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Senate passes amended state budget, earmarks $409 million for new state mental‑health hospital
Summary
The Georgia Senate passed an amended fiscal 2026 budget that reallocates roughly $4 billion from the prior plan and sets aside $409 million for a new state mental‑health hospital, increases transportation and education line items, and advances the bill to a conference with the House.
The Georgia Senate on Friday approved an amended state budget that the chamber’s Appropriations chairman said totals about $42 billion and shifts roughly $4 billion from the prior fiscal plan to meet new priorities.
Senator (19th District), the Appropriations chairman, told colleagues the Senate package devotes about $2 billion to road projects, roughly $600 million for targeted employee one‑time pay increases, and $409 million to build what he described as the state’s first new mental‑health hospital since the 1960s. "We've been hearing from sheriffs for 18 years," he said in describing the hospital allocation. "The Senate's budget includes $409,000,000 to build the state's first state mental health hospital."
The presentation also described adjustments to higher education funding, including changes to the Promise scholarship and a $100 million allocation for a needs‑based program the Senate scaled back from higher proposals. The Senate bill preserves postpartum Medicaid coverage expansions, adds funding for rural health and dental clinic grants, and shifts some bond interest savings into targeted capital projects.
Senators questioned the Appropriations chair about homelessness funding and the Senate’s decision to move a portion of homeless‑service money into veterans services. The chair said the Senate allocated $15 million to the Department of Veterans Services specifically to address veteran homelessness after consulting the department about needs.
The Senate voted to insist on its budget position and immediately transmit House Bill 9‑73 back to the House; later, the chamber appointed a committee of conference to resolve differences. The motion to transmit the bill passed by unanimous consent; the conference committee was appointed per Senate rules.
What comes next: the House received the Senate’s substitute and will meet in a conference committee with Senate appointees to negotiate the final language and spending levels. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
Vote and process notes: The presentation and many line‑item descriptions were given on the floor; the Senate’s request that the bill be transmitted to the House was granted without objection.
