States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
Featured Stories
Okla. A.G. Drummond Leads 18-state Coalition Urging EPA to Protect Chemical Facility Data From Cybersecurity Threats
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, May 13 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Drummond leads 18-state coalition urging EPA to protect chemical facility data from cybersecurity threats
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to lock down a proposed federal database of chemical facility information that the coalition says could help foreign governments and hackers target American infrastructure.
Drummond and a coalition of 17 state attorneys general filed formal comments with the EPA
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, May 13 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Drummond leads 18-state coalition urging EPA to protect chemical facility data from cybersecurity threats
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to lock down a proposed federal database of chemical facility information that the coalition says could help foreign governments and hackers target American infrastructure.
Drummond and a coalition of 17 state attorneys general filed formal comments with the EPAon a proposed rule that would overhaul chemical accident prevention requirements. The states back the EPA's push to cut red tape but say one piece of the proposal - a public online database of facility-level chemical data - could do more harm than good.
"Oklahoma is home to critical energy and chemical facilities that power this nation," Drummond said. "We have an obligation to protect those facilities and the communities around them, and that means making sure sensitive information about what's stored there doesn't end up in the wrong hands."
Chemical plants and refineries covered by the program store substances that could sicken or kill nearby residents if released. The states warn the database would bundle chemical inventories, facility layouts and maps showing how far a toxic cloud could spread and make it available to anyone with an internet connection, including adversaries who have spent years probing U.S. energy and chemical systems.
"The proposed rule fixes many of the Biden Administration missteps, but we ask the EPA to implement rigorous access controls on the Data Tool so that it can ensure that data access initiatives do not inadvertently introduce new vulnerabilities," the letter says.
The coalition asked the EPA to audit the database for security risks before launch, strip out or combine data that could identify specific facilities, loop in the Department of Homeland Security and federal cybersecurity officials in its design and give facilities a way to challenge disclosures they believe put them at risk.
Joining Drummond on the coalition are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.
Read the Letter (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/may/2026.05.11%20-%20RMP%20Comment%20Final.pdf)
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INFODOC: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/may/2026.05.11%20-%20RMP%20Comment%20Final.pdf
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/may/drummond-leads-18-state-coalition-urging-epa-to-protect-chemical-facility-data-from-cybersecurity-threats.html
NMED, DAF Verbally Agree to Collaboration That Advances PFAS Cleanup at Cannon AFB
SANTA FE, New Mexico, May 13 -- The New Mexico Department of Environment issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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NMED, DAF verbally agree to collaboration that advances PFAS cleanup at Cannon AFB
Interagency collaboration will fast-track environmental response
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The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF) today announced a verbal agreement to establish a collaborative groundwater sampling framework to support ongoing PFAS investigation and clean-up activities at Cannon Air Force Base in Curry County.
Under the verbal agreement,
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SANTA FE, New Mexico, May 13 -- The New Mexico Department of Environment issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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NMED, DAF verbally agree to collaboration that advances PFAS cleanup at Cannon AFB
Interagency collaboration will fast-track environmental response
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The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF) today announced a verbal agreement to establish a collaborative groundwater sampling framework to support ongoing PFAS investigation and clean-up activities at Cannon Air Force Base in Curry County.
Under the verbal agreement,NMED will lead off-base groundwater sampling -- including at multiple dairies -- while the Department of the Air Force provides funding and technical resources. This sampling effort will accelerate PFAS response around Cannon AFB. The DAF will continue its cleanup efforts that have been ongoing for years, representing an investment of $74M.
"In leading the New Mexico Military Base Planning Commission, my priority is to sustain strong partnerships with the many military installations across our state and the communities that support them," said Lt. Governor Howie Morales. "This verbal agreement not only supports that mission, but ensures New Mexican farmers can live, work, and support their families in Curry County for generations to come."
"A unified sampling approach with NMED ensures our cleanup decisions are guided by transparent, high quality data that all stakeholders can rely on," said Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Michael Borders Jr. "This agreement marks an important step in advancing PFAS response efforts and strengthening our partnership with the communities surrounding Cannon Air Force Base."
"The verbal agreement is a testament to the grassroots partnership between Curry County dairy farmers and the New Mexico Environment Department," said Environment Secretary James Kenney. "Together, the Air Force and NMED are forging a path that will lead to better results much sooner for the community."
The verbal agreement, which will be formalized in the coming weeks, was the result of a meeting at the Pentagon last week brokered by Lt. Governor Howie Morales, New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney, and Department of the Air Force Assistant Secretary for Energy, Installations and Environment Michael Borders Jr.
