Senator John Albers has introduced Senate Bill 392, also called the Waste Reduction Act of 2026 or the Zero-Based Budgeting Act, in an effort to change how Georgia’s state budget is created. The proposed legislation would require state agencies to justify every dollar they spend each budget cycle, rather than relying on previous years’ spending levels.
The approach mirrors how families across Georgia manage their own finances by evaluating what they need and where they can cut back. Under zero-based budgeting, government programs would have to show their necessity and explain how taxpayer money will be used before funds are allocated.
“Every Georgia family knows what it means to tighten their belt when costs rise,” said Sen. Albers. “They don’t get to spend money they don’t have, and they don’t keep paying for things that no longer make sense. Georgia has earned a reputation as one of the most fiscally responsible states in the nation, but that kind of stewardship requires constant commitment. If families are forced to account for every dollar at the kitchen table, taxpayers deserve a government that does the same.”
Senator Albers also stated, “Fiscal responsibility isn’t something you do once and forget about. It’s something you recommit to year after year. Our history of sound budgeting will only endure if we continue to ask hard questions, eliminate waste, and prioritize what truly matters.”
Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and represents Georgia’s 56th Senate District.
