HB 1192: Public assistance; certain accounting practices by Department of Human Services and Department of Community Health; provide

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 49-2-10) currently lets the Department of Human Services spend appropriated and federal welfare funds broadly for the purposes laid out in the state's public assistance title. House Bill 1192 would add new rules saying that when the General Assembly or the federal government designates money for a specific purpose, the department cannot mix it with other funds, must keep it in a separate account, and cannot spend it on anything else. The bill applies the same separate-accounting rule to the Department of Community Health (amending O.C.G.A. § 49-4-144) and requires the commissioners of both agencies to review their practices, contracts, and accounting each year to find cost savings and efficiencies. Both commissioners would have to report their findings to House and Senate budget and health committees by December 31, 2026 and every year after that. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it, but the Governor vetoed the bill.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to keep specifically designated state and federal funds in separate accounts and bars spending them on anything other than their designated purpose.
• Applies the same separate-accounting requirement to the Department of Community Health for designated state and federal funds.
• Requires both department commissioners to review contracts, agreements, and accounting practices annually to identify cost savings and efficiency opportunities.
• Requires both commissioners to report their annual review findings to specific House and Senate committees by December 31, 2026 and every year after.
• Sets the effective date as the day the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without signature.

The Department of Human Services and the Department of Community Health, their commissioners, and the state legislative committees that receive the new annual reports (House Appropriations, Senate Appropriations, House Public and Community Health, and Senate Health and Human Services).

If enacted, the bill would create clearer bookkeeping rules so money set aside for specific welfare or health programs cannot be redirected elsewhere, and it would give lawmakers yearly visibility into cost savings at two major state agencies. Because the Governor vetoed it, these changes have not taken effect.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 49-2-10 to add subsection (b), requiring designated state and federal funds at the Department of Human Services to be kept in separate, non-commingled accounts.
• Section 1 adds subsection (c), requiring the commissioner to annually review practices, contracts, and accounting and report findings to four named legislative committees by December 31, 2026 and annually thereafter.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 49-4-144 to apply the same separate-account rule for designated funds to the Department of Community Health.
• Section 2 also requires the Department of Community Health commissioner to review provider agreements, rebate programs, and accounting practices annually and report to the same committees.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as approval by the Governor or the date the bill becomes law without approval.
• Section 4 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Veto V6
2. 2026-05-12House Date Vetoed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-03-20Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
5. 2026-03-20Senate Third Read (Senado)
6. 2026-03-19Senate Read Second Time (Senado)
7. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
8. 2026-03-04Senate Read and Referred (Senado)

• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)Patrocinador principal
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• James Hatchett (R, HD-155)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes3 de marzo de 2026

   170 a favor, 0 en contra (4 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #584

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado20 de marzo de 2026

   47 a favor, 0 en contra (1 sin votar, 6 ausentes)

   Passage: Senate Vote #781

• public assistance funding
• state agency accounting
• Department of Human Services
• Department of Community Health
• government transparency