The House and Senate each had busy floor sessions, but neither chamber voted on education-related bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget. The House Education Committee met to consider the Distraction-Free Education Act and HB 307, which changes parts of Georgia's literacy program.
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House Education Approves Cell Phone and Literacy Bills
The House Education Committee passed a substitute version 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. When the bill moved through subcomittee, PAGE testified in support. More information on PAGE's testimony is available here. The bill passed with one member of the committee voting nay. It moves on to the House Rules Committee.
The committee also passed HB 307 by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins), which explicitly states that the three-cueing model of reading instruction does not constitute the primary means of instruction for literacy and is not considered high-quality instructional materials. Aspects of three cueing may still be used in supplemental materials. Three cueing 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. The bill was amended in committee to move the date by which districts must create a plan for removing devices from classrooms by Jan. 1, 2026, and communicate them to parents. The plans must be implemented by July 1, 2026.
A substitute version of the bill introduced in committee today adds the Georgia Coach Coordination Council within the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA), which will employ a coordinator to guide literacy coaching efforts throughout the state. As part of the bill discussion, Chair Chris Erwin (R-Homer) announced that he and House Education leaders are seeking an additional $10 million to fund 54 additional literacy coaches in addition to 60 existing coaches. The bill passed unanimously and moves to House Rules.
Finally, the committee approved HB 198 by Rep. Johnny Chastain (R-Blue Ridge), which mandates that school leaders provide a written rationale for denying meetings to patriotic societies like Scouts. The bill was approved by a vote of 9-8, with Erwin casting the deciding vote after committee members discussed which societies must be allowed to meet at schools. HB 198 also moves on to House Rules.
Senate Appropriations Revises AFY25 Education Budget
Senate budget writers made revisions to the House version of the (AFY) 2025 budget. Chair Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) said the committee prioritized providing additional funds to those harmed by Hurricane Helene and other storms that hit Georgia last year. Committee members reduced funding for positions or programs across state agencies that were delayed and redirected those funds to storm clean-up and recovery efforts. Other budget changes are corrections that reflect updated information.
Changes to the AFY 2025 budget for the GaDOE proposed by the committee include:
$600,000 addition for one-time funding for agricultural improvements and facilities
$300,000 addition for an adaptive sports program
-$492,684 reduction in travel expenses for GaDOE central office staff
-$151,393 reduction to reflect projected personnel expenses for the charter school program
-$330,000 reduction to reflect projected operations for the charter school program
-$475,000 reduction for unused supplementary secondary math pilot program
-$438,981 reduction to reflect projected personnel expenditures in GaDOE’s curriculum program
$249,424 for PSAT exams
-$207,767 reduction to reflect projected personnel expenditures for GaDOE’s technology services
$2,630,880 for the state commission charter school supplement
$12,304,103 for the special needs voucher
$291,068 addition for a midterm adjustment in training and experience for Discovery Regional High School
-$328,732 reduction to reflect projected expenditures in personnel for GaDOE’s school improvement program
-$280,443 reduction to reflect projected expenditures in personnel for state schools
-$95,859 reduction to GaDOE’s technology/career education program
-$213,613 reduction to reflect pre-funded expenditures to GaDOE’s testing program
Committee members shifted $265,501 from the charter schools program at GaDOE to the State Charter School Commission. They also removed $2,244,870 for AP exams added by the House, directing GaDOE to use existing funds for the exams.
The Appropriations Committee requested that GaDOE provide an annual report on how districts spend state school safety funds. At a previous committee meeting, lawmakers expressed frustration with the lack of information about how districts use these funds.
The budget, outlined in HB 67, goes to the Rule Committee, which will send it to the full Senate for a vote.
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 25 - Committee Workday
Georgia Reads event, noon, CAP
Senate Ed & Youth, 1 p.m., 450 CAP
House Retirement, 2 p.m., 406 CLOB
Senate Retirement, 2 p.m., 307 CLOB
Wednesday, Feb. 26 - Legislative Day 23
Senate Public Safety, 1 p.m., 450 CAP
Thursday, Feb. 27 - Legislative Day 24
Senate Ed & Youth, 1 p.m., 450 CAP
Friday, Feb. 28 - Legislative Day 25