Legislative 4th Week Recap: Moving Georgia Forward with Responsible Budget Policy

The Georgia Ho u s e of Rep-resenta-tives ret u rned to the Capi tol on Monday, Febr uary 3, marking the start of the fourth week of the 2025 legislative session. With Legislative Day 10 behind us, we are now more than a quarter of the way through our 40-day session. As we settle into the rhythm of legislative work, our focus remains on policies that will shape Georgia’s future. This week, we took significant steps toward fulfilling our constitutional duty of passing a balanced budget while also prioritizing critical issues like school safety and disaster recovery.

The House Rules Committee convened for the first time this session to set the legislative calendar, ensuring that key measures, including House Bill 67 — the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget — moved forward. HB 67 passed with strong bipartisan support, laying the groundwork for responsible budget policy that supports education, healthcare, public safety, and economic development across Georgia.

Responsible Budget Policy in Action Funding Key Priorities The House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget is based on a revised estimate of $40.5 billion, reflecting a 12.2% increase over the original FY 2025 budget. This includes $2.7 billion in surplus funds, which allows us to make strategic investments while maintaining Georgia’s strong fiscal standing. Key budget highlights include:

Disaster Recovery:

$145 million for the Governor’s Emergency Fund to continue recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.

$98 million to backfill the Georgia Department of Transportation for motor fuel tax revenue lost due to emergency suspensions.

$200 million for road maintenance and repairs following recent storms.

$100 million for relief efforts through the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission.

$150 million to support farmers and timber producers impacted by the hurricane.

Education & School Safety: $50 million for school security grants, providing $21,635 per school for safety upgrades.

$3 million for a school risk assessment system through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA).

$7.42 million in lottery funds to increase pay for Pre-K teachers and support early childhood education initiatives.

$160,000 for a Regional Crisis Recovery Network to assist students after traumatic events.

Healthcare & Workforce Development: $35.6 million in stabilization grants for rural hospitals. $25 million for Mercer School of Medicine to expand rural medical training. $25 million for Morehouse School of Medicine to modernize medical programs and recruit faculty.

$2 million for HOPE Grant expansion and $6 million for HOPE Scholarships, increasing total funding to $852 million.

Public Safety & Corrections: $333.6 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections, including: $214 million for security and technology upgrades.

$50.6 million for inmate healthcare.

$15 million for an electronic medical records system.

$10.5 million for new body cameras and tasers.

$7.2 million for enhanced surveillance and emergency response units.

With HB 67 now in the Senate for consideration, we remain committed to ensuring that Georgia’s budget reflects responsible spending while prioritizing the needs of our citizens. Strengthening School Safety Last week, House leaders gathered at the Capitol to announce a new school safety plan in response to the tragic Apalachee High School shooting in Barrow County. The proposed legislation, House Bill 268, introduces several key measures aimed at protecting Georgia’s students and educators.

HB 268 would establish a statewide School and Student Safety Database (S3) to consolidate student data and identify security risks. It would also require school districts to create risk management teams, composed of administrators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement, to assess and mitigate potential threats. Additionally, the plan calls for an anonymous reporting app, allowing students and staff to report safety concerns.

To further enhance security, the bill proposes $50 million in one-time safety grants, ensuring that schools have the resources needed to implement these measures. HB 268 also prioritizes mental health support, asking schools to employ mental health coordinators and implement violence prevention programs. Finally, it encourages responsible gun ownership by offering tax incentives for firearm safety training and secure storage devices.

As a former teacher, I know that if students do not feel safe, they cannot learn. I will continue to monitor this bill’s progress and provide updates as it moves through the legislative process.

Recognizing Georgia’s Heroes

While legislative work remains our primary focus, we also took time this week to honor the individuals and organizations that make Georgia a better place to live.

On Tuesday, we celebrated Firefighters Recognition Day, welcoming firefighters from across the state to the Capitol. These brave men and women risk their lives daily to protect our communities, and it was an honor to recognize their service. Later in the week, we observed Georgia National Guard Day, presenting a resolution to Major General Richard Dwayne Wilson to commend the sacrifice and dedication of the Guard’s members.

Additionally, we marked the 50th anniversary of Morehouse School of Medicine, presenting President Valerie Montgomery Rice with a resolution honoring the institution’s contributions to medical education and healthcare in Georgia.

Visitors to the Gold Dome Last Wednesday was the Georgia Chamber’s Rural Day at the Capitol. It was great to see some wonderful folks from Fitzgerald who came to Atlanta for the event. Thank you Hal Wiley and Chloe Paulk who represent Georgia FLEX, Christine Cook with the Fitzgerald – Ben Hill Co. Chamber, and Jason Dunn with the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Economic Development Authority.

Looking Ahead

As I end, I would like to express my condolences to the family and friends of Cobbtown Mayor Buddy Collins who passed away last week. He will be missed by many.

With Crossover Day quickly approaching, we are entering one of the busiest times of the legislative session. In the coming weeks, we will work to pass key bills before the deadline while continuing to advance responsible budget policy that benefits all Georgians.

As always, I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns. Your input helps me represent the needs of our district effectively. Feel free to visit my office to discuss the issues that matter most to you and your family.

You can best reach me via email at Leesa.Hagan@house.ga.gov. Thank you for trusting me to serve as your representative in the 156th House District.