The House returned to the Gold Dome on March 9. The General Assembly has now reached Day 31, leaving only nine days left this session. Last week, the House began reviewing Senate bills and focused heavily on passing the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
FY 2027 Budget
My colleagues and I reached an important milestone this week with the bipartisan passage of the FY 2027 state budget. Passing a balanced budget is the General Assembly’s single constitutional responsibility. HB 974 sets state spending beginning July 1, 2026.
The FY 2027 budget is based on a revenue estimate of $38.5 billion. This plan focuses heavily on education, healthcare, transportation, public safety, and economic growth.
Education and Early Learning –
Education remains the largest portion of state spending. The budget places strong emphasis on early literacy and workforce preparation. Key education funding includes:
- $14.9 billion to fully fund Georgia’s Quality Basic Education program
- Over $60 million for a statewide K-3 literacy initiative
- $31.2 million for elementary literacy coaches in local schools
- $2.7 million for vision and hearing screening equipment for PK-3 students
- $41.1 million to increase school transportation funding based on updated bus and mileage data
- $2.6 million for school social worker grants in underserved districts
- $1.3 million for additional student mental health support grants
Higher Education and Workforce Development –
The FY 2027 budget also strengthens our higher education system and healthcare workforce. Key appropriations include:
- $4.8 million to expand Georgia Research Alliance partnerships
- $15.7 million for specialty research lab equipment and infrastructure
- $9.5 million to launch the University of Georgia School of Medicine
Healthcare and Medicaid –
Improving access to care in all parts of the state remains a priority. Healthcare funding includes:
- $45.3 million to increase Medicaid provider reimbursement rates
- $11.8 million for dental services
- $3.9 million for psychiatric residential treatment
- $7.9 million to support autism care reimbursement parity
- $6.69 million for senior services such as home-delivered meals and caregiver support
- $27 million to address rising foster care service costs
- $18.2 million to expand graduate medical education programs
- $1 million for treatment of traumatic brain injuries and mental health conditions for veterans
Rural Health and Public Health Programs –
The House budget recognizes the importance of healthcare access in rural Georgia. Funding includes:
- $3 million for rural hospital stabilization grants
- $3 million for rural emergency preparedness grants
- $2 million to evaluate rural hospital financial stability
- $6.9 million to expand maternal home visiting services to additional counties
Public Safety and Corrections –
The budget also strengthens Georgia’s public safety systems. Key allocations include:
- $101 million increase for the Department of Corrections
- $34.9 million to hire additional correctional officers
- $20.7 million to support victim service providers such as domestic violence shelters and child advocacy centers
- $12.7 million to create pay parity for assistant district attorneys and public defenders
- $3.1 million to increase salaries for district attorneys and public defenders
Transportation and Infrastructure –
The FY 2027 budget continues support for Georgia’s transportation network. Funding includes:
- $112.8 million for capital construction transportation projects
- $33.5 million for routine road maintenance
- $13.6 million for Local Maintenance and Improvement Grants
- $10 million in additional airport aid
Agriculture Support –
Finally, the budget includes targeted programs supporting agriculture.
- $500,000 for a feral hog management pilot program to reduce damage to farmland
- $407,500 for a feral hog eradication incentive program
Together, these priorities reflect the House’s effort to support education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic opportunity for communities across Georgia.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers Under Review
The House also turned its attention to rising prescription drug costs and the growing role of pharmacy benefit managers, commonly known as PBMs. With the adoption of House Resolution 948, the House created a study committee to closely examine how these middlemen influence drug pricing and access to medications in Georgia.
PBMs manage prescription drug benefits for insurance plans. They negotiate with drug manufacturers, set formularies, and determine which pharmacies patients can use. In theory, they help control costs. In practice, however, many patients and independent pharmacies have seen the opposite result. Since 2016, prescription drug prices have increased faster than inflation, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability within the system.
Georgia has already taken steps to address this problem. In 2019, our state passed the nation’s first law prohibiting PBMs from steering patients toward pharmacies they own or control. Unfortunately, many independent pharmacists report that steering still occurs in more subtle ways. Current reporting requirements have also revealed troubling price markups on certain medications, including treatments for cancer, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease.
These practices hit rural communities especially hard. Many counties rely on a single locally owned pharmacy to serve the entire area. That pharmacy often provides more than prescriptions. It may also offer vaccinations, health advice, and other basic care that residents cannot easily access elsewhere. When PBMs squeeze these businesses through unfair reimbursement practices or patient steering, entire communities risk losing one of their most important healthcare resources.
Study committees allow us to gather data, hear testimony, and examine solutions before the next session. While I would prefer stronger action right away, this effort is an important step. Predatory practices in the prescription drug marketplace must be addressed, and local pharmacies deserve a fair system that allows them to serve their communities.
Georgia’s Fishing Industry
The House gave final passage to SB 420, a measure supporting Georgia’s coastal fishing industry. It establishes an annual endorsement fee for reef or migratory fish on Georgia recreational fishing licenses. Coastal fishermen requested the change to improve management of both recreational and commercial offshore fishing.
Right now, Georgia largely relies on federal surveys to estimate fish populations. Those surveys measure fish stocks across the entire Atlantic coast and often fail to reflect conditions in Georgia waters. As a result, our state lacks precise data about local fisheries.
The bill sets an annual endorsement fee of $10 for Georgia residents and $20 for non-residents who fish offshore. DNR would retain all funds generated from these fees. This revenue will allow Georgia to conduct its own surveys and gather more accurate data about fish populations in our waters. Better information helps protect the long-term health of our coastal fishing industry.
With final passage complete, the bill now goes to Governor Brian Kemp for his consideration.
Final Thoughts
As we quickly approach our final day of session on April 2, I encourage you to stay apprised of upcoming House floor sessions, committee, and subcommittee meetings on the House website: www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/house. I welcome your questions, comments, and input as session reaches its final stretch. Your feedback allows me to work toward solutions that work best for our community and state. Thank you for trusting me to serve as your state representative for the 2025–2026 term.