Appropriations Subcommitttees and Full Committee 2.04.26

$43.2515000.000 for grants for county elections offices. Workers' compensation board, no change. Any questions? Hearing none, do I hear a motion? Move due pass.

Got a motion? Got a sec. Oh, we got a I'm trying to finish it. Alright. Representative Mitchell.

Mister chairman, my I I rise to speak to make the motion to do pass, but it seems like it's already been made.

Okay. Alright. Thanks, sir. Alright. We've got a couple of motions to pass and, maybe a couple of seconds also.

So everybody in

favor? Aye.

Alright. Thank you. Motion passes.

Yeah. My job. K. Thank you. We'll start with section five appeals court.

In the judicial areas, you'll see consistently through it 2,000 time one time bumps, for salary employees as well as, reflected employer contribution rate from the state health benefit plan, coming down. So we won't talk about those going forward, but there's no changes in appeals court. Section six, judicial counsel. There is a change, six point one point three, personal services, to reflect the actual start date of sixty six thousand three hundred two dollars, the six point one point four, onetime fund, payment for accountability court, for the case management system, $150,000. 62.

Sorry. I ran over here. So I'm breathing tough. 62, there's no changes there. 64, there's a, one time change of six point four point three.

$27,150, for actual start date of a position. Callback of that, 6.5, point three, reduced, utilized funds for legal fees of $50,000 callback. Section six, judicial counsel. There is a six point eight point three increased funds for one time costs of annual leave payout. That's a callback there, from from $41,000.

61004. That's a callback for actual, sorry, six point ten point two, six point ten point three, and six point ten point four for Georgia tax court. There's just, funding reductions based on the actual numbers there. Section seven, judicial counsel. There are no changes there outside of the, onetime fees.

Section eight, there are no changes there. Section nine to superior court, there are, no changes there either.

Oh, it shows up.

Oh, yep. Sorry. Just kidding. So nine point three point eight, there is a reduced reduced funds to reflect superior court judges who have not opted into the new salary structure. That was $704,493.

Supreme Court, there were no changes there. Actually, there was ten point one point three. It was increased funds for state patrol trooper agreement for the Supreme Court, but that was, no change from the governor's recommendation. And lastly, section 37, 37.1, two. That's just the the contribution rate, for the health benefit plan.

No there is a, a call back there, like we did everywhere else. Public defenders, thirty seven point two point two. This is to reflect I'm sorry. That's, the state of benefit plan that we talked about called back. Thirty seven point two point three.

The ARPA money funds to continue representation of the multi defendant cases, that was they asked for $5,521,712. We're still looking for additional information to understand, how they're doing their conflict cases. So for the time being, that's at $0, $37.2.0.4. This is to increase the and align the assistant poet defender salaries to the ADAs, and it starts April 1. So that's something we added $2,074,046.

Have any questions for Gidi? Do I have a motion?

Move to pass.

Move to pass. Have a second. All in favor, say aye. Thank you all.

Good morning, everyone. We're a little ahead of schedule, but I'm gonna call the appropriation subcommittee on higher education to order. If we can go to section 41 under the University System of Georgia, our our 25 systems there, 25, units, under agriculture experiments section in forty one point one point two, you'll see what we call a true up that's related to delayed start dates and positions that are not filled that were budgeted last year. So you'll see several of those as we go along, and I'll just call those a a start date true up. That's a 180,000, true up on that forty one point one point two in the agriculture experiment station, to be the actual start dates.

Then down to forty one point one point three, provide one time funds for operational and equipment needs to support blueberry breeder research. That's a $500,000, addition. There's a request for a million, but the the house is putting together that 500 is recommending that 500,000 there. There. If you go on down to cooperative extension service, forty one point three point two, that's a start date true up of a $112,000.

