Georgia Governor Signs $2B Tax Relief Budget

Amended state budget includes funding for education, public safety, mental healthcare, and infrastructure

Mar. 3, 2026 at 7:19pm

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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed the state's amended budget, which includes about $2 billion in income and property tax relief. The budget also allocates funding for a new needs-based scholarship program, a 300-bed forensic mental hospital, and various infrastructure and public safety initiatives.

Why it matters

The budget reflects the state legislature's commitment to providing tax relief and investing in key areas like education, mental healthcare, and transportation infrastructure to benefit Georgia residents. The tax cuts and new programs aim to spur economic growth and improve quality of life across the state.

The details

The amended budget includes $325 million to endow the DREAMS Scholarship program, the first-of-its-kind needs-based scholarship in Georgia history, as well as $6 million for the Career Navigator tool to connect workers with job opportunities. It also provides $150 million for the Department of Corrections to address bed space needs, $15 million for a new K-9 training facility for the Georgia Department of Public Safety, and $409 million for the design and construction of a new Georgia Regional Hospital to expand mental health bed capacity. Additionally, the budget allocates over $1.6 billion for the extension and expansion of I-75 express lanes in Henry County, $185 million for interchange conversions on SR 316, and $250 million for local maintenance and improvement grants.

  • The amended budget was signed by Governor Kemp on March 3, 2026.

The players

Brian Kemp

The Governor of Georgia who signed the amended state budget.

Jon Burns

The Speaker of the Georgia General Assembly, who stated the budget reflects the legislature's commitment to Georgia residents.

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What they’re saying

“This budget is more than just numbers on a page. It is a direct reflection of this General Assembly's commitment to each of our neighbors in every corner of our great state.”

— Jon Burns, Speaker of the Georgia General Assembly

“In fact, Georgia now has the lowest debt-to-revenue ratio since the state began issuing bonds in the 1970s… and enough money in our rainy day fund to keep state government working for nearly three months without any additional funds.”

— Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia

What’s next

The new programs and initiatives funded by the amended budget will begin rolling out in the coming months as the state works to implement the changes.

The takeaway

Georgia's amended budget reflects a bipartisan effort to provide tax relief, invest in critical areas like education and mental healthcare, and improve the state's infrastructure - all with an eye towards spurring economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for Georgia residents.