Today's announcement is the culmination of years of work by all parties -- including the recent and pivotal signing of access agreements between four Curry County dairy farms with NMED to facilitate this effort.
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Original text here: https://www.env.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-05-12-COMMS-NMED-DAF-verbally-agree-to-PFAS-cleanup-at-Cannon-AFB-Draft-002.pdf
N.H. A.G. Formella: Determination Made on Use of Deadly Force in Officer-Involved Shooting in Manchester on June 21, 2025
CONCORD, New Hampshire, May 13 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Determination Made on Use of Deadly Force in Officer-Involved Shooting in Manchester on June 21, 2025
Attorney General John M. Formella announces a determination as to the lawfulness of the police officer shooting of John Philip Tibbs (age 52) in Manchester, New Hampshire, on the afternoon on June 21, 2025.
At about 4:40 p.m. on June 21, 2025, Manchester Police Officer Anthony Shriber, along with Manchester Police Officers Connor Nusky and Harrison Elwell,
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CONCORD, New Hampshire, May 13 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Determination Made on Use of Deadly Force in Officer-Involved Shooting in Manchester on June 21, 2025
Attorney General John M. Formella announces a determination as to the lawfulness of the police officer shooting of John Philip Tibbs (age 52) in Manchester, New Hampshire, on the afternoon on June 21, 2025.
At about 4:40 p.m. on June 21, 2025, Manchester Police Officer Anthony Shriber, along with Manchester Police Officers Connor Nusky and Harrison Elwell,made contact with Mr. Tibbs at the door to a hotel room, when Mr. Tibbs pointed and fired a pistol multiple times at the three officers. Officer Shriber then fired several shots at Mr. Tibbs, striking him in the stomach.
Although Mr. Tibbs survived, Officer Shriber's shooting of him constitutes the use of deadly force under the law. The Attorney General's Office has conducted a full investigation in order to determine whether that use of deadly force against Mr. Tibbs was legally justified. After a review of evidence gathered during the course of the investigation, the Attorney General has determined that Officer Shriber's shooting of John Philip Tibbs was a legally justified use of deadly force.
The Hillsborough County Attorney's Office has brought criminal charges against John Philip Tibbs in connection to him shooting at the officers during the June 21st encounter. Those charges are pending. As a result, the Attorney General's Office is unable to release further information about its investigation at this time.
N.H. Rules of Professional Conduct 3.6(a) ("A lawyer who . . . has participated in the investigation . . . of a matter shall not make an extrajudicial statement that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know will be disseminated by means of public communication and will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter."). However, when the current legal proceedings against Mr. Tibbs have concluded, the Attorney General's Office will issue its full report on the investigation into Officer Shriber's use of deadly force, with the associated findings and reasoning behind the determination made.
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Original text here: https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/determination-made-use-deadly-force-officer-involved-shooting-manchester-june-21
Md. A.G. Brown Joins Coalition Urging FDA to Reverse Guidance Easing Sales of Flavored E-Cigarettes
BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 13 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Joins Coalition Urging FDA to Reverse Guidance Easing Sales of Flavored E-Cigarettes
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a bipartisan coalition of 19 attorneys general urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to abandon draft guidance that would ease approvals for flavored e-cigarette products, widely understood to disproportionately worsen youth addiction.
Federal law requires that all e-cigarette products receive authorization
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 13 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Joins Coalition Urging FDA to Reverse Guidance Easing Sales of Flavored E-Cigarettes
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a bipartisan coalition of 19 attorneys general urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to abandon draft guidance that would ease approvals for flavored e-cigarette products, widely understood to disproportionately worsen youth addiction.
Federal law requires that all e-cigarette products receive authorizationfrom the FDA before they can be legally marketed or sold in the United States. To date, the FDA has authorized only 45 e-cigarette products. Until May 5, 2026, the FDA had approved no flavors other than tobacco or menthol. However, just six days before today's comment deadline, the FDA approved two fruit flavored products. Despite the limited authorization currently in place, hundreds of thousands of e-cigarette varieties in multitudes of flavors are currently available for purchase in flagrant violation of state and federal laws. Compounding their previous failures, on May 8, the FDA issued a press release announcing it would not prioritize enforcement against vapes and nicotine pouches marketed without necessary FDA authorization.
Two months ago, on March 11, the FDA released draft guidance that would ignore years of evidence and ease the path to approval for certain flavored products. The guidance opines, ignoring the FDA's own science and history, that certain flavors such as coffees, tea, spices, menthol, and mint are "lower risk" flavors for youth addiction. In reality, extensive research shows that flavored products of all kinds are favored by youth over unflavored tobacco.
