Legislative Day 31 was relatively quiet compared to last week's busy pace. Two Day 31 items of note include Senate approval of a PAGE-supported bill to create an interstate compact for school psychologists and Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearings on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget.
Bill to Create Interstate Compact for School Psychologists Moves to Governor's Desk
With a vote of 48-2, the Senate granted final passage to HB 81, sponsored by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins) and carried in the Senate by Sen. Larry Walker (R-Perry). The bill seeks to enter Georgia into the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. PAGE was proud to work with the Georgia Association of School Psychologists (GASP) and others on this bill and thanks the House and Senate for its swift passage.
HB 81 now awaits Gov. Brian Kemp's signature.
Education Portions of FY2026 Budget Under Senate Review
State education agency leaders presented the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget to the education subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The budget has already been approved by the House. Rusk Roam, chief financial officer at the Georgia Department of Education, outlined top changes the House made to proposed K-12 spending, including additional funding for school safety, literacy, and student mental health. (See PAGE Capitol Report Day 30 for more information on the FY2026 budget approved by the House.)
Committee Chair Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro) noted the House budget proposal exceeds Gov. Kemp’s FY2026 revenue estimate by 1 percent. As the budget must match the revenue estimate, Hickman encouraged agency leaders to think about how they could increase efficiency to cover the gap.
Senate subcommittee members asked Roam for more information about several new items added by the House, including:
Statewide school and student safety (S3) database—$25 million
Student mental health support grants—$19.6 million
Out-of-school care for statewide and community grantees—$10 million
Targeted support for economically disadvantaged students—$28 million
Hickman also questioned Lynne Riley, president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, about funds the House cut from the Promise Scholarship program, the state’s newest private school voucher program. Riley said the funding level proposed by the House—$45 million—would enable approximately 7,000 students to receive a voucher. Nearly 7,000 students have applied for the program, and Riley anticipates this number will climb.
Senate lawmakers will continue reviewing the budget and propose their own revisions to the FY2026.
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday, March 18 - Legislative Day 32
3 P.M., House Education Committee, 506 CLOB
Wednesday, March 20 - Committee Work Day
Thursday March 21 - Legislative Day 33
Friday March 22 - Legislative Day 34