If we, keep progressing on under, forty one point thirteen, the Medical College of Georgia hospitals and clinics, there's an additional 200,000, to increase, funds to expand the, current partnership with Clark Atlanta University for prostate cancer, research. So very important, position there. If you keep going to forty one point fourteen point two, we have an addition, for the PIMES program. That's the public information network for electronic services to assist the, our our public libraries. Going on down to the regent central office in forty one point one six under forty one point sixteen point two, we have an additional.

We have a recommendation for 300,000,000 as an endowment for the dream scholarship, a life changing, potential there that we're looking forward to working on. There is an additional 25,000,000 that's been discussed. We're waiting for some, exact details from the board of regents in writing so that the appropriations can be, properly, delineated. If you go on down to forty one point sixteen point three, we've got some delayed implementation of a alternative college admission test of $15,000 change. We have an increase on line forty one point sixteen point four for Galileo access of $67,000.

We have some other true ups in the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust and public telecommunications. If you go on down under student finance under section 44, we have several of our scholarships, grants, and service cancelable loan programs, which due to the appropriations and differing amounts of, of participation and applicants, eligible applicants, we have significant reserves in many of those programs. So I'll list a few of those. The HERO scholarship under forty four point six point one, a $280,000 true up. Under forty one point eleven point one, a million dollar true up, under forty four point fifteen point one, a public service memorial grant of $540,000 true up, and then service cancelable loans under 44.17.

Several of those that are true ups based to significant reserves exceeding a typical annual, appropriation under those as well. Let's see. And under the Technical College System of Georgia under section 46, we do not have any, direct adjustments to that. So those are the higher education budget recommendations from the subcommittee. Is there a, is there any questions for higher education subcommittee?

If not, is do I hear Make a motion when appropriate time. Now is the appropriate time.

I can

make a motion to pass. We have a motion to pass. Is there a second? So we have a second. Any further discussion by the subcommittee?

If not, all in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed, no? Alright. Thank you.

We'll pass this along to full committee. We'll adjourn this subcommittee.

Good morning. Good morning. Good to see all you early risers for sure. What a great day the house is having. We're moving fast here and efficiently.

So let's get started on the human resources budget changes. Fifteen point three point three. This is under behavioral health and developmental disabilities and this is the only change to the governor's proposal. This will be for one time funds for a behavioral health provider rate study. This focuses on the NOW and COMP waivers.

So next, if you would look at the Department of Human Services. Twenty eight point three point one. This will provide funds for an integrated child welfare reporting system, something that we have needed for a great time in Georgia. $15,000,000. The next is at twenty eight point twelve point one for out of home care.

This will increase the funds for utilization growth and increase costs of care prioritizing reunification services, assessments, and the specialized services for our high acuity youth. This will rebuild some of what is missing there. This will be an add of 82 thou 80 excuse me. We're all running dashing. I'm sorry.

Sorry. 82741347. 28.130.1 for out of home care. This is a special project to restore the cancellation of state office contracts for supportive services, and implement funds to place foster youth closer to their biological families as directed in the f y twenty six budget. This is a million $5.99 $6.00 1.

Next, if you would look, please, at twenty eight point twenty five point three to increase the funds to supply new and used durable medical equipment and assistive technology. This is for the Friends of Disabled Adults, Children and Youth, FODAC, a long time partner with our state, of a $125,000. That is all of that budget. Now if we we would look at veteran services. So there are a couple of things here, and they are helping each other out.

I'm going to look at some other notes that I have here just a minute to make sure I say this correctly. Okay. So at forty eight point two point three and forty eight point three point three. You will see that there are funds moving there. The Governor proposed transferring funds from nursing homes to the cemetery.

The House is going to say no, and actually add straight up funds for, for the cemetery of a million dollars. This is the funds to create the new Veterans Cemetery in Augusta, Richmond County, pursuant to H. R. 77. That is 48.20.4.

Also, at 48.30.4, we're going to recognize savings from the delay in the opening of new beds. There's a cost savings here. There are 17 beds that still remain open, and so we are going to save a little bit of money there. Then if you'll look at 48.40.3, this will be to provide funds for technology platform for our community service referral. Unine Us is a social service platform that has been working very successfully with our veterans, and we wanna continue to support them with 2,000,614, dollars 598.

