Rep. Gerald Greene Applauds Amended Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Funding for Georgia Southern University College of Optometry

ATLANTA - State Representative Gerald Greene (R-Cuthbert), chairman of the House State Properties Committee, applauds the recent announcement that the House's version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) budget, House Bill 973, includes $29.8 million for the design, construction and equipping of a College of Optometry at Georgia Southern University. He also commends the House's passage of House Bill 659 earlier this week, his supporting legislation that would expand funding for medical education by including optometrists in the state's loan repayment and financial assistance programs.

"This is a historic investment in Georgia's students and the future of healthcare in our state," said Rep. Greene. "Quite simply, children cannot learn to read if they cannot see, and strong vision care is foundational to educational success. Establishing a College of Optometry at Georgia Southern University not only creates new opportunities for students who want to pursue this field here at home, but it also strengthens our ability to serve communities across Georgia with the care they need. I am grateful to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Hatchett and the members of the committee for their hard work and commitment to expanding educational pathways and keeping Georgia's best and brightest in our state."

The House is set to vote on HB 973, its version of the AFY 2026 budget, on Thursday, February 5, 2026, while HB 659 passed the House with bipartisan support on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, and has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

More information about the House's version of the AFY 2026 budget, HB 973, may be found here.

The full text of HB 659 may be found here.

Representative Gerald Greene represents the citizens of District 154, which includes Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Early, Miller, Quitman, Randolph and Seminole counties, as well as a portion of Dougherty County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1982 and currently serves as Chairman of the State Properties Committee and Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development. He also serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Retirement, Rules and Rural Development committees.

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