Week Seven Under the Gold Dome: Budget Finalized as Crossover Day Approaches

The Georgia House returned to the State Capitol on February 23 to begin the seventh week of the 2026 legislative session. The week opened with a committee workday devoted to reviewing and advancing legislation before it reaches the House floor. By week’s end, lawmakers completed Legislative Day 25, leaving only two legislative days before Crossover Day, the deadline for bills to pass their chamber of origin.

The most significant action of the week was final passage of House Bill 973, the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The balanced budget totals roughly $43.6 billion and includes nearly $5.9 billion in additional funding through surplus revenues and lottery reserves. Major priorities include taxpayer relief, mental health services, transportation improvements, workforce development, and public safety.

Key investments include:

• $850 million for the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program

• More than $400 million to build a new state mental health hospital

• Over $2 billion for transportation infrastructure improvements

• $600 million for one-time $2,000 salary supplements for state employees and educators

• $29.8 million to establish a College of Optometry at Georgia Southern University

Additional funding supports out-of-school care programs, local road improvements, airport and rail upgrades, foster care services, homelessness prevention, and pension stability. Following approval by both chambers, the budget was sent to the governor for consideration. Education policy also received significant attention this week. The House overwhelmingly passed House Bill 1193, the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, which funds literacy coaches in public schools serving grades K–3 and provides professional development based on the science of reading. The bill also establishes a statewide literacy task force and strengthens early-grade intervention strategies for struggling readers. Lawmakers also approved House Bill 1030, the Math Matters Act, which expands access to advanced math pathways, increases instructional time in elementary grades, and updates teacher preparation standards to improve math instruction statewide.

Additional education measures passed this week include:

• House Bill 1009 extending classroom cell phone restrictions to high schools beginning in 2027

• House Bill 1023 requiring weapon detection systems at main entrances of public schools

• House Bill 1123 expanding after-school care options for pre-K students

• House Bill 634 updating the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship program

• House Bill 971 expanding access to college and career academies

Beyond education, the House passed House Bill 689 establishing a statewide homelessness prevention program administered through the State Housing Trust Fund. The legislation focuses on eviction diversion, rental assistance, and other strategies designed to stabilize households before homelessness occurs. The week concluded with passage of House Bill 1344, the Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act. The bill strengthens enforcement of insurance laws, increases penalties for fraud, improves claims processing after disasters, and establishes a grant program to help homeowners strengthen properties against storm damage. The House will return to the Capitol on March 2 for the eighth week of the session, culminating with Crossover Day on March 6, when lawmakers will work late into the evening to advance priority legislation before the deadline.