And then last, at forty eight point four point four, we're gonna partner with the Shepherd Center initiative. They're doing great work to help with some of our military veterans and wounded ser servicemembers, particularly, and mental health and brain injuries. So we will be, sending a million dollars that way in the House budget. Thank you all so much. That is what we have here.

Are there any questions? If not, I'll entertain a motion. Move to pass. Second. And we have a second.

All in favor, please signify by saying, 'Aye.' Opposed by like sign? Thank you. We are adjourned.

Good morning. This is a house subcommittee on appropriations, and we're going to address the house changes in this meeting. We're going to start with the Department of Community Health. The first item you will see is on line seventeen point one point six, which provides $2,500,000 to support spinal injury services. Next is the Georgia Board of Dentistry.

Line seventeen point two point three reduces funds for personal services based on the actual start date of new positions, a $122,059 In line seventeen point two point four, the house creates funds for one vehicle and protective equipment for an additional criminal investigator, for which funding is appropriated in fiscal year 2027, $32,789. Next is the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy. Line 17.3.3 reduces funding for personal services based on the actual start date of new positions, dollars 98,000, and $98 In healthcare access and improvement, line 17.4.3 includes $4,800,000 to establish a grant program to support new rural medicine and dental clinics. Line seventeen point four point four, the house includes $800,000 for hospital infrastructure and emergency power. Line seventeen point four point five includes $155,251 for portable training ultrasounds.

Line seventeen point four point six provides 250,000 for rural colorectal screenings. Throughout the Medicaid programs, the House updates funds based on new enrollment projections provided by the Department of Community Health. Line 17.7.9, the House includes $3,000,000 to increase funds for supplemental quality incentive payments at skilled nursing facilities. Next is the Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce in Graduate Medical Education. Line seventeen point twelve point two reduces funds based on the delayed approval of the state plan amendment, $6,844,122.

Line seventeen point twelve point three includes $1,166,776 for rural surgery initiatives and child and adolescent psychiatry slots at Augusta University. Line 17.12.4 adds $17,806,568 for the expansion of medical graduate education programs in South Georgia. In health care education programs, line seventeen point sixteen point one changes the program name from undergraduate medical education to health care education programs to include nursing education. Line seventeen point sixteen point one includes a $100,000 to promote rural residency programs. In Georgia composite medical board, line seventeen point seventeen point three reduces funding for personal services based on the actual start date of new positions, dollars 20,337.

Line seventeen point seventeen point four directs the utilization of appropriated funds in HB 68 for a paralegal to be utilized. Next is the Office of Health Strategy and Coordination under the Office of the Governor. In line twenty seven point five point two, we'll see reductions in funds by $500,250 Lastly, we're looking at the Department of Public Health. In lines thirty eight point one point three, the House added a $150,000 for charitable dental program care. Finally, lines thirty eight point three point three directs the Department to develop a strategy to promote awareness and prevention measures for colorectal prostate cancer and to report the findings by 09/01/2026.

That concludes the changes. Do I hear a motion? So moved.

Is

there a second? We have a second. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Thank you very much.

Okay. We're running a little early. I hope I've got all my committee members here, but, I'd like to call the order of the Public Safety Subcommittee on Appropriations. And And we're gonna start off with, Department of Community Supervision. Eighteen point two point three.

We're gonna reduce funds for personal services, and you'll see this time and time again in this, in in, this presentation. And all this is is last year, we had some new positions when they're not filled on July 1. Very obviously, we're not gonna have a salary for the whole year. So whatever months it takes for them to get hired, we take that money back. So we're gonna recover, a $100,000, in in that autumn.

Moving on to the Department of Corrections. Under food and farm operations, the Department of Corrections runs their own farm down in Reedsville. They they provide almost exclusively all the food for 50,000 inmates in our penal system. Under nineteen point three point four provide fund for food services across state facilities, contracted with Georgia curriculum industries due to rising food costs. There was nothing budgeted.

