Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a $37. 7 billion budget for fiscal 2026, focusing on education and prisons. He stated the budget aims to meet the needs of Georgia without expanding government or increasing long-term liabilities. “(This) budget makes important investments to meet the needs of our growing state without growing government or adding to our long-term liabilities,” Kemp said during a signing ceremony at the Georgia Capitol. The budget provides $300 million to fully fund K-12 education and $108. 9 million for safety improvements in schools, along with $47. 9 million for student mental health programs following a school shooting incident. Additionally, $141 million is allocated for a new private-school vouchers program. To address a federal audit on prison safety, $200 million is set aside for hiring more correctional officers and increasing current salaries. The budget also plans to fund capital projects without borrowing money, which will save taxpayers $150 million annually. Lastly, Kemp directed lawmakers to ignore nine non-binding spending items in the budget. The fiscal 2026 budget will begin on July 1.