Week 4 Legislative Session Recap 2026

My colleagues and I returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, February 2, 2026, for Legislative Day 10. The pace under the Gold Dome is certainly picking up as we begin zeroing in on key policy priorities. This week, the House Appropriations Committee met midweek to pass House Bill 973, the House’s version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) budget, which provides state funding through the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, 2026. The House Rules Committee then placed HB 973 onto a Rules Calendar for a full House vote on Thursday, where it passed with bipartisan support. During this busy week, we also heard from Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Nels S.D. Peterson, who delivered his annual State of the Judiciary Address before a joint session of the House and Senate.

This week, the House passed the following legislation:

• House Bill 973: Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) Budget
• Based on a revised revenue estimate of $42.3 billion, including $3.3 billion in surplus funds, for a total infusion of $4.5 billion—an 11.9 percent increase over the original FY 2026 budget.
• Includes major investments in tax relief, education, healthcare, infrastructure, higher education and public safety.
• Allocates $300 million in state-matching funds for the need-based DREAMS Scholarship program.
• Provides $11 million for HOPE scholarships, bringing total AFY 2026 HOPE funding to $907 million.
• Includes $9 million for GOSA to develop a statewide Career Navigator System.
• Provides $366 million for $2,000 pay supplements for K–12 educators and school staff, and $17.2 million through DECAL for early learning educators.
• Funds the QBE midterm adjustment with $43.9 million and supports school safety and mental health initiatives.
• Allocates $850 million to fully fund the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) program for the 2026 tax year.
• Includes $50 million for the State Housing Trust Fund to address homelessness.
• Supports economic development with $10.9 million for the Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative.
• Provides $92.9 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections, including technology and security upgrades, inmate healthcare services and facility improvements.
• Directs $220 million to design and construct a new 480-bed private prison facility.
• Establishes the Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration Compensation Trust Fund with $4.8 million.
• Invests $1.7 billion in I-75 express lane expansion, $250 million for road resurfacing and $85 million for rural bridge rehabilitation.
• Strengthens healthcare access with funding for graduate medical education, rural clinics, spinal injury services and residency training equipment.
• Invests $20.7 million in a forensic restoration facility in Augusta and $27 million to begin construction of a new Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta.
• Fully funds the DFCS deficit with $82.7 million and restores foster care support contracts.
• Includes $1 million for veteran mental health and traumatic brain injury treatment and $17.5 million for emergency preparedness and NextGen 911 improvements.

• House Bill 659: Optometry Workforce Expansion
• Expands loan repayment and financial assistance programs to include optometrists.
• Addresses shortages in rural vision and eye care services.
• Complemented by $29.8 million in AFY 2026 funding for a College of Optometry at Georgia Southern University.

• House Bill 350: Safe Place for Newborns Act Update
• Allows eligible facilities to install newborn safety devices for anonymous infant surrender.
• Applies to fire stations, medical facilities, police stations and ambulance services.
• Requires 24/7 EMS staffing and visibility to on-site personnel.
• Protects mothers from prosecution when surrendering newborns under 30 days old.
• Funded through donations and grassroots support rather than state funds.

• House Bill 946: Feral Hog Control
• Allows trapping and killing of feral hogs on private property without a license.
• Permits the use of drones to locate feral hogs.
• Aims to reduce approximately $150 million in annual agricultural losses.
• Supported by the Department of Natural Resources.

• House Bill 985: Veterans Burial Eligibility Expansion
• Extends burial eligibility to members of the Hmong Laotian Special Guerrilla Unit who served between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975.
• Builds upon House Bill 53 from the 2025 session.
• Updates the definition of “full term of service” to align with federal standards.

• House Bill 557: Increases the number of superior court judges in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit from five to six.

• House Bill 629: Codifies the use of bleeding control kits in K–12 schools through the Georgia Trauma Commission program.

• House Bill 945: Updates banking and financial laws. HB 945 Allows temporary transaction holds to prevent financial exploitation of elderly or disabled adults and establishes trusted contact protocols and virtual currency kiosk disclosure requirements.

• House Bill 960: Increases the number of superior court judges in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit from 11 to 12.

• House Bill 980: Creates the Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission.

• House Bill 999: Clarifies court-connected alternative dispute resolution costs and confirms the effective date for nonpartisan magistrate elections.

The following legislation was introduced and is pending consideration:

• House Bill 1193 – Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026
• Provides QBE funding for literacy coaches in all K–3 public schools.
• Supports professional development aligned with the science of reading.
• Ensures access to high-quality instructional materials.
• Establishes the Georgia Literacy Task Force.

• House Resolution 251 – Nonpartisan Election of Probate Judges
• Proposes a constitutional amendment to end partisan elections for probate judges.
• Builds on House Bill 426from the 2025 session, which addressed magistrate judges.
  

The days and weeks ahead will only get busier as we continue working on key policies and priorities for our state. If you are ever at the Capitol, please contact my office to schedule a meeting. As always, I encourage you to stay engaged and continue voicing any concerns you may have about our community and our state. You may contact me by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or by phone at (404) 656-0213. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative for the 2025–2026 legislative term.