We put in 2,445,000. That's one half of the request. They lost 4,800,000.0 in fiscal year twenty five. Nineteen point three point five provide funds for the purchase of meat during processing equipment upgrades. Their meat processor quit last year.

They had to buy, meat patties outside while it was under renovation. That was a million $79,000 nineteen point three point six provide fund for food and farm equipment and software upgrades. They can't grow the, they can't grow the food or raise the livestock without the equipment. And for about the last four years, we tried to upgrade and, we haven't been able to fund it. So we put in a million $15,000 this year by a potato planter, two row planters, some hog traps, combine, nitrogen applicator, so that they can they can do the job and and feed our inmates.

Under nineteen point four point three, increased funds for the physical health contract for a per diem increase of 10,946,000 a 108. We would we were gonna be able to take back 16,702 because we're paying them to, from March, when it was appropriated through July. Okay. Nineteen point four point seven Increased funds for residential substance abuse treatment centers effective April 1. There was nothing funded.

We put $312,000.500. That's one quarter of the request. Counselor salaries are 20% lower than the state average and and they have difficulty hiring people. This is a recommendation for Gateway, which is is a consulting company that department of corrections hired to assist them, and some of their endeavors. Moving down to offender management, nineteen point five zero point five provide fund for rural local County jail reimbursement where more than 20% of jail capacity utilization is occupied by detainees, unable to make bail on contraband or drone related charges.

They now have the capability to track these drones when they come in. So they track them and they call the local sheriff's department. They run them down, arrest them, and they put them in their local jails. And some of them sit there for a while and they don't have, in some of these small counties, they don't have the ability to provide the food and substance that's required to maintain them. So, we're gonna put in a million 500,000, to fund them for thirty days, the first thirty days that they're in, in the jail.

Moving on to nineteen point seven point three increased funds for additional correctional officer positions, they put in $4,000,000. We upped it to 9,000,000. The projection between hiring promotion, there's a six month step and overtime cost. The actual need is seven nineteen point seven to fully fund. Nineteen point seven point five provide funds for a pilot program at ultra state prison to provide peer led programming.

This is came out of a group that went to Texas and observed it, but, we've got a lot of new programs and we didn't get enough information. So we, we didn't fund that. Nineteen point seven point twelve increased funds for operations at Lee Arendelle State Prison. They're shutting down the prison. They're gonna leave, 200 inmates there, because they've got a, packaging program warehouse there for the GCI kitchen and maintenance.

So what we're going to do is leave 200 more there. So we don't have to pay for maintenance in the facility. We'll have 200, additional inmates to do the maintenance and upkeep and work in the kitchen. That's $3879000.19.7 0.13 increased funds for rent at the Arnold North Basic Correctional Officer Training Building. It was funded at $14,000 for the rent that'll cover one month.

We put in 219,236 to, care us through the year. Moving on to nineteen point seven point one four increased funds for offender call monitoring contract due to an increase in usage. We have two court cases that have affected us this year. One, one is that, they, they can call anybody they want. The, the courts have said that they used to be limited to their visitor list, which is typically family.

Now, the courts have said they can call anybody they want, so that we we believe this could be a lot more calls. And the other thing is the courts have said that we can't charge them. We used to charge them, a little bit of money for their phone calls and deduct it from their accounts. They said we can't do that anymore, so we have to pick up that it's total comes at $764,000 $9.7.0.15 increased funds, excuse me. I was wrong.

$1.19.7 0.16 increased fund for contracted food services due to rising food and labor costs. It wasn't anything budgeted. We put 284,000 in there, funds one quarter request by Aramark for an increase as for the last four years, cost for labor and foods up 8.4%. Nineteen point seven point seventeen increased fund for central repair funds for capital projects. They wouldn't anything in the budget.

We put $725,992 in there. This, replaces funds for the emergency repairs they made, meat facility repairs. They had to use money out of the central pair, to do that. So we're gonna replace that money. Defense department, we had no changes.

