With Crossover Day looming next week, the General Assembly is moving bills at a highly accelerated rate. The House passed the Riley Gaines Act during its floor session. Many other education-related bills passed multiple committees. This pace will continue until Crossover Day (LD 28) concludes March 6.
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House Approval of 'Riley Gaines Act' Sends the Bill to the Senate
Following lengthy debate, the House passed HB 267, the "Riley Gaines Act" by a vote of 102-54.
Sponsored by Rep. Josh Bonner (R-Fayetteville), HB 267 mandates that schools provide separate restrooms and changing areas for males and females and stipulates that sleeping arrangements on school trips be made according to sex, with exceptions for immediate family members. Authorized coaches or trainers can also enter locker rooms for purposes directly related to an athletic event. The bill requires that athletic activities be designated for males, females, or as co-educational, and prohibits males from participating in female-designated sports. Sex is defined as an individual's biological sex, observable or clinically verified at or before birth, and it replaces the term "gender" with "sex" throughout the Code.
House Ed Approves a Record Number of Bills
The House Education Committee passed many bills that were previously heard in subcommittees. At the conclusion of the meeting, Committee Chair Chris Erwin (R-Homer) claimed the committee set a record for most bills passed in a single meeting.
HB 175 by Rep. Todd Jones (R-South Forsyth) brings the Department of Early Care and Learning’s (DECAL) background check standards in line with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and federal guidelines.
HR 145 by Rep. Chris Erwin (R-Homer) urges the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) to collaborate on prioritizing hearing and vision screenings that may impede children's literacy skills and progress.
HB 127 by Rep. Brent Cox (R-Dawsonville) increases the number of accumulated personal leave days for teachers and school employees from three to five. PAGE expressed support for the bill before it passed. PAGE spoke in support of HB 127 during its subcommittee hearing.
HB 371 by Rep. John Corbett (R-Lake Park) stipulates that starting in 2027, the maximum amount of funds allowed to be distributed to the capital outlay program will increase from $300 million to $375 million.
HB 12 by Rep. Chas Cannon (R-Moultrie) 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. HB 12 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.
HB 335 by Rep. Omari Crawford (D-Decatur) requires schools to make mental health resources available to student athletes. The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) would collect mental health information via required student forms that are already in use so that student athletes can better access support. The bill directs GHSA to post mental health resources on its website.
HB 37 by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) directs local school districts to notify employees about whether Social Security taxes will be withheld from their pay and requires notification of employee eligibility for other pension or retirement plans. Notification must occur at least once every five years and at or near the time of employee separation from a school district.
HB 200 by Rep. Debra Bazemore (D-South Fulton) creates a three-year immersive writing pilot program for 2nd grade through 5th grade students. The program will be funded with up to $2 million in grants, subject to legislative appropriation. A representative from Share Your Story, the vendor that requested the bill, assisted with presenting the bill. Share Your Story will be one of several vendors eligible to administer the programs through the bill, as GaDOE will select the eligible programs.
The bill was amended in committee to require that elementary school playgrounds built on or after July 1, 2027, meet certain ADA requirements.
HB 235 by Rep. Rick Townsend (R-Brunswick) the "Georgia Supporting Living Donor
Educators Act" grants public educators in both K-12 and postsecondary systems up to 30 days of leave should they donate an organ and up to seven leave days for bone marrow donation. Donor leave will not count against educators' available sick leave. PAGE spoke in support of HB 235 during its subcommittee hearing.
HR 145, and House Bills 175, 127, 371, 12, 335, 37, 200, and 235 now await consideration by the House Rules Committee.
The committee also heard HB 133 by Rep. David Clarke (R-Buford). This bill would require that school districts adopt policies allowing students to be excused from school to attend a release-time course on religious moral instruction for at least one hour a week.
The bill inspired significant committee discussion and was ultimately tabled in a 8-6 vote.
Senate Higher Ed Hears Bill to Prohibit DEI School Programs, Practices, and Recruitment Initiatives
The Senate Higher Ed Committee passed SB 181 by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas). The bill would prohibit any public school or postsecondary institution from accepting funding or entering into contracts with a foreign government considered a foreign adversary or any person working on behalf of such a government.
