HR1203: HR1203 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

Georgia's constitution generally requires most state funds to lapse (expire and return to the general treasury) each year unless the constitution specifically exempts them. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would let the General Assembly pass a general law creating a trust fund dedicated to providing no-cost vaccines to children age 18 or younger and seniors age 60 or older. The amendment would let lawmakers set up the fund's rules, designate specific revenue sources to feed into it, and exempt that money from the constitution's usual lapsing requirement, meaning it could carry over year to year instead of expiring. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it cannot take effect on its own. It must be submitted to Georgia voters on a statewide ballot, and would only become part of the constitution if a majority ratifies it.

• Proposes adding a new subparagraph to Article III, Section IX of the Georgia Constitution allowing a dedicated vaccine trust fund.
• Authorizes the General Assembly to pass a general law creating and administering the fund, covering vaccines for people 18 or younger and 60 or older.
• Lets lawmakers designate one or more specific revenue sources to be paid into the fund.
• Exempts money in the fund from the constitution's standard rule that unspent state funds lapse back to the treasury each year.
• Requires the proposed amendment to be put before Georgia voters on a ballot for ratification or rejection.

Children age 18 or younger and adults age 60 or older who could gain no-cost access to vaccines through the fund, Georgia voters who would decide the amendment's fate, and the General Assembly, which would gain new authority to create and fund the program.

If ratified, this would give lawmakers a constitutional path to set up a permanently funded vaccine program that does not lose its money each year, potentially expanding free vaccine access for young people and older adults, though no funding source or program details are set until a separate law passes.

• Section 1 adds subparagraph (s) to Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI, authorizing a trust fund for no-cost vaccines for those 18 or younger and 60 or older.
• Section 1 lets the General Assembly designate specific revenue sources for the fund, overriding the general funding rule in subparagraph (a) of that Paragraph.
• Section 1 exempts the fund's money from the lapsing requirement in Article III, Section IX, Paragraph IV(c).
• Section 2 sets the exact ballot question voters would see and requires the amendment to be submitted for statewide ratification under Article X, Section I, Paragraph II.

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