On Monday, February 23, 2026, my House colleagues and I returned to the State Capitol for the seventh week of the legislative session. We began with our first committee workday, spending long hours reviewing and advancing legislation for placement on a Rules Calendar and consideration by the full House. These meetings are essential to thoroughly vetting bills before they reach the floor. By week’s end, we reached Legislative Day 25, almost to Crossover Day, the deadline for legislation to pass its chamber of origin before adjournment Sine Die on April 2.
The most significant action this week was final passage the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) budget. Based on a revised revenue estimate of $43.6 billion, the budget includes $4.5 billion in unrestricted surplus funds and $145 million in lottery surplus funds—totaling $5.9 billion, a 15.6 percent increase over the original FY 2026 budget. The AFY 2026 budget prioritizes taxpayer relief, prison system improvements, expanded mental health services and transportation investments.
Notable legislation from week seven includes:
- House Bill 973 (AFY 2026 Budget)
- Provides $850 million for the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program.
- Invests over $400 million to construct a new state mental health hospital and $409 million for a new 300-bed facility at Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta.
- Allocates $20.7 million for a 40-bed forensic restoration facility at East Central Regional Hospital in Augusta and $150 million to expand jail-based restoration services at the Cobb County Jail.
- Directs more than $2 billion toward statewide transportation initiatives, including $250 million for local roads, $11 million for airports and $8.4 million for shortline rail upgrades.
- Provides $600+ million for a one-time $2,000 salary supplement for state employees and educators.
- Restores $325 million to the Georgia Student Finance Commission for the DREAMS scholarship program, including $25 million for next year’s awards and use of $145 million in lottery reserves toward a $300 million endowment.
- Allocates $29.8 million to establish a College of Optometry at Georgia Southern University.
- Includes $81 million for DFCS to address deficits and restore foster care contracts.
- Provides $45 million for the State Housing Trust Fund, $5 million for homeless veterans and $100 million to strengthen the Employees’ Retirement System.
- Invests $15.75 million in the BOOST 2.0 after-school program
- The budget was transmitted to the governor’s desk following adoption of the conference report.
- House Bill 1193 (Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026)
- Funds school-based literacy coaches in all K–3 public schools and regional literacy coaches in Georgia’s 16 RESAs.
- Provides science-of-reading professional development at no cost to K–3 teachers and coaches.
- Requires full-day kindergarten and attendance in kindergarten before first grade.
- Strengthens intervention, promotion and parent notification policies for K–1 students not meeting reading benchmarks; at-risk students would receive targeted support and not advance without proficiency.
- Establishes a Georgia Literacy Task Force and Director of Literacy to oversee instructional materials and screeners.
- Requires unified district literacy plans and science-of-reading-aligned materials.
- House Bill 1030 (Math Matters Act)
- Automatically places qualifying seventh graders on an advanced math pathway beginning in 2027–2028, with parent opt-out provisions.
- Requires at least 60 minutes of daily core math instruction for grades four and five.
- Updates teacher certification standards to emphasize content knowledge and evidence-based strategies across all strands of mathematical proficiency.
- House Bill 1009
- Extends Georgia’s K–8 cell phone ban to grades 9–12 by July 1, 2027.
- Prohibits access to personal electronic devices during the school day, with exceptions for IEPs, 504 Plans and medical needs.
- Requires updated policies, secure storage and clear enforcement standards.
- House Bill 1023
- Requires weapon detection systems at main entrances of public school buildings by July 1, 2027, with grant funding permitted.
- House Bill 1123
- Requires schools offering after-care programs and pre-K to extend after-school access to pre-K students, with a one-year waiver option.
- House Bill 634
- Updates the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act to align funding with active IEPs.
- Modernizes payment procedures and enhances transparency through annual reporting.
- House Bill 310 (Student Teacher Promotion Act)
- Creates grants to support student teachers during required training.
- House Bill 385
- Allows certain students pursuing graduate or professional degrees to fully use HOPE eligibility.
- House Bill 372
- Extends the sunset for retired educators returning to work through June 30, 2030, with literacy endorsement requirements.
- House Bill 971
- Expands access to college and career academies for home study and private school students when space is available.
- House Bill 689
- Establishes a state homelessness prevention program under the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Commission to fund rental assistance, eviction diversion, mediation and related services.
- House Bill 1344 (Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act)
- Increases fines within Georgia’s insurance code and strengthens enforcement authority.
- Establishes a felony offense for profiting from steering accident victims to generate claims (up to 10 years imprisonment and $200,000 fine).
- Enhances uninsured motorist enforcement and penalties.
- Requires clear timelines for catastrophic property claims processing and allows deadline extensions after declared disasters.
- Creates the Georgia Storm Damage Mitigation Program to help homeowners strengthen properties.
- Formalizes excluded driver reporting and penalties.
Additional legislation passed during week six includes:
- House Bill 320: Prohibits disposal of solar panels in landfills; requires delivery to recycling facilities (civil penalties up to $20 per offense).
- House Bill 519: Creates a state tax credit of up to $500 per eligible employee tied to the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit.
- House Bill 792: Raises the magistrate court claims limit from $15,000 to $25,000.
- House Bill 1001: Reduces the state income tax rate from 5.19 percent to 4.99 percent effective January 1, 2026.
- House Bill 1024: Increases bankruptcy homestead exemptions to $50,000 (individual) and $100,000 (married couple), with inflation adjustments.
- House Bill 1070: Increases Class III railroad tax credit limits and extends the sunset and transferability through January 1, 2032.
- House Bill 1075: Establishes enhanced sentencing (up to 10 years) for individuals convicted of pimping with prior trafficking convictions.
- House Bill 1085: Expands tax credit eligibility to forestry manufacturing in less developed counties and allows transfer of credits earned 2026–2031.
- House Bill 1097: Authorizes DBHDD and state agencies to request national background checks in accordance with federal law.
- House Bill 1107 (Excellent Teacher Preparation Act): Creates a statewide accountability system for educator preparation programs with annual performance measures and reporting.
- House Bill 1131: Requires notice before warrant application hearings and mandates informing accused individuals of charges.
- House Bill 1164: Establishes a State Board of Education audit committee and expands fiscal monitoring, intervention and transparency for high-risk school systems.
- House Bill 1185: Expands jurisdiction of the Georgia State-wide Business Court for certain internal corporate claims and establishes procedures for record inspection disputes.
- House Bill 1259: Restricts virtual instruction for out-of-system students in low-performing districts and excludes those students from equalization funding calculations.
- House Bill 1262: Expands the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s authority to fine insurers for mental health parity and other violations.
- House Bill 1263: Establishes procedures and a three-year deadline for insurers seeking refunds of improperly collected fees or taxes.
- House Bill 1274: Requires annual financial and loss data reporting from auto insurers and creates a process to return excess profits to policyholders.
- House Bill 1277: Raises DOT project and property sale thresholds (with inflation adjustments), expands reporting requirements, and removes the cap on design-build contracts.
- House Bill 1278: Allows the Georgia Board of Dentistry to certify dental offices to administer conscious sedation.
- House Bill 1329: Updates controlled substances laws and permits pharmacists to distribute certain epinephrine spray devices.
- Senate Bill 59: Raises the timber producer tax credit cap to $250 million and ensures full credits for previously prorated applicants.
On Monday, March 2, we will begin the eighth week of session with another committee workday, leading up to Crossover Day on Friday, March 6. It will be a busy and likely late week as we work to move legislation before the deadline. As always, I welcome your questions and input on the issues before the General Assembly. 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 the continued privilege of serving as your state representative.
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