Georgia House passes 2025 state budget; prioritizes healthcare, public safety, education

In a show of bipartisanship, the Georgia House of Representatives on Thursday passed the first draft of the $36.1 billion state budget for fiscal year 2025, approving the measure with a nearly unanimous vote.

The budget, dubbed House Bill 916, allocates funding for all state departments, programs and employees from July 1 to June 30, 2025. Passing the budget is the only thing legislators are constitutionally required to complete during a legislative session. 

This year, legislators estimated that the state revenue increased by $3.6 billion, or 11.3%, compared to the estimate for the 2024 budget.  

“We really and truly have one job in this state capitol, and that is to be the appropriators,” said state Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin), who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. “If we can’t do that, why are we here?” 

More:Georgia House passes amended 2024 budget, echoing Kemp's budget priorities

The new proposal included 1,170 lines of changes from Gov. Brian Kemp’s version of the budget, Hatchett said, with many of the changes aimed at tackling issues like wage stagnation for government workers, staffing shortages and lack of infrastructure. Here are some of the highlights from HB 916:

Childcare 

The FY 2025 budget includes $4.6 million to increase reimbursement rates for the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program. Lawmakers hope that with a combination of state and federal funds, reimbursement rates for childcare providers will improve Georgia's standing nationwide. 

Criminal Justice 

Public safety is also high on the lawmakers’ agenda as the state includes $50 million to fund $3,000 salary adjustments for a variety of law enforcement agencies throughout Georgia. The proposed budget also includes nearly $72 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections to fund healthcare services to incarcerated Georgians and nearly $2 million to fund a $2 per diem increase to county correctional facilities. 

More:Georgia Supreme Court chief justice speaks on low wages, understaffing in legal system

Education 

Pre-K class sizes will be reduced from 22 students to 20 thanks to a $9.5 million grant from state lottery funds. The Department of Early Care and Learning is planning to add an additional 382 classrooms over the next four years to aid in the class-size reductions.  

Literacy rates are also top of mind for Georgia legislators, who included $6.3 million to fund literacy coaches in Georgia schools, and $1.5 million for dyslexia screenings for students in kindergarten through third grades.  

The budget also includes $104 million to improve school safety in the form of School Security Grants. Each school will be allocated up to $45,000 that they can use to hire school resource officers or cover infrastructure and operating expenses. 

Elections 

With primary as well as general (and likely runoff) elections on the horizon, the 2025 budget has included funds to bolster election security, including $2.5 million for the Secretary of State’s office to cover “third-party ballot-text auditing technology” that would allow election officials to certify the results without relying on QR codes.

The budget also includes about $405,000 to fund four investigators who will help address complaints submitted to the Elections and Professional Licensing Boards Divisions, as well as $146,000 to fund State Elections Board investigations.  

Healthcare and Mental Health

The FY25 budget included funds to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates, which legislators say will ensure that those on Medicare will be better able to access necessary healthcare services. 

“Adequately compensating providers ensures access to care,” Hatchett said. “That's why the House funds $27 million in Medicaid provider rate adjustments, including the Georgia Pediatric Program or GAP, speech therapists, audiologists, physical therapists and occupational therapists, primary care physicians and obstetricians, and optometrists, to name a few. The House also provides $9.6 million to include basic dental care as a covered service for the Medicaid population.” 

The House also proposed allocating $3.2 million to create a crisis stabilization unit in Macon, which would be the first support center for adults with disabilities. 

Housing

The Department of Community Affairs will receive $1 million to fund the accountable housing initiative, which seeks to provide both short- and long-term solutions for unhoused individuals. The State Housing Trust Fund will also receive $3.7 million to improve their homelessness services, and the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative will receive a $6 million grant. 

Transportation

The House has allocated a whopping $2.4 billion for infrastructure projects throughout the state, including $41 million for the Georgia Department of Transportation’s capital programs and $35.8 million set aside for the Routine Maintenance Program. 

The bill was immediately transmitted to the Senate for further debate.