Georgia lawmakers pass big state budget but school speed camera ban and elections bill die

By Maya T. Prabhu, Michelle Baruchman, Adam Beam and Mark NiesseEdit this block to edit the article content or add new blocks...

Georgia lawmakers pushed through a $38 billion state budget and Gov. Brian Kemp signed a “religious liberty” bill into law Friday, but several contentious measures failed before the General Assembly adjourned for the year.

Legislators didn’t pass hotly debated efforts to ban school speed cameras, overhaul election laws or prohibit the promotion of diversity in schools.

Instead, legislators prioritized government spending on school vouchers, mental health services, prisons and construction. They also established a new $250 income tax credit for each child under age 6 and expanded existing tax credits for child and dependent care.

“We look forward to Gov. Kemp signing off on some very, very important bills that are going to make a difference in the lives of the people of Georgia and especially our children,” said House Speaker Jon Burns, a Republican from Newington. “We’re all Georgians, and we’re all trying to pull together.”

The budget and tax cuts came as the stock market plunged amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs and some legislators worried about the possibility of a recession and how it might impact state spending.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Matt Hatchett said the state budget is built to survive a drop in government revenue.