email : Webview : Thirteenth legislative day

House Education Committee met Thursday

The full House Education Committee met Thursday to consider five bills that passed out of subcomittees earlier this week. The bills are:

HB 383, the "Georgia High School NIL Protection Act," which would set new rules and regulations for high school athletes receiving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation. NIL deals have been legal in Georgia for several years. The bill tries to add provisions to protect student athletes from bad actors.

An amendment to the bill also now covers those in the eighth grade.

HB 907 concerns "completion schools." The bill would require greater cooperation between the resident school and the completion school.

HB 971 would allow home-schooled and private school students to enroll in College and Career Academies part-time across city and county boundaries without paying tuition. Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education FTE funding would go to the College and Career Academies.

HB 1009 requires school systems to adopt policies to prevent high school students from using their cell phones during school day, effective for the 2027-2028 school year.

HB 1023 requires "weapon detection systems" in schools with multiple entrances. "Weapon detection systems" are defined as "a security technology or integrated set of devices designed to detect, through electronic, visual, or analytical means the presence of weapon. The bill proposes an exemption for "any point of entry to such buildings that remain locked, are equipped with alarms, and are not intended for student use or are intended for student use only on an emergency basis."

All the bills passed and now go House Rules. There was objection to HB 1023, which was attacked as an unfunded state mandate on public schools and prohibitedly expensive.

House passed adjusted 2025-2026 budget

By an overwhelmingly margin (167-5), the House of Representative today passed its version of the adjusted current year budget, ditching Gov Brian Kemp's $1 billion personal income tax refund program. Instead, House members are pushing residential property tax relief.

House Republicans have outlined a plan to eliminate residential property taxes by 2032.

The bill includes $2,000 one-time bonuses for state-funded, full-time educators, including Education Support Professionals (ESPs).

A summary provided by the House Budget Office can be found here. A more detail look at the amended budget is here.

The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Newly filed bills this week

HB 1146, with Democrats and Republicans as sponsors, would establish a pilot program to expand Georgia's Pre-K Program to three-year-old children.

HB 1190, by Rep. Gabriel Sanchez, D-Cobb County, would provide for the selection of students to advise the State Board of Education and local boards of education as ex officio members.

Campaign rally for Sen. Ossoff Saturday in Atlanta, 1-2 pm

Register here if you'd like to attend. Location and other details will be provided once you register. Doors open at noon and the program begins at 1:00 pm. U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is the endorsed candidate of the National Education Association (NEA) for the U.S. Senate race in Georgia.

Admission is first-come, first-served and an RSVP via this form is required, but does not guarantee admission. Free parking will be available. All arrival information, including parking instructions, will be sent via email prior to the event. All attendees will pass through airport-like security screening - large bags and outside signage are not allowed.