Governor's office, the Georgia Emergency Management, organization comes on under the governor's office and, we, we, we're gonna give them a half $1,000,000 for one time funds for local emergency management agencies for what they, had to utilize during hurricane Helene that, they're not getting any federal or state money for. Attorney Bureau of Investigation, regional investigative offices, thirty point four point four. Reduced funds for personal service of BECCS on actual start dates. This is another true up. We're gonna take back 203,000, thirty point four point five eliminate funds for one time connectivity to the statewide gang database management system.

The budget said we were gonna take back $800,000 They say they really have to have that. So we zeroed it out. I'm going to give them that million dollars they asked for. Under criminal justice coordinating council, thirty point five point four utilize existing funds. We had a savings, dollars 133,000 on rent, and we're gonna add, 301,000 to it so that, and make we'll be able to fund their grant system and make it compatible with Georgia at work.

Thirty point five point six provide funds for eight child advocacy centers and 19 satellite office locations that meet minimum standards to provide specialized services not currently state funded. Nothing in the budget. We added 185,000. Criminal justice coordinating council family violence center, thirty point seven point two provide one time funds to domestic violence shelters and sexual assault centers for operational and facility needs. These things have been funded for many years through federal grants and the federal grants have pretty much been cut off.

So we put 420, 4,525,000 there that funds 47 domestic violence shelters, 34 sexual assault centers at $50,000 each and 19 sexual, satellite sexual assault centers at $25,000 each. Juvenile justice, department of juvenile justice has no changes. The law department, thirty three point one point three reduced fund for personal services based on the actual start date of new positions. This is a true up. And you meant to recover 93,000, and we only recovered 43,000 because we had to give them $50,000 for they didn't think they needed to represent the JQC in a case, and they, it was determined that they did and it was $50,000 So we reimbursed that.

Pardon the Paroles. We have none. Department of Public Safety, the actual Department of Public Safety. We don't have anything. Some of their satellite, that are attached to them for administrative purposes, the Georgia Firefighter Standards of Training Council.

$39.8.0.3 increased funds for startup cost for one safety and compliance specialist. This is just the startup cost. We put in $60,000. They're gonna they're gonna add one person in Atlanta, which means this is the last we've been doing this for a couple of years. This is the last one that'll give us statewide coverage now, when we hire him next year to, to drive the car.

But, this means that, they'll be able to inspect every fire station estate every year, which is something, relatively new. And then under the Georgia public safety training center, thirty nine point ten point seven pride fund for simulated firearms training. It wasn't funded, it's a $900039.10.0.8 increased fund for hearing protection equipment grant for law enforcement officers. It wasn't funded and we added in 750,000. Have any questions?

Do I hear do I hear a motion? Move. No motion. We have a second. No.

Any further discussion? All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed? Motion carries.

We're adjourned.

Hey, y'all. We're we're early. We're just gonna keep the schedule at 08:30, so we'll probably crank back up a little before 08:30. K? Let's start finding a seat, people.

Matt Reeves. Matt. Matt. Matt. Hey.

Will you go outside and round people up outside? Just see if we got a quorum. I just wanna say well, I'll start off. We'll start off and open up prayer. Mic is yours.

This might not be the appropriate time, but I wanna thank everyone in here for the work we put in on this budget, the committees, Chairman Hatchett, then the chairman of the committees and subcommittees, and, special shout out to our Budget Office. I've never seen anything like the knowledge that comes out of that office and the work they put in, and we appreciate that staff for for everything they do. As we pray, let's let's pray for our chairman, and, we we're getting about halfway there, and the big budget's left to come. So when you pray, say a little, prayer for the guidance of the, these chairmen and of the subcommittees in Hatchet. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time here as we come together to appropriate money for the people of Georgia.

And we'll pray that we'll ever be mindful of what's pleasing to you and look for guidance, what's best for our state, and we'll give you the glory. For it's in Christ's name I pray. Amen.

