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Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Day 8

Joint House-Senate Education Committee planned Monday

Members the House Education Committee and the Senate Education and Youth Committee will meet in a combined session scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. in 506 Coverdell. Legislators will hear overviews from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (school safety), the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (mental health), the Georgia Council on Literacy, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA), and the Georgia Department of Education. The meeting may be watched here.

The Georgia House of Representatives yesterday unveiled a portrait of former state Rep. Calvin Smyre. Smyre became the youngest member of the Georgia House of Representatives when he was elected to the chamber at the age of 26 in 1974. He served until 2023. President Biden named him to be Ambassador to the Bahamas.

Senate Ed Committee to hear bill tomorrow requiring middle, high school, and college athletes compete on sports teams that match gender on birth certificates

The Senate Education and Youth Committee will meet tomorrow to hear legislation, SB 1, that, according to the text of the bill, which would "require transgender girls and women [to compete only] on sports team according to the gender on their birth certificate." The sponsor, state Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Forsyth County, calls the bill the "Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act." The bill has 25 co-sponsors. The hearing is at 1 p.m. in Room 450 of the state Capitol and will be streamed here.

Lieutenant Gov. Burt Jones (also president of the Senate) and Speaker of the House Jon Burns have each expressed support for the idea.

New bills filed

HR 68, by Rep. Lydia Glaize, calls for a comprehensive revision of the Quality Basic Education (QBE) and Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) funding formulas to ensure that they adequately meet the needs of all students.

SB 54, by Sen. Emanuel Jones, would require the establishment of a program and state-wide database by the State Board of Education relating to threats to safety made on or impacting school campuses.

Next Legislative Update: Thursday, January 30

100 Crescent Center Pkwy, Suite 500 | Tucker, GA 30084 US

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