The 2025 legislative session is 50% complete. Though the 20th legislative day was lean on education-related floor action, multiple education bills moved through afternoon committee meetings.
The PAGE legislative team was glad to see PAGE board member Amy Carter who visited the Gold Dome while her daughter paged.
Check out more information about the House and Senate page programs if your child or student is interested in serving as a page.
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House Ed Subcommittee Passes Literacy Bill and Student Cell Phone Ban
PAGE testified in support of HB 340 by Rep. Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners) which prohibits student use of cell phones from bell to bell during the school day in grades K-8. Margaret Ciccarelli shared PAGE survey data indicating that in a recent PAGE survey of more than 3,200 educators in 170 Georgia school districts, nearly 70% of middle school teachers and more than 85% of high school teachers reported student cell phone use is a major issue. She stressed PAGE’s support of the bill but suggested the subcommittee consider expanding it to high school through a tiered implementation unless such an amendment would jeopardize the bill’s chances of becoming law. Ciccarelli also recommended policymakers consider adding an acceptable use policy.
After committee discussion demonstrating strong bipartisan support for the bill, it passed unanimously. Rep. Hilton mentioned he would consider the comments from committee members who supported expanding the bill to Grades 9-12.
The committee also passed HB 307 by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins), which explicitly states that the three-cuing model of reading instruction does not constitute high-quality instruction or the science of reading. Three cuing is defined as any model for teaching students to read based on “meaning, structure and syntax, and visual cues.” The legislation repeals a provision regarding reading recovery, revises dyslexia definitions, and sets up a three-year cycle to review state-approved literacy screeners. HB 307 directs the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) to annually publish a dyslexia informational handbook and develop training programs for teachers on the science of reading.
Sarah Richards, Georgia Reading Coach, and Scott Johnson, Chair of the Georgia Council on Literacy, joined Ballard for the bill presentation. Morgan emphasized the need for clarity regarding literacy screeners and Johnson reiterated that HB 307 aligns with the Council’s findings.
Finally, the committee passed HB 198 by Rep. Johnny Chastain (R- Blue Ridge), which mandates that school leaders provide a written rationale for denial of meeting space for student patriotic societies like Scouts.
All three bills move forward to the full House Education Committee.
Senate Ed Committee Passes Bill to Limit School Board Training
SB 4 by Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) aims to modify training requirements for local school boards. The bill maintains current training requirements for newly elected board members and those from districts designated as high-risk by the Department of Audits and Accounts. However, ongoing training for other members would become optional. Additionally, SB 4 specifies which subjects may and may not be included in school board training and imposes penalties on training providers for covering prohibited subjects. The bill also allows citizens to submit ethics complaints against local board members.
SB 4 was amended to state that ethics complaints would be sent to the Professional Standards Commission (PSC). The bill originally stated these complaints would be sent to local school superintendents.
The amended version of the bill passed committee and now awaits consideration by the Senate Rules Committee.
The committee agenda originally included legislation expanding private school vouchers, but the committee did not take up the legislation.
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Feb. 21 – Legislative Day 21
House Motor Vehicles Committee, 8 a.m., 606 CLOB
House Education Committee, 1 p.m., 506 CLOB
Monday, Feb. 24 - Legislative Day 22