Amen. Thank you, chairman Tarvin. I'll I'll add to your comments before your prayer. I just wanna thank all the members for all the work that's gone on to this in this amended budget. We have done it in and I will speak to this shortly, but in a very expedient time frame.

And I wanna thank all of y'all for participating. I know you have. I've seen you doing that, and I just wanna thank you. And with that, I'm gonna turn it over to our secretary, Matt Barton.

Alright. Chairman Hatchett, we are ready for

you to present your bill.

Is the mic on? Is the mic on? Just making sure it's not off.

Anyway

alright.

Thought I'd kick off

a little lighten it up a little bit for the media. Good morning. Good morning. House bill nine seventy three. The amended fiscal year 2026 budget is set by revised revenue estimate of $42,300,000,000.

In addition to revenue growth, the governor's revenue estimate for the amended f y twenty six budget includes $3,300,000,000 in undesignated surplus funds for a total revenue adjustment of 4 and a half billion dollars or 11.9% over the original f y twenty six budget. We are responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. And unlike some other states that you may read about, we do not spend needlessly or wastefully. Our per capita state spending is the ninth lowest in the nation, and we don't consider revenue growth to be a blank check for more spending. Since 2021, we've given back $9,700,000,000 to our taxpayers through rebates, tax cuts, and other measures.

We'll continue that tradition by giving back even more money through this budget. While the governor's budget recommendation recognized funds to provide income tax rebates, our amended fiscal year twenty six budget reallocates these funds to provide property tax relief for Georgia's homeowners, funding $850,000,000 for the homeowner tax relief grant program. This grant will mean that this year's property tax bills will be just a little bit easier to swallow as we continue our work to eliminate property taxes on your home. We'll have the opportunity to address income tax burdens for our citizens later this session through HB 1,001, which will bring our tax rate to 4.9%, keeping Georgia one of the most affordable states to live and raise a family in. On the spending side, the house amended f y twenty six budget responsibly appropriates our $42,300,000,000 in revenue.

Allow me to highlight some of these key investments we're making. Our budget has two statewide items that you will see over and over in nearly every program. The first recurring item is a one time salary supplement of $2,000 to full time regular state employees and school personnel. Of this $624,000,000 of total funds, 384,000,000 is designated for pre k through 12 teachers, school nurses, nutrition workers, bus drivers, and custodians. The governor's 2027 budget recommendation does not include pay raises, so these supplements will help us retain essential staff and teachers.

While not directly related to these pay supplements, I will also mention that we're also taking care of our retirees. We've included $50,000,000 for the Employees Retirement System of Georgia to strategically invest in increasing the funding ratio to improve long term financial viability to the pension system and support state retirees. The second recurring item is related to the state health benefit plan. SHBP currently has a healthy reserve fund balance, which the governor recognized in f y twenty seven by reducing how much state agencies pay per employee per month for health coverage starting in July. Our amended f y twenty six budget passes these savings on to the state agencies a month earlier starting in June, saving $21,500,000.

Running a growing state is not cheap, and and this budget spends over $300,000,000 in workload adjustments, including k through 12, Medicaid, corrections health contracts, and DHS out of home care. These additions are largely associated with our growing population and an all around increased cost of doing business in most sectors. Since 2024, we've used $4,100,000,000 in surplus revenues to fund capital projects with cash, saving taxpayers over $3,000,000,000 in debt payments. The House amended fiscal year twenty six budget also makes a significant $802,000,000 cash investment in new capital projects. In addition to funding most of the governor's recommended projects, the house budget also funds a few noteworthy additional projects.

