Under the Gold Dome: Legislative Day 10 and Key Budget Priorities

The Georgia House of Representatives returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, February 2, for Legislative Day 10, marking a faster-paced phase of the 2026 legislative session. With more than a quarter of the session complete, lawmakers are advancing major budget and policy decisions. This week, the House passed House Bill 973, its version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which sets state funding priorities through June 30, 2026. The bill passed with bipartisan support and now moves to the Senate. In addition to budget work, the House advanced several policy bills and heard the annual State of the Judiciary Address from Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Nels S.D. Peterson.

The House’s amended budget is based on a revised revenue estimate of $42.3 billion and includes $3.3 billion in surplus funds, for a total investment of $4.5 billion, an 11.9 percent increase over the original FY 2026 budget. The proposal reflects broad statewide priorities, including:

• Property tax relief and housing stability

• Education and workforce development

• Transportation and infrastructure

• Healthcare, behavioral health, and public safety

Key education and workforce investments include:

• Funding for the new need-based DREAMS Scholarship and full funding for HOPE scholarships

• Development of a statewide Career Navigator System connecting students, jobseekers, and employers

• Pay supplements for K–12 educators, school staff, and early learning teachers

Property tax relief remains a major House priority, with $850 million allocated to support the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program. The budget also includes $50 million for the State Housing Trust Fund to support homelessness prevention through matching grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations.

Major transportation and infrastructure investments include:

• Funding for Interstate 75 express lane expansion

• $250 million for local road resurfacing

• $85 million for rural bridge rehabilitation and replacement

Public safety and justice investments focus on correctional facility security upgrades, inmate healthcare and substance abuse treatment, and planning for additional prison capacity. The budget also establishes funding for a wrongful conviction compensation trust fund to support Georgians who were wrongfully incarcerated.

Healthcare investments prioritize access and capacity, particularly in underserved areas, including:

• Expansion of medical training and residency programs

• Support for rural medical and dental clinics

• New investments in behavioral health facilities and child welfare services

In addition to the budget, the House passed legislation this week addressing early literacy, rural healthcare access, newborn safety options, agricultural protections, and judicial system updates. With the amended budget now under Senate review, lawmakers will continue negotiations while beginning work on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. The General Assembly will reconvene on Monday, February 9, for Legislative Day 15, as the session moves into an even busier phase.