Statement on the Families First Legislative Initiative 

GEEARS Statement on the Families First Legislative Initiative 

GEEARS commends Georgia House Leadership for introducing the Families First legislative initiative and for its clear focus on supporting Georgia’s families. We are especially encouraged to see proposals that reflect priorities we have long championed, including expanding paid maternity leave for public sector employees from six to nine weeks, including public school teachers, as well as increasing access to DPH Home Visiting services in communities across the state.

We also appreciate the initiative’s focus on Pre-K and child care affordability, particularly the proposal to use Lottery funds to support before- and after-school care for children enrolled in Pre-K. This approach will allow funding to be redirected to better serve other CAPS-eligible children, such as children with disabilities and children in foster care. We are eager to collaborate with House Leadership to explore additional strategies to reduce the cost of child care, especially for Georgia’s hardworking families with young children.

These investments represent a critical step toward strengthening the systems families rely on during the early, most formative years. As the General Assembly considers this package, GEEARS urges lawmakers to consider prioritizing infants, toddlers, and their caregivers by advancing policies that expand access, ease financial strain on families, and support stable, high-quality early learning and care across Georgia. We stand ready to partner with Georgia’s leadership to build on this momentum and ensure these efforts translate into meaningful, lasting impact for children and families statewide.