HB 973: Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026

Official description

Discussed in meetings (14)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. House Appropriations Committee, February 4, 2026

   From 1:37:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said HB 973 would fund a $42.3 billion amended budget, an increase of $4.5 billion over the original budget, using revenue growth and $3.3 billion in surplus funds. The presenter said the House proposal would replace the governor’s proposed income tax rebate funding with $850 million for homeowner property tax relief. Other highlighted provisions included $2,000 one-time supplements for eligible state employees and school personnel, $50 million for the Employees’ Retirement System, $1.7 billion for I-75 express lanes and $300 million for a needs-based scholarship endowment. The presenter also described funding for a private prison expansion, a new regional hospital, rural clinics, medical training, foster care services and a child welfare reporting system. Earlier, subcommittee presenters reviewed recommendations across state agencies, including adjustments for delayed hiring, school safety, rural infrastructure and domestic violence services. Each subcommittee approved its recommendations. In the full committee, one member asked whether the Department of Human Services deficit was fully funded. The presenter answered yes, citing more than $82 million. No further questions or opposition were voiced. The committee approved the bill by committee substitute on a voice vote.

2. House floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13)

   From 1:47:12 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 249

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The Appropriations chair presented the committee substitute for HB 973 as a $42.3 billion amended budget, up $4.5 billion, including $3.3 billion in surplus funds. The chair said it replaces proposed income-tax rebate funding with $850 million in homeowner property-tax relief and provides $2,000 one-time payments to full-time regular state employees and school personnel. Highlights included $1.7 billion for I-75 express lanes, $300 million for matching funds for a need-based scholarship endowment, $220 million for a private prison expansion adding 480 beds, and $27 million toward a hospital with forensic and mental health beds. The chair also described rural health, foster care, roads, education and prison improvements. One member welcomed the I-75 funding. Another asked about historically Black colleges and universities; the chair identified a research grant totaling $500,000 but could not give other specifics. Asked about school maintenance staff payments, the chair said coverage appeared broad but would verify. Another member said child care subsidies reach only 15% of eligible families. The chair said this budget adds no subsidy funding and discussion would occur for the next budget. The House adopted the substitute, passed it 167 to 5, and ordered immediate transmission to the Senate.

3. Senate floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13)

   From 2:43:44 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Read and Referred)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The clerk read a House message reporting passage of HB 973, amending state appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. The chair referred the bill to Appropriations. No Senate debate or passage vote occurred.

4. Senate Appropriations Committee, February 18, 2026

   From 0:31:57 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair presented HB 973 as an amended budget addressing immediate needs, infrastructure and tax relief. The chair highlighted $409 million for a 300-bed mental health hospital, citing sheriffs’ concerns about people awaiting competency proceedings in jails. The chair said recent federal court action allowed the state to move forward. Other highlighted allocations included $180 million for two modular prison facilities instead of the House’s $220 million approach, over $2 billion for roads, over $89 million for a Department of Human Services shortfall and $20 million for graduate medical education. The chair said the proposal supported roughly $1.13 billion in income tax rebates and $850 million in homeowner tax relief, while reducing the proposed employee supplement to $1,250. One member asked whether the human services funding was a one-time fix and noted a planned study committee. The chair acknowledged that member’s involvement without giving a detailed answer. Another member questioned reducing the proposed DREAMS financial aid allocation from the governor’s $325 million to $100 million, including removal of $25 million for immediate aid. The chair said $100 million was sufficient to seek private matching contributions. The member argued that needs-based aid remained inadequate compared with other states. The committee approved the budget unanimously.

5. Senate Rules Committee, February 19, 2026

   From 0:17:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair called up HB 973 and noted the Appropriations chair's absence, but then selected the bill for the next day's floor calendar. There was no substantive budget presentation or debate. The committee approved the five-bill calendar by voice vote, which the chair described as unanimous.

6. House floor session, February 20, 2026 (legislative day 22)

   From 2:53:44 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Disagreed Senate Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The clerk described HB 973 as amending appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. The appropriations committee chair moved to disagree with the Senate substitute and explained that the motion began the process of resolving differences over the budget. The House disagreed without objection and ordered the bill immediately returned to the Senate. Later, the House insisted on its position without objection. The chair appointed the appropriations committee chair, the speaker pro tempore and the majority leader to a conference committee to negotiate with the Senate. No spending details or final budget agreement were discussed.

7. Senate floor session, February 20, 2026 (legislative day 22)

   From 1:33:47 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The Appropriations chair presented a substitute for HB 973, describing a $42 billion revised budget, roughly $4 billion above the original. The chair highlighted about $2 billion for transportation, $1.9 billion in income and property tax relief, $409 million for a mental health hospital, and $100 million for employee retirement. The chair said the proposal reduced the governor’s proposed employee bonus from $2,000 to $1,250 and needs-based college aid from $325 million to $100 million. One senator questioned reducing homelessness funding and prioritizing veterans. The chair said the hospital would also address homelessness. Another senator urged more college aid, citing student debt. The chair defended prioritizing the hospital and questioned the value of some college costs. Several supporting senators said people needing mental health treatment were being held in jails without adequate care. The Senate adopted the substitute and passed it 49 to 1, then authorized immediate transmission. After the House rejected the changes, the Senate insisted on its position. Following a further House message, the Senate appointed three conference committee members and again authorized transmission. No negotiated agreement appears in the transcript.

8. House floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24)

   From 4:03:53 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Conference Committee Report Adopted)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The appropriations chair presented the negotiated version of HB 973, saying additional surplus and lottery reserves brought the amended fiscal 2026 budget to $43.662 billion. The chair highlighted $850 million in property-tax relief and said that, with income-tax rebates, relief would total $2 billion. Other highlighted items included $409 million for a regional mental-health hospital, correctional facilities potentially adding nearly 800 beds, a $300 million needs-based scholarship endowment and $25 million for scholarships, restored $2,000 employee and school-personnel supplements, and restoration of $22 million of Senate personnel cuts. The chair also described $100 million for the retirement system, $50 million for homelessness including $5 million for veterans, transportation and university projects, and $81 million for the out-of-home foster-care deficit. Members praised the mental-health investment and discussed reliance on jails for care. During voting, another member said the budget added no money for a children-and-parents program that served only 15% of eligible families; the chairing officer disagreed with the broader criticism of family support. The House adopted the conference report 169 to 2, then approved immediate transmission to the governor 169 to 0.

9. Senate floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24)

   From 4:51:45 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Conference Committee Report Adopted)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The Appropriations chair presented the conference report for HB 973, the amended state budget, as a compromise among House, Senate and governor priorities. The chair said it provided more than $2 billion in income and property tax relief, $409 million for a state mental hospital, $325 million to fully fund the Dream Scholarship, $45 million for homelessness, an additional $5 million for veterans, and more than $80 million for out-of-home care needs at the Department of Human Services. The chair said the budget also funded education, public safety and local projects. Another senator asked the presiding chair to confirm the homelessness amount and described $25 million as readily available for the Dream Scholarship. The presiding chair affirmed the homelessness figure and acknowledged the scholarship statement without further explanation. The Senate adopted the conference report by 49 to 0, then approved immediate transmission to the governor by 48 to 1.

• Read aloud: House floor session, January 15, 2026 (legislative day 4), 0:44:39
• Read aloud: House floor session, January 16, 2026 (legislative day 5), 0:59:20
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 4, 2026 (legislative day 12), 0:35:46
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 18, 2026 (legislative day 20), 0:30:06
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 19, 2026 (legislative day 21), 0:36:49

Status timeline

Sponsors

Votes