Georgia House Advances Amended Budget, Prioritizing Disaster Relief, Education and Public Safety

The Georgia House of Representatives returned to the State Capitol on February 3, 2025, to begin the fourth week of the 2025 legislative session.

"With Monday marking Legislative Day 10, my colleagues and I are now more than a quarter of the way through the 40-day session. Last week, our efforts were focused on fulfilling our constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget. House Bill 67, the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget, which outlines the state’s spending through the end of the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2025, passed with bipartisan support," said House Minority Leader Rep. Carolyn Hugley

The House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget is set by a revised estimate of $40.5 billion, including $2.7 billion in surplus funds for a total infusion of $4.4 billion, which is an increase of 12.2 percent over the original Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget.

The House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget emphasizes strengthening Georgia’s economy while also prioritizing early education, healthcare, higher education and public safety. One of the most critical areas addressed in the House’s version of the amended budget is the urgent need to provide relief and funding for Georgians impacted by Hurricane Helene.

"Our state’s budget remains robust, and I will highlight some of the House’s recommendations and how they may impact our state and communities," Hugley said.

• $145 million to be added to the Governor’s Emergency Fund to continue funding our state’s emergency response efforts to the storms
• Georgia Department of Transportation will be protected from the financial impact of the motor fuel tax suspension following Hurricane Helene by redirecting the lost $98 million into the Capital Construction program, and $200 million be allocated to routine maintenance for response efforts related to Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Debby and flooding that took place in November 2024
• $100 million in previously authorized funds through the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission for relief efforts, along with an additional $150 million to support disaster relief for farmers and timber producers affected by Hurricane Helene
• $50 million for the Department of Administrative Services’ property risk pool to repair state property damaged in Helene’s wake
• In support of fire and environmental safety efforts, HB 67 would also direct $15.7 million to the Georgia Forestry Commission to fund the use of firefighting helicopters and environmental cab tractors
• The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene was vast, with countless homes, businesses, and infrastructure left in ruins. Many Georgia families are still struggling to rebuild their lives and property after the storm’s destruction, making this funding essential for supporting recovery efforts and restoring state assets. Following the storms, rural Georgians are facing barriers to accessing quality healthcare and challenges in receiving timely medical care. To resolve this concern, the House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget provides $35.6 million in one-time stabilization grants to support Georgia’s rural hospitals in their recovery efforts
• $1.4 million for a $3,000 salary enhancement for federal eligibility caseworkers, recognizing their hard work and dedication to assisting natural disaster victims
• $10 million in grant funds specifically allocated for relief from Hurricane Helene, further reinforcing the state’s commitment to aiding in the recovery of those impacted by the storm
• In line with our commitment to supporting rural communities, HB 67 would allocate $28 million to rural workforce housing through grants and loans. This funding aims to boost rural workforce development by increasing housing availability in these areas
• $20 million in grants for rural site development, which would support local economic growth and help communities create development-ready sites
• $50 million for school security grants, which would provide $21,635 per school for one-time security expenses. When combined with the $109 million in base funding, school systems would receive a total of $68,759 per school in FY 2025
• $3 million is allocated to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to establish funds for a school risk assessment system
• $7.42 million in new lottery funds for the Department of Early Care and Learning to implement recommendations from the House Early Childhood Education Working Group. These recommendations include raising pay for Pre-K lead teachers and assistant teachers to align lead teacher salaries to the State Board of Education schedule and strengthening the Pre-K workforce
• $160,000 in one-time funding to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement to establish a Regional Crisis Recovery Network in partnership with the Southern Regional Education Board. This network would train counselors and deploy them to provide psychological first aid to students following traumatic events, such as natural disasters or school shootings
• One-time $25 million investment for Mercer School of Medicine, aimed at expanding learning opportunities and training physicians to practice in rural, underserved communities where healthcare needs are most critical
• $25 million investment for Morehouse School of Medicine to support faculty recruitment and retention, modernize the medical curriculum, and expand the pathway and career academy program
• $2 million be allocated to the HOPE Grant program, which would support increased usage and expanded eligibility
• $6 million for HOPE Scholarships, bringing the total appropriation to $852 million, which would benefit more than 300,000 students across the state
• $22.2 million to the Georgia Department of Human Services to address the growth in foster care and the rising costs associated with that care, and $1.7 million to fund a special victim’s unit within the department, which would be focused on rescuing foster youth from sexual exploitation.
• $1 million to the Georgia Department of Veterans Services to open a sub-acute unit for veterans with severe mental illness and brain injuries and $1.5 million to cover rising healthcare costs at veterans nursing homes
• The House is also dedicated to addressing the critical needs within Georgia’s corrections system, including correctional officers, staff and inmates, which remains a top priority this legislative session.
• $333.6 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections, including:
  • $214 million earmarked for safety, security and technology upgrades
  • $35 million allocated specifically for security technology to combat contraband
  • $50.6 million for inmate healthcare services
  • $15 million for the creation of a state-owned electronic healthcare records system
  • $10.5 million would also be allocated for new body cameras and tasers to enhance the safety of both officers and inmates
  • $7.2 million would be set aside for the Over Watch Logistics Unit to provide continuous surveillance and response coordination

HB 67 now heads to the Senate for consideration, where it will undergo a similar review process.

Once the Senate has reviewed the House’s version, they may propose changes, and if that happens, the Senate’s version of the amended budget will return to the House for further review.

If the two chambers cannot reach an agreement, a conference committee will be appointed to resolve any differences between the two versions.

Once both chambers can reach an agreement, the final version of the amended budget will be sent to the governor for signature. This same process will be followed for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget, which is what we will turn our attention to next.

On February 4, we honored firefighters from across the state during the 53rd Firefighters Recognition Day at the State Capitol.

On February 6, we celebrated Georgia National Guard Day by presenting Maj. Gen. Richard Dwayne Wilson with a resolution honoring the dedication and sacrifice of the National Guard’s members.

We also recognized the 50th anniversary of Morehouse School of Medicine, presenting President Valerie Montgomery Rice with a resolution for the school’s outstanding contributions to the community and the entire state.

The Georgia House of Representatives will continue its legislative work on Monday, February 10, as we begin our fifth week of session.

With Crossover Day quickly approaching, we’re gearing up for a busy period ahead, where bills and resolutions must pass out of their respective chambers. As always, I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns about the work being done at the Capitol.