The Georgia House of Representatives has approved a $37.7 billion state budget for fiscal year 2026, allocating significant funding for key initiatives, including education, prison system improvements,

House lawmakers signed off on a revised $37.7 billion budget for next year that includes increases in spending for education, prisons and housing, but lacked the splashy infusion of one-time spending that made this year’s spending plan swell to more than $40 billion.

Georgia could allocate extra money to educate poor public school students for the first time under a House budget approved on an 171-4 vote Tuesday. However, the $28 million proposed is far less than what advocates argue is necessary.

There are many worthy causes competing for the same limited resources,” Georgia House House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett said.

The budget decision would drastically decrease the number of available $6,500 school vouchers from more than 20,000 to less than 7,000.