The Georgia General Assembly reconvened at the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, for the 12th and final week of the 2026 legislative session. We convened in the House Chamber on both Tuesday and Thursday to finish our final legislative session. Notably, we gave final passage to House Bill 974, the state’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027) budget, and by week’s end, the House sent a number of additional bills and resolutions to Governor Brian Kemp’s desk for his signature or veto, and I will discuss several measures that received final passage during our final week under the Gold Dome.
The General Assembly fulfilled its sole constitutional obligation of the session with the adoption of the conference committee report on HB 974, the FY 2027 budget. The FY 2027 budget is set by a revenue estimate of $38.5 billion, an increase of $738 million or 1.95 percent over the FY 2026 budget. Reflected in the budget, the Georgia General Assembly prioritizes early childhood literacy efforts, supports children in the state’s foster care system, expands services to Georgians with intellectual or developmental disabilities, bolsters funding to the state’s health insurance plan and improves the state’s ability to provide regular cost-of-living adjustments to retired state employees.
Another notable action taken this week was the final passage of House Bill 1193, the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, a landmark measure aimed at promoting and advancing comprehensive early literacy and reading education aligned with the science of reading throughout the state. The Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 has now been sent to the governor’s desk for consideration and, if signed in to law, would build a comprehensive statewide framework to ensure all Georgia students develop strong reading skills from the earliest grades.
The House also gave final passage to several additional measures aimed at strengthening Georgia’s education system and supporting students, families, and educators across the state.
Senate Bill 556 also received final passage and would make several significant updates to Georgia’s higher education, student aid, and campus safety policies. The bill would establish the Dedicating Resources to Educationally Advance More Students (DREAMS) Scholarship, a need-based financial aid program for eligible students attending postsecondary institutions in Georgia. Overall, SB 556 aims to expand access to higher education, enhance student safety, and strengthen Georgia’s long-term workforce and financial planning systems.
A major priority of the Georgia House this year was addressing insurance affordability by passing House Bill 1344. Drafted based on the findings and recommendations of the House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Insurance Rates, HB 1344 would establish the Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act to strengthen consumer protections, enhance transparency, and accountability in insurance practices and help stabilize costs for policyholders.
My colleagues and I took an important step during the final week of session to better serve children in Georgia’s foster care system with the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 402. SB 402 mirrors House Bill 943, which also received final passage and would establish similar measures to improve support services and outcomes for children in foster care across the state. The program would be rolled out in phases, beginning in select regions and expanding statewide, with a focus on children who may be at higher risk or who are already receiving behavioral health treatment. By prioritizing early identification and support, both SB 402 and HB 943 aim to improve outcomes for children in foster care and ensure that they receive the specialized care and resources they need to thrive.
We also gave final passage to House Bill 1283, the Family Justice Center Act. The measure would authorize the creation of Family Justice Centers—multiagency facilities that provide coordinated services to victims of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, and related crimes. These centers could be established by a county or municipal government, a district attorney’s office or a designated nonprofit, with governance structures based on whether they would be operated by a government entity or a nonprofit corporation. Importantly, the bill would allow participating law enforcement officers to respond to emergency calls anywhere within a center’s service area during emergency circumstances, regardless of jurisdiction. HB 1283 would significantly reduce the burden on victims and ultimately provide a more coordinated, efficient and victim-centered path to support and justice.
Senate Bill 406, or the Georgia Property Owners’ Bill of Rights Act, also received final passage this week to improve transparency and accountability for homeowner associations. SB 406 would guarantee homeowners the right to inspect association records and accounting records, require notice before attorney’s fees are collected and clarify covenant voting rules. Overall, the bill would improve oversight, preserve the role of homeowners’ associations and provide Georgians with greater protections and clearer recourse when disputes arise—ensuring that homeownership remains accessible to everyone.
Senate Bill 587 would help reunite vulnerable individuals with their trusted caregivers in a timely manner. Furthermore, the legislation would create a publicly searchable animal cruelty database to assist animal shelters, protection agencies and other organizations in screening prospective owners and preventing animals from being placed in unsafe environments. SB 587 would ensure that we are taking proactive steps to protect animals from potential harm, while also helping to protect vulnerable Georgians from child and elder abuse.
Recognizing the critical need to protect survivors of childhood sexual abuse, the General Assembly gave final passage to House Bill 1187, also known as Trey’s Law, to prohibit the enforcement of any nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) or confidentiality agreements that seek to silence victims of childhood sexual abuse.
On Sine Die, several other notable pieces of legislation also received final passage, including House Bill 334, also known as the Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act. This bill would require the Department of Community Health (DCH) to conduct an annual review of medications, treatments and services for sickle cell disease that are eligible for Medicaid coverage. The bill would also ensure that public input, particularly from those with lived experience, would be solicited and considered during each review.
As a part of a long-standing priority of the House, we adopted a resolution aimed at improving mental health across our state. House Resolution 713 encourages healthcare providers to help raise awareness of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a nationwide resource that connects individuals to mental health and suicide prevention support.
Now that the 2026 legislative session has come to an end, Gov. Kemp will have 40 days to sign or veto legislation that received final passage by the House and Senate this year. Some measures will become state law upon his signature, though some may include a later effective date as specified in the legislation. Any legislation not signed or vetoed within 40 days of Sine Die will automatically become state law.
