The Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which has to be approved before lawmakers can adjourn the session, is making its way through the General Assembly – but not without changes and much debate. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $37 billion budget Thursday, sending it to the full Senate for a vote.
The Senate version adds $141 million to fund private school vouchers, which was in Gov. Brian Kemp’s original budget proposal. The House version cut the program to $40 million.
“This will allow 21,000 students and their families to have options to pick other schools when the school they’re attending falls in the bottom quartile of schools in the state,” said Appropriations Chairman Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia.
The Senate committee also cut funds for several construction projects – including $7 million for infrastructure improvements associated with the Super Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2028 and college basketball’s Final Four in 2031. According to Tillery, the Senate wants to pay cash for a series of building projects rather than borrow the money.
Other action in the General Assembly:
The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee passed SB 21, sponsored by Tillery. The bill seeks to remove sovereign immunity from local governments, opening them to liability, should they adopt policies conflicting with the state prohibition on immigration sanctuary policies. This waiver would apply to governments, officials, and employees violating the prohibition. The bill is now eligible to be heard by the bull House.
Rep. Brad Thomas, R-Holly Springs, presented a committee substitute for HB 171 to The Senate Judiciary Committee which prohibits the distribution of computer-generated obscene material depicting a child, provides a standard for obscenity, a penalty, and probation. It amends the state statute for procedures for sentencing and imposition of punishment, provides for sentencing of defendants who utilize artificial intelligence in the commission of certain crimes, and provides notices for enhanced sentencing and enhanced sentencing.
This version adds a provision related to chatbots and sexually explicit material that they produce. The bill also prohibits defrauding senior citizens and stalking. The bill passed as amended and moved to the Senate Rules Committee.
The House Health Committee passed SB 39 by Tillery which seeks to prohibit the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) from covering gender-affirming care. The committee removed the first section of the bill which included statements of General Assembly findings related to the measure. The committee chair cast the tie-breaking vote.
