Week 12 Legislative Session Recap 2026

The House reconvened at the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, for the final week of the legislative session. We met on Tuesday and Thursday to complete our work, with committees also wrapping up remaining legislation. Late nights on the House floor marked the final push to debate and pass key measures before Sine Die. Most notably, we approved House Bill 974, the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027) budget, and sent numerous bills and resolutions to Governor Brian Kemp for consideration.

During the final week, the General Assembly fulfilled its constitutional duty by passing the FY 2027 budget, set at $38.5 billion. The budget prioritizes education, including $14.9 billion for Quality Basic Education and major investments in early literacy, pre-K expansion and student mental health. It also supports foster care services, expands resources for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and increases Medicaid provider reimbursements. Additional funding strengthens healthcare workforce development, maternal health programs and retiree cost-of-living adjustments, while also supporting local infrastructure projects. Overall, the budget reflects a balanced approach to education, healthcare and economic stability.

We passed the following legislation during week twelve:

• House Bill 974 – Establishes the $38.5 billion FY 2027 state budget, with major investments in K-12 education, early literacy initiatives, healthcare access, foster care services and cost-of-living adjustments for retirees.
• House Bill 1193 – The Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, creating a statewide framework for K–3 reading success, including literacy coaches, teacher training and expanded accountability measures.
• Senate Bill 369 – Updates policies for nontraditional and charter schools by strengthening accountability, expanding virtual learning access and improving transparency.
• Senate Bill 589 – Expands access to Georgia’s voluntary pre-K program and requires certain student ID cards to include 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline information.
• Senate Bill 150 – Extends the retired teacher reemployment program through 2030 to help fill high-need teaching positions.
• Senate Bill 556 – Establishes the DREAMS Scholarship program, expands financial aid eligibility, enhances campus safety measures and increases college savings limits.
• House Bill 463 – Provides broad tax relief by gradually reducing the state income tax rate and increasing deductions, exemptions and retiree income exclusions.
• House Bill 1344 – The Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act, strengthening consumer protections, increasing penalties for violations and improving claims transparency.
• Senate Bill 33 – Creates a local option sales tax to offset homestead property taxes, providing relief to homeowners while maintaining local funding.
• Senate Bill 402 & House Bill 943 – Establish a pilot program to provide autism screenings and enhanced services for children in Georgia’s foster care system.
• House Bill 256 – Expands the Foster Parents Bill of Rights to include all foster placements, adding protections, legal rights and participation standards.
• House Bill 1283 – The Family Justice Center Act, authorizing multiagency centers to provide coordinated services for victims of violence and abuse.
• Senate Bill 406 – The Georgia Property Owners’ Bill of Rights Act, increasing oversight and transparency for homeowners’ associations and strengthening homeowner protections.
• Senate Bill 587 – Enhances tools for locating guardians in abuse cases and creates a statewide, publicly searchable animal cruelty database.
• House Bill 1187 – “Trey’s Law,” prohibiting nondisclosure agreements from silencing victims of childhood sexual abuse while preserving privacy protections.
• House Bill 651 – Revises regulations for school zone speed cameras, increasing transparency, limiting use and strengthening enforcement standards.
• House Bill 1161 – Improves roadway safety laws, including requirements for yielding to emergency vehicles and stricter penalties for fleeing law enforcement.
• House Bill 1138 – The Increasing Access to Contraceptives Act, allowing pharmacists to provide certain birth control options and expanding access statewide.
• House Bill 350 – Authorizes the use of newborn safety devices (“baby boxes”) to allow safe surrender of infants in crisis situations.
• House Bill 1118 – Provides eligible state employees with 120 hours of paid maternal leave following childbirth.
• House Bill 1284 – Allows terminally ill high school students to receive their diplomas in a timely and compassionate manner.
• House Bill 1230 – Prohibits unauthorized drone activity over correctional facilities to improve safety and prevent contraband smuggling.
• House Bill 334 – The Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act, requiring annual review of Medicaid coverage for treatments and incorporating patient input.
• House Bill 1112 – Implements rounding of cash transactions to the nearest five cents while maintaining exact pricing for electronic payments.
• House Resolution 713 – Encourages awareness of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline among healthcare providers and patients.
• House Resolution 1007 – Recognizes the role of arts-based programs in improving mental health and supporting recovery.
• House Resolution 1445 – Commends efforts to preserve and restore the Georgia State Capitol and its historic structure.

Now that the 2026 legislative session has concluded, the governor has 40 days to sign or veto legislation. Any bill not signed or vetoed within that timeframe will automatically become law.

I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns about legislation passed this session. You can also follow interim study committee work through the House website. Always feel free to contact me at my Capitol office by email at dale.washburn@house.ga.gov or by phone at 404-656-0152. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative for District 144.