We provided 220,000,000 for a private prison expansion. While the new Washington County facility will bring much needed safety upgrades to the correctional system, it does not add additional bed space. This private prison expansion will provide

an additional 480

beds for a system that's rapidly to address to address mental health and forensic bed capacity in our state. We're projected to have zero forensic beds empty by 2034, and this funding is a down payment on a hospital that will help address this need by adding 200 forensic and a 100 mental health beds. The house budget also provides $29,800,000 to design, construct, and equip equip a building that will house the brand new College of Optometry at Georgia Southern University, filling a tremendous need for our state. Georgia has long sent has for long sent aspiring optometrists to study in Alabama and Tennessee. And with this new school, hopefully, the best and brightest will see fit to stay right here in Georgia.

Amen. These examples represent just a few of our priorities. You've likely already read the budget in its entirety, so I'm not gonna rehash every line. But I do want to give you a few more highlights from each of our major policy areas. To help keep Georgia mobile, our budget makes several investments in transportation.

In addition to the big ticket items of 1,700,000,000.0 for the I seventy five South Express Lane expansion and $200,000,000 for the State Road 316 interchange conversions, we also provide additional funds for airport aid, rural rural bridge rehab, local road projects, short line rail improvements, and various local resurfacing projects. To help keep Georgia educated, this budget contain continues to meet our obligations in k through 12 and higher ed, fully funding our formulas and projections for QBE, charter systems, promise scholars, and special needs scholarships, AP exams, dual enrollment, completion schools, HOPE scholarships, and grants. We provide $88,000,000 for major repairs and rehab projects at USG and TCSG. And finally, we include $300,000,000 to provide state matching funds for an endowment to provide needs based scholarships. To help keep Georgia healthy, we provide funds for new rural medical and dental clinics, nursing home quality incentive payments, and GME expansion.

We also provide funds for rural colorectal screenings, and we redirect the Department of Public Health to develop a strategy to promote awareness and prevention measures for colorectal and prostate cancer. Our budget adds additional funds to

out

of home care to fully fund the deficit at DFACS and reinstate foster care supportive services contracts that we know make a difference. We also provide $15,000,000 for a new integrated child welfare reporting system to help enable early detection, speed up service, and increase accountability. To help keep Georgia safe, this budget makes several investments in the Department of Corrections. We allocate more than a $185,000,000 for capital projects to make needed safety, new correctional officer positions to help us get nearer to our goal of one to 11 officers to inmate ratio. And we add significant funds for rising health and food and farm cost.

We've also included some one time funds for domestic violence shelters and sexual assault centers for operational and facility needs. To help keep Georgia growing, this budget provides $35,000,000 to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to establish a state financing and assistance program for natural gas infrastructure improvements and $50,000,000 for rural infrastructure projects. We also support the governor's recommendation of $50,000,000 for the State Housing Trust Fund. These funds will help address homelessness through matching reimbursable grants to local governments and nonprofits, and they bring with them up to a four to one federal match, maximizing the impact of our state dollars. These items are just some of the highlights of the $42,300,000,000 budget.

This budget lives within our means and will help ensure Georgia remains the greatest state to live and raise a family. I'd like to close by saying thank you for all of your hard work to our dedicated subcommittee chairs and Christine Kalacke and Dave Lackley leading the charge of the incredible staff of the House Budget and Research Office. Thank you. We're voting on a budget a mere three weeks after it was initially introduced by the governor. It's no easy feat to turn around a budget this quickly, especially with much mother nature throwing two icy snow events at us.

We've been able to stick to an aggressive timeline in order to quickly get this budget across the finish line. I thank all of you for your work and commitment to the task, and I ask for your favorable consideration of h b nine seventy three. And I will attempt to answer any questions.

Thank you, mister chairman. Appreciate all your hard work too. Two and

a half.

Come on. Wow. Well, I said oh, hang on one second.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, mister chairman. Thank you, mister chairman. Am I hearing you correctly that we are fully funding the deficit, in DHS?

Is that

82 plus million dollars.

Thank you very much.

Mister chairman, I see no more questions. At this time, do I hear a motion?

Thank you, mister secretary.

I move that house bill nine seventy three do pass by committee substitute.

All those in

favor? Uh-uh. There you go. And it passes. You're good to go.

We're adjourned. We're adjourned. Thank you all

very much.