HR 396: General Assembly; creation of Georgia's Children First Trust Fund; authorize - CA

This resolution proposes a change to the Georgia Constitution that would let the General Assembly create a new fund called the Georgia's Children First Trust Fund. The fund's purpose would be to pay for scholarships, grants, or other financial assistance to help families afford child care services in Georgia. The amendment requires a one-time $3 billion transfer into the fund from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve (the state's rainy-day savings account) once the fund is created, and allows lawmakers to add more money later if they choose. Unlike most state funds, money in this trust fund would not be swept back into the general treasury at the end of the budget year (it would not "lapse"). Part of the money would be invested, and any investment earnings would also go toward child care assistance. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it must be approved by Georgia voters in a statewide referendum before taking effect.

• Proposes a constitutional amendment letting the General Assembly create the Georgia's Children First Trust Fund for child care financial assistance.
• Requires a one-time $3 billion appropriation into the fund from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve once the fund is established.
• Allows, but does not require, the General Assembly to appropriate additional money into the fund in the future.
• Exempts money in the fund from Georgia's normal rule that unspent appropriated funds lapse back to the treasury each year.
• Requires that part of the fund's money be invested, with investment returns also directed toward child care financial assistance.
• Sends the proposed amendment to Georgia voters for ratification or rejection in a statewide vote.

Georgia families seeking help paying for child care, the General Assembly which would gain new budget authority, the agency managing the Revenue Shortfall Reserve, and Georgia voters who would decide the fate of the amendment at the ballot box.

If ratified by voters, this would commit $3 billion of the state's reserve savings to a dedicated child care fund that cannot be redirected through normal year-end budget lapsing, potentially expanding access to scholarships and grants that help families afford child care services statewide.

• Section 1 amends Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI of the Georgia Constitution to add a new subparagraph authorizing creation of the Georgia's Children First Trust Fund.
• The new subparagraph requires a one-time $3 billion appropriation into the fund from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve upon the fund's creation.
• The fund's money is exempted from the constitutional lapsing rule in Article III, Section IX, Paragraph IV(c), so unspent funds stay available.
• A portion of the fund must be invested and reinvested as provided by law, with returns used for the same child care assistance purpose.
• Section 2 sets the exact ballot language voters will see and specifies the amendment becomes part of the Constitution only if ratified.

1. 2025-02-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-26House Hopper (House)

• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-35)Primary sponsor
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Tanya F. Miller (D, HD-62)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-67)
• Karlton Howard (D, HD-129)
• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)

• child care funding
• constitutional amendment
• state budget
• Revenue Shortfall Reserve
• ballot referendum