HR 1203: General Assembly; trust fund for purpose of providing no-cost access to certain vaccines for children 18 years of age or younger and seniors 60 years of age or older; provide - CA

This resolution proposes a change to the Georgia Constitution rather than an ordinary law. It would add language to Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI allowing the General Assembly to set up a trust fund by general law specifically to give no-cost access to certain vaccines to children 18 or younger and seniors 60 or older. The amendment would let lawmakers pick one or more revenue sources to feed the fund, and it would exempt that money from the constitution's usual rule that unspent state funds lapse back into the treasury each year. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it cannot take effect on its own. Georgia voters would have to approve it at the ballot box, with the resolution specifying the exact yes or no question that would appear on the ballot.

• Proposes adding a new subparagraph to Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI of the Georgia Constitution authorizing a vaccine trust fund.
• Allows the General Assembly to pass a general law creating a trust fund for no-cost vaccines for children 18 or younger and seniors 60 or older.
• Lets lawmakers designate specific revenue sources to feed the fund, an exception to the constitution's normal rule on where state money can be directed.
• Exempts money in the fund from the constitution's lapsing provision (Article III, Section IX, Paragraph IV(c)), so unspent funds would not automatically revert to the treasury.
• Sends the proposed amendment to Georgia voters for ratification or rejection, with specific ballot language spelled out in the resolution.

Georgia children 18 and younger and seniors 60 and older who could receive certain vaccines at no cost if the fund is created, the General Assembly which would gain new constitutional authority to set up and fund the trust, and Georgia voters who would decide the amendment's fate at the ballot.

If voters approve this amendment, the General Assembly could later pass a law creating a dedicated, protected pool of money for free vaccines for young people and older adults, potentially expanding vaccine access for groups who might otherwise face cost barriers, without that money being swept away at year's end.

• Section 1 adds subparagraph (s) to Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI, authorizing a trust fund for no-cost vaccines for those 18 and younger and 60 and older.
• Section 1 allows the General Assembly to designate revenue sources for the fund despite the constitution's general revenue-allocation rule in subparagraph (a).
• Section 1 exempts fund moneys from the lapsing rule in Article III, Section IX, Paragraph IV(c).
• Section 2 sets the ballot question voters will see and specifies that ratification would make the amendment part of the Georgia Constitution.

1. 2026-02-05House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-04House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-03House Hopper (House)

• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)Primary sponsor
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)

• vaccines
• constitutional amendment
• public health funding
• children's health
• senior health