In their letter, the attorneys general urge the FDA to reconsider the draft guidance and to continue its careful scrutiny of all flavors to protect public health.
Attorneys general have long been at the forefront of efforts to curb youth addiction. In 1998, attorneys general from 52 states and territories, including Maryland, reached a settlement with the four largest tobacco companies, settling suits filed by dozens of states and imposing strong new restrictions on tobacco advertising and marketing practices, including prohibitions on billboards, cartoons, branded merchandise, and sports sponsorships. The companies were forced to eliminate practices that obscured tobacco's health risks and were required to establish and fund the Truth Initiative, an advocacy organization dedicated to "achieving a culture where all youth and young adults reject tobacco." The settlement directs payments to the states and territories in perpetuity so long as cigarettes are sold by tobacco companies participating in the agreement.
In 2022, Maryland joined 33 states and territories in reaching a $434.9 million agreement with JUUL Labs, resolving a bipartisan investigation into the e-cigarette manufacturer's marketing and sales practices. In addition to the financial terms, the settlement forced JUUL to comply with a series of strict injunctive terms severely limiting their marketing and sales practices.
Joining Attorney General Brown in the letter are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Joins-Coalition-Urging-FDA-to-Reverse-Guidance-Easing-Sales-of-Flavored-E-Cigarettes.aspx
Illinois Unveils Funding for Vacant and Abandoned Residential Properties
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 13 -- Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Illinois Unveils Funding for Vacant and Abandoned Residential Properties
$9 million investment will help local governments revitalize distressed areas, creating new housing opportunities
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CHICAGO - The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is now accepting applications from units of local government for grant funding dedicated to supporting local affordable housing needs and community revitalization efforts across Illinois. Offered through IHDA's Strong Communities
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SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 13 -- Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Illinois Unveils Funding for Vacant and Abandoned Residential Properties
$9 million investment will help local governments revitalize distressed areas, creating new housing opportunities
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CHICAGO - The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is now accepting applications from units of local government for grant funding dedicated to supporting local affordable housing needs and community revitalization efforts across Illinois. Offered through IHDA's Strong CommunitiesProgram (SCP), this initiative provides financial assistance to allow local governments to address vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated residential properties within their communities. Through leveraging SCP funding, local entities can work in partnership with others or on their own to increase property values, stimulate job creation, reduce crime in affected areas, generate additional tax revenue, and encourage further investment in the community.
"Thanks to the Strong Communities Program, local governments can create new housing opportunities by directly tackling vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated residential properties in distressed areas," said Governor JB Pritzker. "This is one of the many tools that we are using to help make renting and owning homes in Illinois more affordable. I encourage all eligible municipalities to apply for this funding to create healthier, safer, and more affordable communities across the state."
SCP offers grant opportunities of up to $750,000 to grantees for tackling challenging properties threatening their communities. SCP funds can be used for a range of activities, including acquiring, rehabilitating, demolishing, and landscaping vacant and abandoned residential properties containing up to six units. Eligible applicants for SCP must be a unit of local government located in Illinois; however, a county or municipality may join with other counties or municipalities and submit a single application. Additionally, land banks and Regional Planning Commissions are eligible to apply on behalf of units of local government.
"The responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of vacant and abandoned homes unfortunately falls on local governments, often resulting in additional financial burden for taxpayers." said IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust. "The Strong Communities Program helps offset a portion of these costs, allowing local governments to invest in their communities by revitalizing neglected properties and return these distressed properties back to the active tax roll."
The primary goal of the program is to restore neglected residential properties to active, taxable status through rehabilitation, while also providing financial resources for demolition when properties are beyond repair to reposition the land for new development. Since SCP first launched in August 2020, more than 1,800 residential properties have been impacted with $22.1 million in assistance from Winnebago County at the Wisconsin border to Alexander County at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. These communities are investing in themselves by addressing vacant and abandoned properties directly leading to healthier, safer, and more lively communities.
SCP Webinar
The SCP application process is competitive, and units of local government and potential third-party administrators, such as regional planning councils and land banks, interested in applying may attend an informational webinar from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Online registration for this session can be found here (https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/3bbe8135-2367-4b67-8a5f-a6349bea2edb@acc83820-8b8f-4dc8-b270-266cb24e926f).
SCP Application
Applications for SCP funding will be accepted through 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Full program information and the application can be found online here (https://ihda.jotform.com/260975398050162).
Any member of a local government with questions regarding SCP may email SCPinfo@ihda.org with your questions or comments.
