The Joint Appropriations Committee, led by House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett and Senate Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery, met this week for budget hearings with presentations from the Governor and state agency heads. Lawmakers will continue with Appropriations subcommittee budget hearings throughout the legislative session before ultimately passing both the Amended Fiscal year 26 Budget and Fiscal Year 27 Budget. Passing a balanced budget is the only constitutional requirement by the general assembly.
Highlights from Governor Kemp’s FY27 budget requests include:
- 20-basis point reduction in the state income tax to 4.99 percent
- Fourth one-time tax rebate to Georgia taxpayers
- Over $2.3 billion towards infrastructure investment, including critical freight and commuter corridors, local road maintenance and bridge repairs
- $35 million to establish a new natural gas infrastructure financing program
- Additional $58 million to fully funded HOPE Scholarship program
- One-time $325 million endowment to fund the DREAM Scholarship, the first needs-based aid program in the history of Georgia higher education
- $14 million in career navigator application to connect students and employers
On Wednesday, Gwinnett Chamber members heard from Lt. Governor Burt Jones at the Chamber’s On Topic Legislative Update Breakfast, during which Lt. Governor shared his priorities in economic development, infrastructure, and workforce.
Lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week for Legislative Days 6 through 9.
