[February 09, 2026] | We are in the fourth week of our legislative session. WOW! The building has been packed with constituents and displays of Georgia products and businesses. A highlight for me was getting to take a turn at a Lockheed Martin F-25 simulator--- amazing technology built right here in Georgia. I didn't land it well on the aircraft carrier... photos are on my Facebook page. So nice to have folks from all my counties in the building at one time or another during the week with lots of important discussions about our communities.
There were lots of budget meetings early in the week until Thursday. The budget is divided up into a number of different subcommittees who look at each part very specifically. Then they vote their budget area out to the big committee, then to Rules, and then to the House floor. I know it sounds complex, but there is lot of input and eyes on this.
I'm going to hit a few high points in the house version of the Amended 2026 Budget. What I mean by that is the Governor gave us his version, we did our version, and then the Senate will do their version. We'll have a conference committee that will work out the differences and will vote on it later this session to finish it.
The House's version of the Amended Budget HB 973 provides $82.7 million to fully fund the deficit within the Department of Human Services' (DHS) Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), prioritizing reunification services, assessments, and specialized services for high-acuity youth. Last year, we heard testimony from DHS where we learned of this deficit within DFCS, including cuts to important contracts that support vital DFCS services. HB 973 would respond directly to these concerns, fully funding the DFCS deficit to ensure continued support for foster care and reunification services across the state. Moreover, the House appropriates $1.6 million to DHS to restore four foster care support contracts that were previously cut to reduce their deficit.
In HB 973, the House includes dollars to enhance our state's transportation infrastructure. This includes $1.7 billion to start the funding of the much-needed Interstate 75 express lanes in Clayton and Henry counties. Our amended budget also directs $250 million for road resurfacing needs to the counties. The House's version of the AFY 2026 Budget also provides $85 million for the rehabilitation and replacement of rural bridges across the state.
For K-12 educators and staff, HB 973 would allocate $366 million in pay supplements of $2,000 for teachers, administrative staff, custodians, nutrition workers, school nurses and bus drivers, along with $17.2 million through the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) to provide a $2,000 pay supplement to all early learning teachers and assistant teachers. The amended budget further bolsters our higher education system by directing $11 million to fund Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) scholarships at public institutions, bringing the total AFY 2026 appropriation for HOPE scholarships to $907 million.
If you want a complete summary of all the spending in a $43 billion budget, please email or call me and we'll send it to you. My email is rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov. My Capitol office number is 404-656-7153. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Representative.