Sen. Ben Watson

Guest Columnist

The 2026 General Assembly session will adjourn Sine Die this week, and we now have only two legislative days left during this session. Days will be long, as whatever legislative initiatives are not passed this year must start over next year during the next legislative session in January of 2027 when a newly-elected General Assembly is sworn in. Budget negotiations are the primary focus now.

The Senate’s plan for General Appropriations for fiscal year starting July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027 include a balanced budget at $38.5 billion, with tax refunds already included in the amended 2026 budget.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2027 budget that starts in July, and includes an additional $100 million to the state employee retirement system. The governor capped overall expenditures at $38.5 billion, and therefore the Senate had to cut elsewhere to pay for the pension increase.

We fully funded the development of disabled children moving to adulthood with what are called NOW and COMP waivers, which will yearly assist about 1,600 children who are turning into adults. Another major change by the Senate affecting education was an overhaul of the funding method for teaching the state’s youngest students how to read.

The Senate agreed with the House’s plan to pay for about 1,300 literacy coaches in schools with kindergarten through third grade classrooms. The Senate opted to pay for the program with a grant of $70 million.

We also passed House Bill 229 as a Senate committee substitute that affects Georgia’s Department of Revenue (DOR) regarding tax exemptions for tips and overtime pay.

I am closely watching the progress of SB 444, a crucial piece of legislation designed to protect Georgians’ healthcare decisions. This bill ensures that insurance coverage determinations are not based solely on artificial intelligence (AI) or automated software tools.

By requiring a human element in the review process, we uphold accountability and ensure that medical necessity is determined by clinical expertise rather than by an algorithm. I am pleased to report that the Senate recently agreed to the House substitutes, moving this bill closer to final passage to safeguard patients’ rights across our state.

The Senate has amended H.B. 225, a bill to better regulate speed zone cameras. Speed zone cameras are designed to be used to issue tickets by mail for driver wrongdoing, frequently speeding, with a driver never being able to face an accuser, such as a police officer.

If signed into law, H.B. 225 will require that the use of traffic cameras to authorize tickets must first be passed in a referendum by the local municipality or county government jurisdiction.

If the referendum fails, the earliest that a municipality or government body would be able to put the issue back on the ballot will be three years later.

I will keep you updated on legislation affecting our community. Thank you for your continued interest in the work of our General Assembly. As your public servant, feel free to visit me at the Capitol or to reach out to me by phone or email.

I am in 325A, Coverdell Legislative Office Building. My office phone number is (404) 656-7880, and my email is ben.watson@ senate.ga.gov. I look forward to continuing to serve you.

Sen. Ben Watson serves the 1st District of the state Senate.