Governor Brian Kemp used his final State of the State address last week to roll out his recommendations for Georgia’s amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget and the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, calling for major investments aimed at affordability, student opportunity, workforce development, and public higher education.

One of the biggest statewide items in the proposal is $104.9 million to fund a one-time two-thousand-dollar salary supplement for all full-time, regular state employees.

For students, the governor is recommending $325 million for the University System of Georgia to provide matching endowment funds for the DREAMS Scholarship Program. The DREAMS Scholarship is designed to complement the HOPE Scholarship. While HOPE is merit-based and tuition-focused, DREAMS funds could help cover other essential college costs for undergraduate students who show financial need after other aid is applied.

At the University of Georgia, the proposal includes $9.5 million in new formula funding to provide startup support for the planned UGA School of Medicine, along with another $11.43 million for equipment and other one-time needs. The budget plan also calls for $5.6 million to design a UGA School of Nursing facility.

The governor’s recommendations also include $34.5 million for the next phase of UGA’s Science and Ag Hill modernization project, which focuses on renovating, upgrading, and expanding lab and learning spaces to support continued growth in STEM education and research. Additional funding would help with equipment in the former poultry building and renovations to the former Environmental Health Sciences building.

The plan also includes $40 million for major repair and rehabilitation funds on top of what’s already in the base budget, helping address critical maintenance needs across the university system.

UGA leaders thanked Governor Kemp for his support and said they plan to work with lawmakers during the legislative session as the Georgia General Assembly considers the final state budget.