Public Policy for the People: Final State Budget Reduces Number of I/DD Waivers

On May 12, 2026, Gov. Brian Kemp signed the state budget for fiscal year 2027. This is the final state budget he will sign as governor since his term as Georgia’s governor ends January 27, 2027.After the General Assembly approved the budget in House Bill 974, Governor Brian Kemp made 157 changes (also called “disregards”) to the budget. These changes cut more than $344 million from the budget, in areas including public education, healthcare, and human services.The goal of these cuts is to offset the $1.2 billion in income tax cuts approved this year through HB 463, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Kemp. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.