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About the Illinois Housing Development Authority
IHDA is a self-supporting and mission-driven state agency dedicated to financing the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Illinois. IHDA offers affordable mortgages and down payment assistance for homebuyers, provides financing for the development of affordable rental housing, and manages a variety of assistance programs to create communities where all Illinoisans can live, work, and thrive. Since it was established in 1967, IHDA has delivered more than $29 billion in state, federal, and leveraged financing to make possible the purchase, development, or rehabilitation of 335,750 homes and apartments for low- and middle-income households. For more information on IHDA programs, visit www.ihda.org.
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Original text here: https://www.illinois.gov/news/release.html?releaseid=32498
Ga. Lt. Gov. Jones Commends 'True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act' Becoming Law
ATLANTA, Georgia, May 13 -- Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, R-Georgia, issued the following statement on May 12, 2026:
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Lt. Governor Burt Jones Commends "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act" Becoming Law
Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones issued a statement in support of a priority for the 2026 Legislative Session - the "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act" - being signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp.
"I want to thank Governor Brian Kemp for signing this priority into law, TPUSA for supporting our efforts and Senator Ben Watson for sponsoring this legislation, which honors
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ATLANTA, Georgia, May 13 -- Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, R-Georgia, issued the following statement on May 12, 2026:
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Lt. Governor Burt Jones Commends "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act" Becoming Law
Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones issued a statement in support of a priority for the 2026 Legislative Session - the "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act" - being signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp.
"I want to thank Governor Brian Kemp for signing this priority into law, TPUSA for supporting our efforts and Senator Ben Watson for sponsoring this legislation, which honorsthe life and legacy of the late Charlie Kirk," said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. "The TPUSA Act becoming law marks a historic day for our great nation. This is the first piece of legislation that codifies into law Charlie Kirk's brave efforts to ensure that open discussion and debate in public forums is protected for students across America. I am proud to prioritize this bill to ensure that students' First Amendment rights to organize, gather, and speak are protected, regardless of their religious, political, or social viewpoints or those of school administrators."
The "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act" ensures that:
* Public school students in Georgia must be permitted to engage in political activities and expression before, during, and after the school day in the same manner and to the same extent that students may engage in non-political activities and expression.
* Public school students may organize partisan or non-partisan political activities and groups before, during, and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other non-curricular student activities and groups during non-instructional time.
* Public schools that provide a limited open forum are barred from denying equal access or a fair opportunity, or discriminating against, students who wish to conduct a meeting within the forum on the basis of the group's political, philosophical, ideological, or other content of the speech made at such meetings.
* Partisan and non-partisan political groups will be given the same access and opportunities to announce and advertise meetings and use school facilities as other groups and cannot be discriminated against on the basis of the political content of their expressions.
* Public school students are guaranteed the right to wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display political messages and symbols in the same manner and to the same extent that other types of clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display messages and symbols are permitted under the school dress code.
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Original text here: https://ltgov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-05-12/lt-governor-burt-jones-commends-true-patriotism-and-universal-student
Ga. Gov. Kemp Signs Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
ATLANTA, Georgia, May 13 -- Gov. Brian P. Kemp, R-Georgia, issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Gov. Kemp Signs FY27 Budget
Governor Brian P. Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp and Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) Director Rick Dunn, today signed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2027.
Below is an excerpt of the governor's remarks which includes a link to the budget in full and any disregard or veto language included therein. You can also find links to the Fiscal Year 2027 and Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budgets on the OPB website here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://officeofgeorgiagovernorbrianpkemp.cmail20.com/t/y-l-akkidkd-hkykhiihkj-y/__;!!HWVSVPY!gdqMeGUnQg6om0RNAeFaBWm6ZoIJYThfLQGO05ArRZt8LHNLw3BXE3nfMIvL5Q7rpA3maqvD0EBIVL7FvUjpNq8$).
Excerpt
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, May 13 -- Gov. Brian P. Kemp, R-Georgia, issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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Gov. Kemp Signs FY27 Budget
Governor Brian P. Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp and Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) Director Rick Dunn, today signed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2027.
Below is an excerpt of the governor's remarks which includes a link to the budget in full and any disregard or veto language included therein. You can also find links to the Fiscal Year 2027 and Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budgets on the OPB website here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://officeofgeorgiagovernorbrianpkemp.cmail20.com/t/y-l-akkidkd-hkykhiihkj-y/__;!!HWVSVPY!gdqMeGUnQg6om0RNAeFaBWm6ZoIJYThfLQGO05ArRZt8LHNLw3BXE3nfMIvL5Q7rpA3maqvD0EBIVL7FvUjpNq8$).
Excerptof Governor Kemp's Remarks
Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us as I prepare to put my name on the last budget I'll sign while serving as your 83rd governor. I'm joined today by the nation's best First Lady, Marty Kemp, and our great Office of Planning and Budget Director, Rick Dunn...
