The General Assembly was technically in recess the week of January 20, so no activity occurred on bills. However, in joint Senate and House appropriations hearings, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp spoke about his budget proposal for fiscal year 2021, followed by testimony from the state economist and 32 state agency heads.
The Governor’s full-year FY21 proposal includes an additional $44.3 million for $1,000 raises for state employees earning $40,000 or less, and $169 million added for Medicaid and PeachCare. Agency-level reductions include Public Health with a proposed $16 million budget cut (including a $9.2 million cut to county health dept. grants), and a $35 million reduction for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
GPHA Legislative Liaison Scott Maxwell prepared a report outlining key budget increases and reductions, as well as a list of bills we’ll be following all session. Click the button below to view the full report.