The Georgia House of Representatives returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, Feb. 2, as the General Assembly began a busy fourth week of legislative work.
With Legislative Day 10 now behind us, we are now more than a quarter of the way through the session, and 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. In addition to the amended budget, my colleagues and I voted on several bills on the House floor, advancing these measures to our Senate counterparts. 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.
The House’s version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) budget is 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 Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026) budget.
HB 973 reflects a wide range of priorities for the state, from providing relief to taxpayers and investing in critical infrastructure to supporting education, healthcare, higher education and public safety. The House’s recommendations include appropriations to provide property tax relief for homeowners, improve Georgia’s prison system and invest in major transportation initiatives. The amended budget also reflects a strong focus on the health and well-being of Georgians, including plans to begin the design and construction of a new regional psychiatric hospital to better serve both forensic and adult mental health patients.
These represent just a few of the House’s budget recommendations, and I will highlight these and several other noteworthy investments included in the House’s version of the AFY 2026 budget below. Working with the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I was able to put $5 million in the budget for renovation of the Arts and Sciences Building at Georgia College and State University.
This week I held a press conference to reaffirm my commitment to House Bill 436. I have introduced a substitution to this legislation to place a clear question before Georgia voters. Should the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act continue? This substitute does not repeal any existing laws nor does it shut down programs. Instead, it allows Georgians the opportunity to advise the general assembly before final legislative action is taken. I am a firm believer that leaders solve problems, not create them. This is why I encourage my peers and voters to pause, listen, and reassess as this policy affects every public school district in the state.
Public school systems are currently facing significant challenges, including funding pressures that have led to teacher shortages, uncompetitive salaries, and aging facilities. When a public school district is already struggling to meet state standards, we must ask an important question: Should taxpayer dollars be redirected away from that system, or should those resources be used to strengthen and improve it? This conversation deserves thoughtful consideration, transparency, and input from the people of Georgia. Our students, educators, and communities depend on it.
Next week, the House will reconvene on Monday, February 9, 2026, to begin Legislative Day 15. Your feedback is important as this issue moves through the legislative process, and I want to ensure the voices of our district are heard before any final decisions are made. Serving House District 149 is an honor.
I encourage residents to stay engaged, review the information carefully, and be prepared to share their perspectives in the days ahead.
Floyd L. Griffin Representative House District 149