House Bill 974 delivers on the promise I made when I first ran for governor and the same promise we've kept for every budget since. It makes strategic investments to keep our state the best place to live, work, and raise a family - while also holding the line on government spending.
As I always say, our job is to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, because that's the people's money, not the government's! That's why we've saved or returned over $12 billion to the taxpayers, and why we'll save them even more through the tax cuts I signed yesterday.
Like my earlier budgets, this document prioritizes education, behavioral health, community health, public safety, our agriculture and forestry industries, and much more.
Yet again, we're fully funding our K-12 classrooms, funding growth in the HOPE Scholarship and Grant programs, fulfilling our prior commitment to increase the number of residency slots, and funding other key priorities that will grow our state's healthcare workforce. With the launch of our Career Navigator System, those students will have an easier time connecting with opportunity once they've completed their academic careers.
This budget also supports Georgia's mental health crisis system through the 9-8-8 hotline, something I know the First Lady appreciates the legislature's support on. And it addresses the needs of the Out-of-Home Care program at the Division of Family and Children Services.
We're shoring up the state's public safety capabilities, from the State Patrol to the Department of Corrections and more. And we're supporting the farmers and foresters as they continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, the devastating wildfires, and challenges unique to their industries.
My team will direct you to a more comprehensive list of investments, but it's important to note that apart from formula growth and our fulfillment of prior commitments. The only significant, new ongoing commitment in this budget is for:
* The literacy measures championed by the Speaker and members of the legislature, and
* The enhanced retirement benefits for state law enforcement, which is something I believe is critical to the future safety and wellbeing of our state, and something our men and women in state law enforcement certainly deserve.
...Under this administration, we have put unprecedented funding toward our classrooms, toward mental health services, into local and state infrastructure projects, public and community health initiatives, and more. Those investments remain intact in this bill.
When I introduced my balanced budget recommendation in January, it was based on a general fund revenue estimate of $36.6 billion. With the tax cuts the General Assembly passed, and I signed into law yesterday, the state must now address a reduction in revenue for this coming fiscal year of nearly 1 billion dollars, and that's assuming we don't have an economic downturn.
That's money that has to be accounted for in a balanced budget, because as long as I'm governor, Georgia will not follow in the steps of Washington, D.C. where too many politicians refuse to make the tough decisions necessary to keep spending in check.
I also want to be clear that I strongly support cutting taxes and giving hardworking Georgians more relief - which is exactly what we accomplished this legislative session working with the Speaker, Lt. Governor, and members of the House and Senate. But our job is to deliver on that relief, while at the same time protecting the future fiscal standing of our state.
Other states are dealing with budget shortfalls and thinking about raising taxes on their citizens. Here in Georgia, we're giving money back to the taxpayers, and we're only able to do that because we maintain fiscal discipline.
That's what I did when I first came into office over seven years ago, and it's what I've done every year since. And it's what I'll do today by directing state agencies to withhold more than $300 million in proposed new spending in HB 974.
Let me be clear: we're talking about new spending; we aren't making any cuts to or rolling back any parts of current programs. We're preserving existing services while bringing total spending into alignment with projected revenues, just like every Georgia household has to do.
Even with these actions, the state may still need to rely on reserve funds to meet obligations in Fiscal Year 2027. As we move through the first half of the fiscal year, we'll continue to evaluate the state's financial position in preparation for the amended budget process.
But here again, I want to stress something I mentioned in my state of the state address back in January: reserves are a limited, one-time resource. As I've said before: you can't spend one-time money on long-term liabilities. Every Georgia family or small business balancing their checkbook can tell you that.
As a former state senator, I have great respect for the legislative process and the constitutional authority the General Assembly has when it comes to appropriating the people's hard-earned tax dollars and determining fiscal policy. And my office has enjoyed a strong working relationship with both chambers throughout my time serving as your governor.
As I've said many times, our state's success has been a team effort - and I greatly appreciate that partnership with leaders and members both past and present. But those successes are not guaranteed in the future. Downturns and tough times will come. Reserves can be erased. Future budget decisions might be more painful than those we're making today. And I have confidence that future governors and legislators will heed that advice. The directions I'm giving today will keep Georgia where it needs to be - on sound financial footing.
So, I want to thank the General Assembly for their careful consideration and understanding of the current financial situation, and for their partnership as we give hardworking Georgians the tax relief they deserve while holding the line on state government spending.
I also want to thank Director Dunn and his team at the Office of Planning and Budget. They spend countless hours on these budgets, and without them, we would not have been able to give so much relief to the people of our state.
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Original text here: https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-05-12/gov-kemp-signs-fy27-budget
