HR29: HR29 General Assembly; appropriation of funds received from certain legal judgments or settlements; provide - CA

Right now, Georgia's Constitution lets the state receive certain federal funds automatically for the purposes the federal government specifies, without a separate vote by the General Assembly each time. This resolution proposes changing that system. Under the amendment, any money Georgia wins or receives from legal judgments after January 1, 2027, and any settlement money the state enters into after that date, would have to be appropriated (formally approved for spending) by the General Assembly rather than spent automatically. It also changes how the state handles federal funding that is later changed, increased beyond what was budgeted, or was not expected at all: amounts over $10 million would have to go through a legislative appropriation process, either through a method set by general law or held in the treasury until lawmakers pass a supplementary appropriations act. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it must be approved by Georgia voters in a statewide referendum before taking effect.

• Requires the General Assembly to appropriate (formally approve spending of) all money from legal judgments won by the state or settlements entered into by the state on or after January 1, 2027.
• Removes the current automatic appropriation of federal funds for purposes directed by the federal government, replacing it with a requirement for legislative approval when those funds exceed $10 million.
• Requires unexpected, changed, or excess federal funds over $10 million to go through a method set by general law or wait for a supplementary appropriations act.
• Sends the proposed constitutional change to Georgia voters for ratification or rejection in a statewide referendum.

This affects the Georgia General Assembly, which would gain more direct control over judgment and settlement proceeds and large unanticipated federal funds. State agencies that currently receive automatic federal funding allocations, and Georgia voters, who must approve or reject the amendment at the ballot, are also affected.

If approved by voters, state agencies could no longer spend certain large unexpected federal funds or legal settlement money without the legislature first voting to appropriate it, which would shift budgeting power toward the General Assembly and could slow how quickly such funds reach their intended uses.

• Section 1 amends Article III, Section IX, Paragraph II(b) of the Georgia Constitution to require legislative appropriation of judgment and settlement funds received on or after January 1, 2027.
• Section 1 also replaces automatic appropriation of federal funds directed by the federal government with a requirement that excess, changed, or unanticipated federal funds over $10 million be appropriated through general law or a supplementary appropriations act.
• Section 2 sets the ballot language voters will see, asking whether proceeds from judgments, settlements, and federal funding changes over $10 million should require General Assembly appropriation.
• The amendment must be submitted for statewide ratification under Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution before it can take effect.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-02-27House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-01-17House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-01-16House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-01-15House Hopper (House)

• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)Primary sponsor
• James Hatchett (R, HD-155)
• James Burchett (R, HD-176)
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)

• state budget process
• constitutional amendment
• federal funding
• legal settlements
• legislative appropriations