Less than a week after the close of the 2026 session of the Georgia General Assembly, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones looks back on this year’s legislative priorities receiving final passage before the April 2 Sine Die adjournment. These include tax relief and reform, and additional support for the state’s foster children and families.
“I am proud of the work done during this session to deliver on common sense issues that will positively impact Georgians today, tomorrow and for generations to come,” said Jones. “We delivered on our promise to cap property taxes, reduce the income tax for the fourth year in a row, protect students’ first amendment rights and pass a conservative, fiscally sound budget. The 2027 fiscal year budget includes critical investments in education by fully funding a literacy coach for every school, support for Georgia’s retired state employees, appropriations for 900 NOW/COMP waivers, and additional support for Georgia’s veterans. I look forward to Governor Brian Kemp signing these priorities and budget into law.”
Under successful legislative priorities, Jones points to the “Georgia Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2026” which cuts both Georgia’s personal and business income tax rates to 4.99% for 2026 and creates a path for both rates to reach 3.99% in the coming years.
Jones also lists three bills that passed that will expand current pilot programs screening foster youth for autism spectrum disorder, ensure school districts are in compliance with enrollment requirements for easier transfers for foster children, and create the Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia’s Foster Care System.
Other successful priorities included:
● Property Tax Reform: Under the legislation, the most your assessed value can increase in a given year is 3% or the rate of inflation even if the market value of your home grows more quickly. The bill also eliminates the ability of school boards, counties, and cities to opt-out of those caps, completing the work led by Lt. Governor Burt Jones and the Georgia Senate beginning in 2023 to ensure that homeowners had more predictability and transparency into their property taxes.
● “True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act”: This legislation is the first of its kind to be passed and ensures that students’ First Amendment rights to organize, gather, and speak are protected, regardless of their religious, political, or social viewpoints or those of school administrators.
FY2027 Budget Highlights
Among the highlights for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, Jones includes funding a literacy coach in every school for K-3 with an appropriation of $70 million and funding for 900 additional New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP) slots for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Other highlights in the budget included:
● An additional 2.92 percent increase for the Employees’ Retirement System to trigger regular and annual cost of living adjustments with a contribution of $100M.
● Furthering the Lt. Governor’s commitment to the safety of Jewish community centers and schools, the budget includes a $5M appropriation for non-profit security grant programs.
● Fully funding $16.1M to create parity between in-home and in-office reimbursement rates for autism services.
● Furthering the Lt. Governor’s commitment to veterans, appropriated $2.5M to eliminate veterans’ homelessness.
● An appropriation of $2.5M to the BOOST program, which provides after school care for children across the state.
