Blog Education Ife Finch Floyd K-12 Education The Legacy of William Finch: The Fight for Public Education in the 19th Century and Today February 27, 2025 by Ife Finch Floyd The era of public education in the South began during the period of Reconstruction, typically considered to be between 1865 and 1877. During Reconstruction, Congress sought to reunite the country, address the rights and needs of newly freed people and define how the South would be governed after the end of the Civil War.[1] During […] Read more » black history month
Health Justice Leah Chan Press Releases & Statements Our Comments on the Pathways to Coverage 1115 Demonstration Waiver Extension Notice February 26, 2025 / February 26, 2025 by Leah Chan On January 21, 2025, Georgia’s Department of Community Health notified the public of its intention to submit an extension for the state’s 1115 demonstration waiver known as Pathways to Coverage. GBPI’s Director of Health Justice, Leah Chan, submitted the following written comment during the state’s public comment period. Dear Executive Director Portman, Thank you for […] Read more »
Ashley Young Bill Analysis Briefs Budget and Taxes Education Higher Education Overview: 2026 Fiscal Year Budget for the Georgia Student Finance Commission February 18, 2025 / February 18, 2025 by Ashley Young Introduction The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) is the state’s higher education finance agency with over 20 state and lottery funded scholarships, grants and loans. To ensure that students are prepared for post-secondary education, GSFC provides free financial aid counseling to K-12, post-secondary institutions and community organizations. Amended Fiscal Year 2025 Budget $6 million […] Read more » Budget Overview
Ashley Young Bill Analysis Briefs Budget and Taxes Education Higher Education Overview: 2026 Fiscal Year Budget for the University System of Georgia February 18, 2025 by Ashley Young Introduction Georgia’s four-year public higher education system, the University System of Georgia (USG), is composed of 26 higher education institutions located across the state.[1] USG also encompasses the Georgia Public Library Service, which manages 61 libraries; and the Georgia Archives, which collects and preserves records and information about Georgia. In Fall 2024, student enrollment […] Read more » Budget Overview
Ashley Young Bill Analysis Briefs Budget and Taxes Education K-12 Education Overview: 2026 Fiscal Year Budget for the Georgia Department of Education February 18, 2025 by Ashley Young Introduction The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) serves Georgia’s 180+ kindergarten -12th (K-12) grade public school districts. Led by State School Superintendent Richard Woods, GaDOE develops and governs the K-12 learning standards and currently serves 1.7 million students.[1] Governor Kemp’s Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget for the GaDOE totals $120.8 million, including a […] Read more »
Bill Analysis Briefs Budget and Taxes Economic Justice Ray Khalfani Worker Justice Overview: 2026 Fiscal Year Budget for the Georgia Department of Labor February 17, 2025 / February 17, 2025 by Ray Khalfani The Georgia Department of Labor (DOL) is an agency tasked with maintaining a resilient Unemployment Insurance (UI) system to protect workers who lose jobs at no fault of their own during their transition back into the workforce. This resilience provides economic stability during recessions. DOL is also tasked with generating revenue through contributions that it […] Read more »
Bill Analysis Briefs Budget and Taxes Criminal Legal System Reform Economic Justice Ray Khalfani Overview: 2026 Fiscal Year Budget for the Georgia Department of Corrections February 17, 2025 / February 17, 2025 by Ray Khalfani For Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, Governor Brian Kemp proposed a $1.62 billion budget for the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC), the agency overseeing Georgia’s prison system. This proposed budget is $125 million higher than what was approved for FY 2025. [1] This increase is attributed to investments in infrastructure and security improvements; increases in prison […] Read more » Budget Overview
Bill Analysis Briefs Budget and Taxes Cash and Safety Net Economic Justice Ife Finch Floyd Overview: 2026 Fiscal Year Budget for the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning February 12, 2025 / February 12, 2025 by Ife Finch Floyd Introduction The Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) administers: Child Care Services; the Georgia Pre-kindergarten Program; Nutrition Services, which administers the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program; the Summer Meals program for low-income children in daycare facilities; and Quality Initiatives, which works to improve the quality and accessibility of child care programs. […] Read more » Budget Overview
Bill Analysis Briefs Budget and Taxes Health Justice Leah Chan Overview: 2026 Fiscal Year Budget for the Georgia Department of Public Health February 10, 2025 / February 12, 2025 by Leah Chan Introduction The Department of Public Health programs focus on health promotion and health-related disaster response and preparedness as well as disease and injury prevention. Governor Kemp’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 provides the Department with about $436 million in state funds. That includes $403 million in state general funds and about $13.9 million in […] Read more » Budget Overview
Bill Analysis Briefs Budget and Taxes Health Justice Leah Chan Overview: 2026 Fiscal Year Budget for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities February 10, 2025 / February 12, 2025 by Leah Chan Introduction Among a range of duties, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities operates five state psychiatric hospitals, provides evaluation and treatment for individuals under the jurisdiction of the court system to determine their competency to stand trial and provides community-based services to Georgians living with mental health conditions, substance use disorders and […] Read more » Budget Overview
