Public Policy for the People: Final State Budget Reduces Number of I/DD Waivers
Written by Jacob Segura on . Public Policy For The People.
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.
According to the Georgia Budget & Public Policy Institute, these tax cuts will result in Georgia households seeing $196 in savings next year. Advocates expressed disappointment that increased funding for disability services was removed due to the tax cuts, and concern about what this means for future funding.
Among the disregards was $9.27 million dollars in new funds that would have allowed Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) increased access to the state’s Medicaid waiver program called the New Options Waiver and Comprehensive Support Waiver Programs (NOW/COMP). NOW/COMP waivers fund home and community-based services (HCBS) that help individuals with I/DD get critical services so they can live independent and fulfilling lives while getting the supports they need.
“It takes a lot of effort to get people energized to advocate for waiver supports when, year after year, there is a minimal amount of attention to it,” said Pat Nobbie, former deputy director of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) and a member of UnlockGA, an advocacy group dedicated to increasing access to HCBS. “After this past session’s disappointment, I felt like writing to legislators and our outgoing governor and asking, ‘Can you imagine what it feels like to listen to the State of the State speeches and attend appropriations meetings year after year and not hear any mention of the needs of the people you love and support?’”
The budget passed by the General Assembly included 500 new NOW/COMP waivers, coming after the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) identified 1,217 Georgians as being in urgent need of NOW/COMP waivers. But the disregarded funds to House Bill 974 reduced the number of new NOW/COMP waiver slots to 100. This will limit access for Georgians with I/DD and creates a challenge for caregivers.
“Uncertainty around waivers creates instability at nearly every level of long-term planning,” said Megan Finnegan, director of academic programming and compass outreach at The Jacob’s Ladder Group. “At Jacob’s Ladder, we work with families from a range of financial backgrounds. Some are able to privately fund services, while others rely heavily on waivers, extended family support, fundraising efforts, or significant personal sacrifice in order to maintain access to care. Regardless of income level, the unpredictability surrounding long-term funding often creates ongoing uncertainty for families and providers alike.”
Gov. Kemp’s budget changes reflect a larger pattern in Georgia’s funding for services and supports for people with I/DD. According to the annual State of States in Developmental Disabilities report from the University of Kansas, Georgia ranks among the lowest-spending states for I/DD services.
One measure used in the report is “fiscal effort,” which looks at how much a state spends on I/DD services for every $1,000 of personal income. Georgia spends $2.32 per $1,000, placing it in the bottom third of states. For comparison, Nevada spends $1.39, while Washington, D.C., spends $10.21.
Even with these challenges, advocates and service providers see opportunities to improve funding and supports in the years ahead.
“Looking ahead, providers are closely watching opportunities to reduce the waiver waiting list, strengthen workforce investments, and ensure reimbursement rates accurately reflect the true cost of care,” said DeAnna Julian, CEO of the Frazer Center and President of the Service Providers Association for Developmental Disabilities (SPADD). “We are also hopeful that future policy discussions will focus on long-term sustainability, including regular rate studies and strategies to support a stable workforce.”
“I really feel like we need to take full advantage of the election cycle,” said Nobbie. “We need to show up and demand attention to this. Our waiting list members are Georgia citizens, just like every other citizen in the state. One thing that struck me when talking to individual legislators is that there is no real understanding or memory of the DOJ Settlement agreement, or Olmstead, or what HCBS requirements mean. We have a lot of educating to do, but a legislative cycle is the best opportunity.”