The committee substitute of SB 181 passed without opposition and now awaits consideration by the Senate Rules Committee.
The committee also heard SB 120 by Sen. Marty Harbin (R-Tyrone), which would prohibit any public school and public or private postsecondary institutions receiving state funding from programs, trainings, recruitment, or retention activities that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Institutions that violate this prohibition could have state or federal funding withheld. SB 120 provides guidance on what efforts could constitute DEI and states that it would not prevent institutions from complying with anti-discrimination laws.
Several committee members requested clarification on the bill's possible effects, and some expressed concerns about potential unintended consequences. Multiple groups and individuals spoke against the bill.
PAGE Director of Legislative Services, Margaret Ciccarelli, expressed concerns that the current version of SB 120 could hamper programs such as Gov. Brian Kemp's teacher pipeline initiatives and asked that the author consider further clarification.
As the bill was set for a hearing only, no action was taken on SB 120.
Another Voucher Expansion and Teacher Paid Leave Bill Approved by Senate Ed
The Senate Education & Youth Committee approved a slate of education bills, including one to extend Georgia Promise Scholarship vouchers to active-duty military families and one to increase the number of sick days that can be used as personal days for educators from three to five. More information on each bill, all of which move to Senate Rules, is below:
SB 63 by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett) would require that school districts offer PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, PreACT, ACT, or advanced placement exams to students enrolled in the district to offer the same testing to home school students residing in the district. Districts cannot charge home schooled students a fee to take the exams.
SB 124 by Sen. Shawn Still (R-Johns Creek) expands the Georgia Promise Scholarship education savings account voucher program to children of active-duty military families. Still said there are 33,000 children of active-duty military families in Georgia. Students in active-duty military families would be prioritized second behind low-income students. The bill directs the GaDOE to create the guidance. Sen. Still stated the bill accompanies President Donald Trump’s executive order to extend federal vouchers to active-duty military families.
SB 148 by Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia) would authorize GaDOE to establish an outdoor learning spaces pilot program in select K-12 schools. Hatchett discussed the impact that learning in an outdoor classroom along the Sequoia River in his hometown had on his life. Sen. Still amended the bill in committee to include identical language as HB 127 by Rep. Cox, which increases the number of sick days an educator can use for personal leave from three to five days. The amendment was approved with one dissenting vote. The bill passed unanimously.
SR 217 by Sen. John F. Kennedy (R-Macon) creates the Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools. On Wednesday, the Senate approved SB 123, which requires school districts to re-institute school climate committees. Kennedy said the study committee gives the Senate time this summer to examine whether the school climate committees in SB 123 are the correct solution for addressing chronic absenteeism and what other tools the state may use to help lower absenteeism rates. The resolution was approved unanimously.
Bill Allowing PSERS Members to Opt-In to TRS Moves Forward
The Senate Retirement Committee approved SB 209, by Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) allowing Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) members to irrevocably opt-in to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS). TRS Executive Director Buster Evans explained that school district leaders requested the legislation as a recruitment and retention tool for hard-to-fill district positions like HVAC and diesel specialists. He emphasized that employee education will be necessary to ensure eligible employees understand their decision is irrevocable and that both they are their school districts will be required to make higher contributions under TRS.
Because SB 209 is a fiscal retirement bill, it moves forward for actuarial study and will be eligible for further consideration in 2026.
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Feb. 28 - Legislative Day 25
House Motor Vehicles, 8 a.m., 606 CLOB
House Higher Education Committee, 8 a.m., 403 CAP
House Education Curriculum Subcommittee. 8 a.m., 506 CLOB
House Education Policy Subcommittee. 8:30 a.m., 506 CLOB
Monday, March 3 - Legislative Day 26
Senate Higher Education Committee, 7 a.m.
Tuesday, March 4 - Legislative Day 27
Wednesday, March 5 - Committee Workday
Thursday, March 6 - Legislative Day 28/Crossover