PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUCATORS

With the conclusion of Crossover Day on Friday, the focus of the General Assembly will return to committee work for the next few days. The House is scheduled to vote on its version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget tomorrow, March 9. The House was scheduled to vote on HR 145 by Rep. Chris Erwin (R-Homer), which urges the Georgia Department of Education and Department of Public Health to collaboratively develop strategies and methods to expand vision and hearing screening

Though the House and Senate were not in session today, committee work continued on school-related legislation. The House Education Committee approved seven bills, including HB 1244 by Rep. Akbar Ali (D-Lawrenceville), which protects teacher planning time and duty-free lunch from being waived. When the bill was heard in subcomittee, at which public testimony is allowed, PAGE testified in support of the bill. An additional PAGE-supported measure was approved by Senate Finance,

Legislators began their review of Gov. Brian P. Kemp’s proposals for the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2026 budget  and the Fiscal Year 2027 budget  in a three-day joint meeting of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, which began Tuesday, Jan. 20. Kemp opened the meeting with highlights from his proposed spending plans, including $325 million for a new needs-based financial aid program for higher education, the Dream Scholarship program . State economist, Robert Buschm

The House and Senate flew through their business Friday as Gov. Brian Kemp, House, and Senate members participated in an event at the Capitol to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Upcoming Appropriations Hearings & PAGE Webinar to Review Budget Proposals The legislature will stand in adjournment next week while joint appropriations hearings occur. Policymakers will review the governor's proposed Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2026 and Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budgets. An