Brass: Special Edition: Amended Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Passes Georgia Senate

By: Sen. Matt Brass (R–Newnan)

This week, the Georgia Senate passed the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, the first of the two balanced budgets we pass every legislative session, on to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature. Our Constitution requires a balanced budget, and this Senate body takes that responsibility seriously. The amended budget sets the financial framework for the remainder of this fiscal year, which runs through July 1. Here are a few highlights that I am taking away from the Senate’s amended budget:

Tax Relief

–         Agreed with Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed taxpayer refunds of $250 for single filers and $500 for joint filers.

–         $850M Homeowner Tax Relief Grant for the 2026 tax year.

–         Modify a pay supplement for full-time, benefit-eligible state and Regents employees to $1,250.

Infrastructure and Agency Assets

–         Agreed with Gov. Kemp’s $100M proposal on rehabilitation and replacement of rural bridges and his $250M proposal for additional local transportation support.

–         State Route 316 interchange conversions to $185M.

–         Agreed with the House’s $1.715B figure on extension and bi-directional expansion of Interstate 75 express lanes in Clayton and Henry counties.

Higher Education:

–         Agrees with House figure in Department of Education (DoE) Quality Basic Education (QBE) Act formula and adds $43.8M for midterm adjustment and agrees with Gov. Kemp’s figure adding $14.4M for special needs scholarship growth.

Health & Human Development

–         Reallocates housing funding of $15M to eliminate homelessness among Georgia veterans.

–         Agrees to move forward with full design and construction for a new Regional Hospital to address mental health and forensic bed capacity.

Criminal Justice & Public Safety

–         Agrees with House and adds $185,000 for eight Child Advocacy Centers and 19 satellite office locations, and also agrees and adds $4.5M for domestic violence shelters and sexual assault centers.

Economic Development

–         Adjusts figure to $10M in one-time funding at the Department of Community Affairs for the State Housing Trust Fund to address homelessness through matching funds to local governments and nonprofit organizations.

–         Realigns $15M to the Department of Veterans Service.

–         Agrees to add $15M in one-time funding and rural site development at OneGeorgia Authority.

This budget will pave the way for a stronger Georgia both today and for generations to come. I’m proud to stand in support of this budget alongside my colleagues in the Senate.