lights as examples.
• Linear fluorescent tubes are a separate category. The 4-foot T8s in offices and shops have their own federal standards and are not banned at the federal level.

The 2028 standard: final, scheduled and now under fire

DOE announced a stricter rule in April 2024, and it appeared in the Federal Register on April 19, 2024. For the most common bulbs, it raises the minimum from 45 to more than 120 lumens per watt, starting July 25, 2028. It applies to newly made or imported bulbs, not to bulbs already on shelves. CFLs generally can’t reach that level, so the rule effectively ends them. Good LEDs already meet it.

Here is where things stand as of October 2026:

• DOE has not withdrawn or delayed the rule. We found no Federal Register notice doing so. Federal law’s “anti-backsliding” provision also keeps DOE from weakening a standard on its own.
• Congress could repeal it. The Liberating Incandescent Technology (LIT) Act, S.1568, was introduced in May 2025. It would void the 45 lm/W rules and the 2028 rule, and it would strike federal minimums for linear fluorescent and reflector lamps. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted it out on September 30, 2026. DOE endorsed the bill. Industry groups NEMA and the American Lighting Association opposed it. The House version, H.R. 3341, had not moved as of early October 2026.
• Passage is uncertain. Industry press expects the bill would need 60 Senate votes, or a ride on a larger spending bill.

Our advice: plan as if 2028 will happen. Buying quality LEDs now keeps you compliant either way.

State fluorescent phase-outs

Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, and several states now ban the sale of new ones, most often in two steps. The dates below come from state statutes and agency guidance where we could find them, and from industry summaries otherwise.

These laws cover the sale of new lamps. Lamps already installed can generally stay in service. Most of the laws exempt specialty lamps, such as germicidal, medical and image-projection lamps. Some other states, including Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, have narrower rules aimed at certain fluorescent types, or bills still pending. Published summaries disagree on their details, so check with the state before relying on them.

Where Georgia stands

As of October 2026, Georgia does not appear on any state fluorescent-ban list we reviewed, and we found no Georgia law limiting fluorescent sales. Georgia homes and businesses can still legally buy fluorescent tubes. The federal 45 lm/W rule applies here just as it does everywhere else.

Two practical points still matter in Georgia:

• Supply is shrinking. California, Illinois and other large markets have closed to new fluorescent sales, so expect fewer fluorescent choices over time and tubes that are harder to find.
• Disposal rules apply to businesses. Georgia EPD requires businesses to manage used fluorescent, CFL, metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamps as universal waste or hazardous waste. That means sealed, labeled containers and recycling within one year. Households are exempt, though EPD encourages recycling.

Practical upgrade advice

For homes

• Replace remaining CFLs and halogens with LEDs as they fail. Shop by lumens, not watts.
• Use bulbs labeled dimmable on dimmer circuits, and check the dimmer’s LED compatibility list.
• For warm living spaces, a common guideline is 2700K to 3000K. See our lighting terms glossary if Kelvin and CRI are new to you.

For businesses with fluorescent fixtures

• Type A LED tubes (plug-and-play) run on the existing ballast. They’re quick to install, but you keep the ballast and its eventual failure.
• Type B LED tubes (ballast bypass) wire straight to line voltage. Have a qualified electrician do the rewiring and label the fixture.
• Type C LED tubes use a separate remote driver, and many of them support dimming.
• Retrofit kits or new LED troffers replace the guts or the whole fixture. They’re often the cleanest long-term fix for old, yellowed fixtures.

Utility Company Rebate Programs for existing buildings often cover LED tubes, troffer retrofit kits and new fixtures. Products typically must be on the DesignLights Consortium list and meet hour and wattage-reduction minimums. Our LED conversion selection is a good starting point. An energy audit will show which areas pay back first.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still buy incandescent bulbs in Georgia?

Not standard household ones. Bulbs below 45 lumens per watt can’t legally be sold anywhere in the U.S. Exempt specialty bulbs, such as appliance bulbs and bug lights, are still available.

Is it illegal to keep using fluorescent tubes in Georgia?

No. Georgia has no fluorescent ban, and state bans elsewhere restrict sales, not use. Businesses do need to recycle used lamps under Georgia EPD universal waste rules.

Will the 2028 bulb standard actually take effect?

It is final and scheduled for July 25, 2028. The LIT Act would repeal it if Congress passes it and the President signs it. As of October 2026, it had cleared a Senate committee but had not had a floor vote.

Should I replace fluorescent tubes or whole fixtures?

Tubes alone are fine if the fixtures are in good shape. If lenses are yellowed, ballasts are failing or you want controls, retrofit kits or new LED fixtures usually make more sense.

Planning a fluorescent-to-LED changeover for your Alpharetta or North Fulton business? LED There Be Light can help you choose rebate-eligible products for Utility Company Rebate Programs and help with the paperwork. Start on our Energy Rebates page.

Sources

• ASAP: General Service Lamps (45 lm/W effective July 25, 2022; 2028 compliance date)
• U.S. DOE: DOE Finalizes Efficiency Standards for Lightbulbs (April 12, 2024)
• Federal Register: Energy Conservation Standards for General Service Lamps (April 19, 2024)
• U.S. DOE: Debunking Myths About Phasing Out the Incandescent Lightbulb
• National Law Review: 2028 Date to Unplug Sale of Most CFLs
• U.S. Senate Energy Committee: LIT Act introduced (May 2025)
• Inside Lighting: Incandescent Comeback Clears Hurdle, Draws Pushback (October 2026)
• Electrical Contractor: 10 States Outlaw Fluorescent Lamp Sales
• TÜV Rheinland: California AB 2208 Fluorescent Phase-Out
• Vermont Legislature: Act 120 Summary
• Center for Energy and Environment: Minnesota Fluorescent Ban
• Illinois General Assembly: Public Act 103-0799
• Washington Department of Ecology: Fluorescent Lamp Sales Ban (2029)
• Georgia EPD: Managing Used Mercury-Containing Lamps