Week Five of the 2025 Legislative Session ended eventfully. Multiple education-related bills passed both chambers, including a PAGE-supported measure to establish an interstate compact for school psychologists and another to double the state payment awarded to educators who are killed while on the job. Important bills were also heard in committees, including the House's comprehensive school safety bill.
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House Ed Subcommittee Passes Comprehensive Safety Bill
Following a three-hour hearing, the House Education Policy Subcommittee passed a PAGE-supported, comprehensive school safety bill.
HB 268 by Rep. Holt Persinger (R-Winder) would create a statewide student information database run by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) to improve information sharing between school systems, law enforcement, and mental health professionals. Nearly 60 percent of PAGE members who responded to the 2024 PAGE Legislative Survey labeled increased information sharing to identify students at risk for self-harm or harming others as one of their top three strategies to improve school safety in Georgia. HB 268 also requires school systems to create threat management teams, include behavioral threat assessment management plans in school safety plans, and requires that students receive instruction on violence prevention and suicide awareness. Other provisions include creation of mental health coordinator positions, tax incentives for firearm storage equipment, and increased penalties for students who make terroristic threats.
Most of the hearing focused on the information sharing system established by HB 268. Several committee members expressed concerns about misuse of student discipline data while others voiced concerned that the bill does not adequately compel schools to take part in information sharing.
More than a dozen speakers weighed in on HB 268. Director of Legislative Services Margaret Ciccarelli provided PAGE's comments. She thanked committee members for focusing on school safety and expressed appreciation that PAGE member priorities are reflected in the bill. She also provided data from the most recent PAGE member survey focusing on school safety and mental health. Ciccarelli closed her comments by stating that PAGE had submitted a list of questions and suggestions about HB 268 and looks forward to working with the bill's sponsor and committee members to further perfect the bill.
Following public comment, HB 268 was amended to state that if schools do not receive incoming students' critical records within a designated time frame, schools may find alternative placement, including virtual student instruction, until the required records arrive.
The amended version of HB 268 is expected to be considered by the full House Ed committee next week.
House Passes Bill to Establish Interstate Compact for School Psychologists
HB 81 by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins) seeks to enter Georgia into the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. It passed by a vote of 165-2.
HB 105 by Rep. Will Wade (R-Dahlonega), one of Gov. Brian Kemp's floor leaders in the House, increases the state financial award for public school employees from $75,000 to $150,000 for educators killed in the line of service. It passed unanimously.
Both bills now move to the Senate for consideration.
Senate Passes Equalization Grants and Sovereign Immunity Bills
SB 44, by Sen. Sam Watson (R-Moultrie) passed the Senate with a vote of 51-0. The legislation reduces the minimum required millage rate from 14 mills to 10 mills, broadening eligibility for equalization grants aimed at supporting school districts with lower property tax revenues. SB 44 also proposes a 25 percent reduction in equalization awards for districts not meeting the minimum millage requirement. GaDOE would prepare an annual report on the initial and adjusted equalization grant amounts for each local school system.
The Senate also passed SB 21 by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) which would waive sovereign immunity for local governments, including school districts, and all local officials and employees for violations of the state's prohibition on immigration sanctuary policies. The bill passed with a vote of 33-18.
Both bills move to the House for consideration.
Senate Ed Approves School Panic System and Attendance Committee Bills
SB 17, “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law” by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas), requires school systems to implement a mobile panic alert system, such as Centegix, that connects directly with emergency services. School systems also must procure detailed digital mapping of each public and private school in their district. The maps must be provided in paper and digital format at the request of GEMA. Anavitarte was joined by family members of Ricky Aspinwall, a teacher killed in the Apalachee High School shooting last fall, and by the family of Alyssa Alhadeff, a student killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida. Seven other states have passed a law like SB 17. The bill passed unanimously and moves on to the Senate Rules Committee.
SB 123, by Sen. John F. Kennedy (R-Macon), requires school districts to reinstitute school climate committees. Kennedy said that “only a handful” of districts currently operate these committees, which are tasked with determining ways to curb chronic absenteeism. The chief superior court judge will lead the committee, which must meet twice yearly. The committees must update attendance protocols for each district by June 1, 2026. Each district must submit a report on absenteeism to the legislature each year and make the report available to the public. If a school system has an absenteeism rate of 10 percent or more, it must also create an attendance review team to determine why the district has an attendance issue. If a school within the district has an absenteeism rate of 15 percent or more, the school must have its own attendance review team. The bill moves to Senate Rules.
PAGE Day on Capitol Hill Feb. 18
Join us Tuesday, Feb. 18, for PAGE Day on Capitol Hill. In partnership with the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) and the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (GACTE), the event will provide PAGE members an opportunity to learn about important education policy initiatives and meet state policymakers.
Attendees will receive complimentary breakfast and lunch. During the morning session, attendees will hear from legislators and other policymakers on pertinent education policy issues, including education funding, Georgia's teacher pipeline, the Teacher Retirement System, and more.
Mid-morning, attendees will engage in advocacy and direct dialogue with legislators under the Gold Dome. The event culminates in a lunch buffet during which state leaders will share remarks.
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 18 - Legislative Day 18
1 p.m. House Appropriations Ed. Subcommittee, 341 CAP
3 p.m. House Retirement Committee, 406 CLOB
Wednesday, Feb. 19 - Legislative Day 19
Thursday, Feb. 20 - Legislative Day 20
2 p.m. House Joint Ed. and Higher Ed Appropriations Subcommittee, 341 CAP
Friday, Feb. 21 - Legislative Day 21
PAGE Day on Capitol Hill