Day 29: House Passes FY 2027 Budget
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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 for students in Pre-K, kindergarten, first, third, fifth, and eighth grades, as well as for transfer students in all grade levels, but the resolution was recommitted to the House Rules Committee.
FY 2027 Budget
House Budget Writers Approve FY 2027 Budget
The House Appropriations Committee signed off on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget, which totals about $38.5 billion. Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, noted the proposed budget contains increased funding for literacy, including a “down payment” on funding a literacy coach for every school serving grades K-3, and additional Pre-K funding. The proposed budget would also boost funding to strengthen financial monitoring for school districts and expand afterschool and summer programs for students. Committee members did not add funds to cover the student teacher grants outlined in HB 310, which the House approved and is now in the Senate for review, nor did they restore supplemental funds for high poverty districts, which were eliminated in Gov. Brian Kemp’s initial FY 2027 budget proposal.
House budget writers also increased the per-member-per-month (PMPM) cost of the State Health Benefit Plan, but by a smaller amount than originally outlined in Kemp’s proposed budget. The current PMPM cost is $1,885. The House spending plan would increase the PMPM cost to $1,935, while Kemp’s proposed increase was $2,028. SHBP costs have escalated rapidly since 2023, putting pressure on districts’ budgets.
Other education-related changes in the House FY 2027 budget proposal include:
Georgia Department of Education
$591,965 increase in one-time funds to complete storm repairs at FFA camps
$325,051 increase for major repairs and rehabilitation at youth camps
$498,206 increase for support staff to prioritize private funds for direct student services within agricultural education
$706,885 increase to fully fund extended year and extended day programs within agricultural education
$260,000 increase for two financial review positions
$120,000 increase for one pupil transportation consultant position
$500,000 increase for one chief financial turnaround officer and one statewide attendance officer
$1.4 million increase for college preparatory exams
$1 million increase for character education programming, which districts have invested in the Leader in Me program
$2.7 million increase to provide one-time funds to districts to purchase vision and hearing screening equipment
$1 million increase to administer a summer meals program for economically disadvantaged students in coordination with the Department of Human Services, which is also receiving $1 million. The funds will enable the state to draw down additional federal funds to provide meals to eligible students
$1.1 million increase in formula funds for preschool disabilities services
$41 million increase in formula funds for pupil transportation
$259 million increase in formula funds for QBE Equalization grants for low-wealth districts
-$2.5 million decrease in QBE Equalization grants to districts based on compliance with HB 1259, which prohibits districts from providing virtual instruction to out-of-district students if the district or its virtual school failed to maintain an average of 70 or above on the College and Career Ready Performance Index
-$30 million decrease in the Local Five Mill Share
$14.5 million increase in the QBE funding formula for enrollment growth and teacher training and experience
$70 million increase to cover the per-member-per-month cost increase in the State Health Benefit Plan
$36.4 million increase in the employer contribution to the Teacher Retirement System
$5.5 million increase to cover enrollment growth in the Special Needs Scholarship voucher program
$31.2 million increase to begin implementation of literacy coaches in schools with grades K-3
-$5.4 million decrease in QBE funds based on compliance with HB 1259
$447,203 increase for school nurses to hold harmless for enrollment decline
$2.6 million increase in formula funds for school social worker grants
$2.5 million increase for additional out-of-school care for statewide and community grantees via the BOOST program
$800,000 increase for high-demand heavy equipment simulator grants
$1 million increase for an artificial intelligence and coding literacy program
House appropriators maintain a planning grant of $2 million for the development of a new completion special school, originally eliminated in Kemp’s initial budget plan. They also aim to add $12 million in bonds for school safety equipment grants.
Department of Early Care and Learning
$9.7 million increase to expand the extended day program to the Pre-K priority group
$708,500 increase to expand Rising Pre-K program and add 25 new classes for the 2026-2027 school year
$3.9 million increase to provide five days of leave for Pre-K lead and assistant teachers
$350,000 increase for the Summer Transition Program partnership expansion
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
$4 million increase for ongoing operational costs associated with Top State for Talent Initiatives, including a Career Navigator system
$150,000 increase for professional learning for current teachers, literacy coaches, and administrators
$330,000 increase to support the review and recommendations of high-quality instructional literacy materials in Pre-K through third grade
$96,000 increase to review and provide recommendations on universal reading screeners
$5.5 million increase to establish an applied literacy reading center that will design professional development programming for teachers and literacy coaches
$250,000 increase for a director of literacy
Georgia Student Finance Commission
$15.4 million increase in dual enrollment to meet projected need
$72 million decrease in the Promise Scholarship
The House also seeks to add $1.7 million to the Department of Audits and Accounts' budget for additional public school district audits over a three-year period.
The House is expected to vote on the FY 2027 budget tomorrow, after which the proposal will move to the Senate.
Senate Revives Computer Science Course Requirement with an Amendment
The Senate revived and approved SB 179 by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett), which, in its original form, pertained to different school-related subject matter, though last year, the House added language from Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins) requiring that computer science be taught as a core class, not an elective, by the 2031-2032 school year.
The bill was amended to allow civic organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club, Scouting America, Girl Scouts, and similar groups, to promote their organizations at a school after obtaining the school's permission. The bill passed 48-3 and moves to the House for agreement or disagreement with the Senate's changes.
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday, March 10 - Day 30
Senate Retirement, 1 p.m., 310 CLOB
Senate Children & Families, 1 p.m., 450 CLOB
Senate Education & Youth, 2 p.m., 307 CLOB
Wednesday, March 11 - Committee Workday
Thursday, March 12 - Day 31